School Estates Manager

St Mark’s Academy is a vibrant, inclusive Church of England secondary school in Mitcham and part of Anthem Schools Trust. Guided by the values of Love, Hope and Trust, we are ambitious for every young person and committed to providing an environment in which pupils and colleagues feel safe, valued and able to thrive.

This is an opportunity to take real ownership of a busy secondary school site and see the impact of your work every day. As our School Estates Manager, you will lead the day-to-day operation of the premises, ensure high standards of safety and compliance, and create a well-maintained, welcoming setting for pupils, staff, families and visitors.

You will have the autonomy to plan and prioritise work, lead and develop the premises team, coordinate contractors and maintenance, and contribute to improvement and capital projects. Working closely with the Academy’s senior leadership team and the Regional Estates Manager, you will combine practical expertise with strong organisation and a genuine pride in the school environment.

Health & Safety and Statutory Compliance

• Act as a key point of contact for health and safety matters on site, supporting the school's senior leadership team.
• Ensure statutory compliance checks are completed in accordance with legal requirements and Trust policy, including fire safety, legionella, asbestos, electrical testing, gas safety and lifting equipment where applicable.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of compliance activities, inspections and certifications.
• Conduct regular health and safety walkarounds and site inspections, ensuring hazards and concerns are reported and addressed promptly.
• Support fire evacuation and lockdown procedures, including coordinating the premises team during drills and incidents.
• Ensure premises-related risk assessments are in place, regularly reviewed and communicated appropriately.

Estates and Facilities Management

• Oversee the day-to-day maintenance and upkeep of the school's buildings, grounds and facilities.
• Implement and manage a programme of planned preventative maintenance, ensuring work is allocated, monitored and completed.
• Carry out and supervise general maintenance and minor repairs across the site, within the appropriate level of competence.
• Manage the upkeep of school grounds, pathways, car parks, playing fields and other external areas.
• Monitor heating, ventilation, lighting and other utility systems, identifying and reporting faults and ensuring efficient operation.
• Ensure plant and equipment is appropriately serviced, maintained and operated safely.
• Manage key-holding responsibilities and the opening and closing of the school site.
• Plan premises support around the school calendar, including room and furniture set-up for events, activities and other school requirements.

Contractor Management

• Liaise with approved contractors regarding maintenance, repairs and improvement works, obtaining quotes where required.
• Ensure contractors are appropriately vetted, inducted and supervised while on site.
• Monitor the quality and progress of contractor works and escalate concerns where appropriate.
• Maintain accurate records of contractor visits, completed works and relevant sign-off documentation.

Capital Projects and Estates Improvement

• Support the Regional Estates Manager with capital improvement and refurbishment projects.
• Assist with scoping works, liaising with contractors and overseeing activity on site during project delivery.
• Contribute to the development and review of the school's estate improvement plan.

Risk Management and Reporting

• Maintain and update the premises risk register and report significant risks to the Regional Estates Manager.
• Complete required premises and estates reports accurately and within agreed timescales.
• Ensure incidents and near misses relating to the school estate are appropriately recorded and followed up.
• Keep the Regional Estates Manager informed of matters that could affect the safe or effective operation of the school site.

People Management

• Line manage the school's Premises Assistants, allocating work and providing day-to-day support, direction and guidance.
• Hold regular supervision meetings and contribute to annual appraisal arrangements.
• Manage premises staff rotas to ensure appropriate site coverage throughout the school day and, where required, during evenings, weekends and school holiday periods.
• Support the induction, training and development of premises staff.
• Promote a positive, professional and collaborative culture within the premises team.

General Responsibilities

• Uphold and promote the values, policies and procedures of St Mark's Academy and Anthem Schools Trust.
• Maintain a professional and courteous approach when dealing with pupils, staff, parents, contractors and visitors.
• Participate in relevant training and continuing professional development.
• Support school events, lettings, productions, open days and other activities requiring premises support.
• Manage the storage, use and disposal of hazardous substances in accordance with COSHH requirements.
• Ensure agreed Trust estates systems, tools and procedures are used consistently across the premises team.
• Undertake any other reasonable duties appropriate to the level and nature of the role, including providing support and capacity to other local Anthem schools where identified.

You may already be working as a Site Manager, Facilities Manager, Senior Caretaker or in a similar premises or estates role. What matters is that you bring substantial experience of planned and reactive maintenance, health and safety compliance, and supervising or leading a small team. You will hold a relevant trade or facilities qualification, such as City & Guilds or NVQ Level 2 or above in a building or maintenance discipline, together with IOSH Managing Safely or an equivalent health and safety qualification. You must also hold a First Aid at Work certificate or be willing to obtain one.

You will be confident managing statutory compliance, including fire safety, legionella, asbestos, gas and electrical safety, and will have practical knowledge of building systems and maintenance. You will also be organised, comfortable using digital systems for records and reporting, and able to communicate clearly with colleagues, contractors and school leaders. An understanding of safeguarding in a school setting is essential.

Above all, you will be dependable, proactive and solutions-focused. You will enjoy leading others, balancing planned work with unexpected priorities and taking pride in the presentation and performance of the site. Experience in education, contractor management, compliance or facilities software, budget monitoring, or the DfE’s Good Estate Management for Schools guidance would be an advantage.

Why you will enjoy working with us

You will join a diverse and ambitious school community where the estates function is recognised as essential to pupils’ experience and the success of the Academy. You will have scope to shape priorities, improve the site and develop your team, while benefiting from the support and shared expertise of Anthem Schools Trust. We offer a supportive working environment, professional development opportunities, health and wellbeing support and a range of financial ben