School Business & Operations Lead

Salary: NJC points 14 - 18, depending on experience: FTE £35,372 - £37,509 pa. Equates to £30,257- £32,085 pa for term-time only. Hours: Full time 36 hours per week, term time only.Start: ASAP

The Role

We are seeking an exceptional, forward-thinking School Business & Operations Lead to become the operational heart and administrative engine of our small, dedicated special needs school. This position is tailor-made for a "systems thinker". A candidate who takes deep pride in ensuring every school process, from HR compliance to financial reconciliation, runs with absolute precision and efficiency.

Reporting directly to the Head of School, you will act as a vital operational partner to our HR Manager and Finance Department. Your day-to-day work will elegantly bridge the gap between rigorous compliance and the fast-paced, unpredictable realities of a busy school office. This is a role for an intuitive professional who actively looks ahead at the school calendar, accurately anticipates leadership requirements, and takes immediate, independent ownership of tasks before being asked. You will command a comprehensive overview of our parental communications and workflows, whilst remaining a warm, highly professional front-of-house presence for our families, contractors, and visitors.

Key Responsibilities

A significant portion of this role involves the meticulous oversight of our school’s data and compliance. You will lead the monthly financial reconciliation process, managing school procurement to ensure "best value" and maintaining an airtight audit trail of all expenditure. On the HR front, you will support the end-to-end recruitment cycle via MyNewTerm, ensuring our Single Central Record (SCR) is completely inspection-ready and that all pre-employment and safeguarding checks are executed with total accuracy.

Beyond the data, you will be a visible, highly supportive and grounded presence in our school community. This involves managing our reception area, coordinating school event logistics, and assisting the Head of School with bespoke projects and policy updates.

Crucially, this is a hands-on, "all-hands-on-deck" position that requires a highly flexible and practical approach to the everyday realities of running a small school. You will need to be someone who is happy to pitch in with whatever is needed in the moment. Whether that means organising and sorting through donated second-hand uniform stock, locating a missing student, or looking after a student who is feeling unwell. You will maintain a calm, assured, and resilient "can-do" attitude that supports the wider school team.

About You

The successful candidate will be a confident user of Google Workspace and SIMS, possessing a natural technical flair for monitoring, refining, and automating everyday administrative workflows. Ideally you would have a proven track record of working within a school environment, alongside a practical understanding of standard safeguarding and GDPR requirements.

As a natural problem-solver, you will genuinely thrive in a varied environment where no two days are ever the same. This role requires the rare ability to look forward at upcoming school commitments and deliver preparation or support to the leadership team entirely unprompted, taking immediate ownership of operational tasks the moment you spot them.

You must possess a high level of emotional resilience, absolute discretion, and impeccable personal presentation. You will be a welcoming, friendly, and approachable professional who brings a compassionate commitment to our school's Christian values and the ongoing wellbeing of our students.

About the School

The St Marylebone CE Bridge School is a co-educational Special Free School for students aged 11-16 with EHCPs for Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN). Many of our students also experience social, emotional and mental health needs, and we are committed to supporting the whole child — their learning, wellbeing and future independence.

We are proud of our diverse community and welcome staff and students from all backgrounds, faiths, and none. Our nurturing environment combines academic progress with personal growth, preparing pupils for confident and successful futures.

• A friendly, supportive and committed staff team.

• A varied role with real impact across all areas of school life.

• A values-driven school community where every role contributes to pupil success.

• Paid school holidays and access to ongoing Continued Professional Development.

How to apply

To apply, visit our website, click apply and complete the My New Term Application Form using the Supporting Statement section of the form to detail your suitability for the role, your motivation for making an application and how your knowledge, experience and training meet the job description and person specification.

Closing date: 9am, Thursday 24th September 2026