Job Advert

Are you looking for a great employer with great benefits and the opportunity to make a difference in children's lives every day, whilst working within a friendly, supportive team in a thriving Primary School?  Can you manage a busy office and be a welcoming 'first face' for parents and visitors? Then you are looking for us!

We have the hugely rare opportunity to appoint a completely new office and financial administrative team as we move into the new year.  You will be joining a school with a very experienced senior leadership team and a Trust with a proven track record of success.  As Office Manager, you will play a key role in shaping a brand new team which will support the leaders, teachers, parents and children of Palm Bay.  We are also appointing for the following roles:

• School Business Leader
• Attendance, Inclusion and Family Support Manager
• School Receptionist

A range of skills will be required - you must be calm, positive, welcoming, firm, patient and incisive.  You must be able to see the bigger picture and have an eye for detail.  You must be able to remain focused whilst multi-tasking within a busy office where the telephone frequently rings.

The role requires flexibility, tact and problem-solving on a daily basis. Therefore, it is essential that applicants are professional, approachable and very effective communicators.

You will be the public face of the school for parents and visitors, be able to manage the school's administrative software, to put a plaster on a child's grazed knee, help a worried parent, arrange a school trip, order school supplies, send out a letter, book a supply teacher - often all at the same time!  Highly organised, you will help to ensure clear, smooth communication from the school to its stakeholders. 

Safeguarding and confidentiality will be central themes in all you do, whether signing visitors in and out of the school building, managing confidential and sensitive pupil files, or processing a range of school data. 

A key responsibility will be to lead on school publicity, promoting the work of the school through the website and open-days and developing a social media presence for the school. 

In short, you will be an important part of the team that ensures the school continues to operate smoothly!  You will probably have a background in school or education office management - but could just as well have transferable skills from the charity or business sectors.  It’s not necessarily your experience that we’re most interested in, it’s your passion and commitment to our mission, ensuring every child, whatever their background, receives a high quality education. 

The post is permanent, full-time, Term Time Only, Inset days plus an additional week in the holidays (40 weeks per year plus annual leave entitlement), Monday to Friday - office hours are between 8am to 4:45pm.

The ideal candidate will have Level 5 qualifications. However, evidence of applicant's relevant experience will be taken in to consideration.

For more information please contact the Headteacher, Lizzie Williams:  lizziewilliams@palmbay.uk.  Informal tours of the school are welcome.

Please send completed applications directly to Lizzie Williams:  lizziewilliams@palmbay.uk

Closing date for applications:  Midday Monday 29^th January 2024 (but we reserve the right to shortlist as we receive applications and may close the vacancy early, should we receive a sufficient amount of high-quality applications)

Start date:  February/March 2024

Download your application here: EKC Schools Trust Application Form - Dec 23 (ekcgroup.ac.uk)

Job Description 

Post: Service Manager – School Office Manager       

Salary: EKC 5 - £23,960                                                                    

Responsible To: Headteacher

Summary of Post: To lead and manage the school Office, taking accountability for its effective operation.

Tier of role: Manager/Associate

Key Responsibilities:

1. Ensure high-quality service provision to facilitate the education and operations in the school
2. Lead on the strategic planning and development across the service
3. Line manage team members effectively and support their professional development
4. Provide high-level services, fostering positive internal and external relationships with a focus on continual improvement
5. Be accountable for all aspects of compliance, health and safety and safeguarding in all aspects of the service

Specific Duties:

1. To provide comprehensive administrative support to the senior leadership team, including letters, calendar management, reports, policies and website content
2. To manage school systems (including the intranet) on a day-to-day basis
3. To lead on school communication and publicity, including the school brochure, website, social media and open days
4. To manage pupil records using the school management information system (Arbor), ensuring all records are up-to-date
5. To oversee the Admissions process, including on boarding new Reception pupils, in-year Admissions and Secondary transfer
6. To maintain the school system for pupils’ medication, including Epi-pens and asthma inhalers
7. Manage projects as delegated by School Business Leader/School Leaders

General Duties and Responsibilities:

1. You will be responsible for upholding our values and ethos and championing the inclusion and belonging of our Academy and Trust communities
2. You will be responsible for protecting pupils and staff from all preventable harm as per Safeguarding procedures
3. To participate in the staff support & development program and to undertake training based on individual and organisation needs
4. To undertake continuing professional development to support our culture of continuous improvement and keep up to date with the skills required to fulfil the role
5. To comply with all Academy and Trust policies and guidelines as well as legislative requirements. Including education, health & safety and data protection and all staffing policies
6. To demonstrate positive personal and professional behaviour as specified in the Staff Code of Conduct
7. To partake in quality assurance, appraisal and monitoring and meet minimum relevant occupational standards
8. To undertake any other duties commensurate with tier as may be reasonably requested

Please note:

This job description is a guide to the work you will initially be required to undertake. It summarises the main aspects of the job but does not cover all the duties that the job holder may have to perform. It may be changed from time to time to meet changing circumstances.

It does not form part of your contract of employment and as your experience grows, you will be expected to broaden your tasks, suggest improvements, solve problems and enhance the effectiveness of the role.