Senior Operations Manager

Job Title:  Senior Operations Manager Actual Annual Salary: £44,818 - £48,280 (CLF Grade G) based on full-time hours, all year round

Contract Type:  Permanent

Hours:  Full-Time, 37 hours per week, All Year Round Provisional Start Date:  January 2027 – pending completion of pre-employment checks Are you an experienced operational leader looking to make a real difference in education? Winterstoke Hundred Academy is seeking a highly organised, proactive and strategic Senior Operations Manager to play a pivotal role in the effective leadership and day-to-day running of the Academy. This role will work closely with the Principal, leading on the non-educational functions that enable staff and students to thrive. As a key member of the Academy's leadership team, you will lead the Professional Services function, providing strategic oversight of administration, compliance, health and safety, HR support and recruitment activities. You will be responsible for ensuring robust systems, processes and procedures are in place, supporting the smooth operation of the Academy and maintaining the highest standards of compliance and safeguarding.

About you:

You will:

• Lead and manage the Professional Services team, including administrative staff, ensuring high-quality service delivery across the Academy.
• Act as the operational lead for Health & Safety, compliance, policy implementation, GDPR and risk management.
• Support the Principal and Senior Leadership Team on all non-education aspects of Academy operations, providing advice, oversight and practical solutions.
• Oversee HR administration and recruitment processes, supporting the delivery of safer recruitment practices and staff compliance requirements.
• Ensure statutory responsibilities, including safeguarding compliance and maintenance of the Single Central Record, are effectively managed.
• Drive continuous improvement, developing systems and procedures that enhance efficiency and support the Academy's strategic priorities.
• Applicants are advised to refer to the full requirements of the role in the attached job description and person specification, prior to submitting an application.  About Winterstoke Hundred Academy:

Winterstoke Hundred Academy have students in all year groups, being oversubscribed in Years 7 to 10. Year 11 who were our first cohort of learners are a slightly smaller cohort and we have a thriving sixth form with students in Years 12 and 13. The development of the new building, which opened in 2024, saw us nearing capacity as a split-site, medium-scale 11–19 Academy. We celebrate the fact that, as a new provision, our culture, ethos and values have been ours to define from the beginning, and we are able to decide what is important to take with us into the future as we grow. Why work at CLF? We are a diverse and inclusive community of 37 academies across five cluster regions in the South West that is committed to excellence and making a positive impact. Our people bring unique perspectives, but we’re all driven by a shared moral purpose and a passion for making a positive impact, whether in a teaching, leadership or support role. We’re proud to foster a culture where everyone can thrive, feel valued, and make a meaningful difference to the lives of others. We are an equal opportunity employer and proud to serve a diverse student population and our communities. We strongly believe that representation matters and so encourage applications from underrepresented and global majority groups including ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion. We aim to remove any barriers to employment, ensuring everyone can compete on equal terms.

What we can offer you:

• Access to a generous pension through the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
• Generous annual leave.
• A comprehensive induction and ongoing commitment to wellbeing and career progression, through a range of training, apprenticeships and in-role/wider-trust development opportunities.
• Well-being support through an Employee Assistance Programme.
• Health benefits, including wellness sessions, gym discounts, and flu jabs.
• A range of generous family leave options, including above industry average occupational maternity pay.
• Additional benefits like cycle to work scheme, on-site parking plus many more!  Recruitment timeline:

Closing Date: 25 November 2026 @11.59pm Shortlisting: 26 November 2026 Interviews: 3 December 2026 If you would like to discuss this opportunity prior to the closing date, please contact our recruitment team who will arrange a suitable time. As part of our commitment to Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), we do not accept CVs – a full education and employment history must be provided through our application form. Skilled Worker sponsorship : This role may be eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship, subject to the candidate meeting the applicable Home Office eligibility and salary requirements. Full-time and 0.8 FTE positions will generally meet the required salary threshold; for other part-time working arrangements, eligibility will depend on the salary applicable to the role and the candidate's working pattern. To help us assess whether sponsorship may be available, we encourage candidates who require sponsorship to provide their current salary information when completing the application form. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, should we receive a high level of interest in the role. Therefore, candidates are advised to apply at their earliest convenience to avoid missing out. As a Disability Confident Committed Employer, we are dedicated to equity and inclusion and commit to interviewing applicants with a disability who meet the essential criteria. We aim to provide an inclusive and accessible recruitment process, and support employees throughout their employment. If you have a disability, are neurodivergent, or require any adjustments to support you through the application or interview process please let us know how we can assist.