The Opportunity
Estates Manager
Full-Time
Required immediately
£33,000-£44,000 per annum
The Peterborough School (TPS) is an Independent Day School delivering exceptional education and nurturing children from Nursery through to Sixth Form. The School is set in beautiful, historic grounds with excellent facilities in the heart of Peterborough, benefitting from superb transport links and a secure on-site car park.
We are seeking to appoint an Estates Manager to plan and deliver all Estates Planning, maintenance functions and transport. The person selected will be responsible for repair and maintenance of the premises, upkeep of the grounds and the transport needs of the School including pupil transport to and from School and travel to fixtures and activities. They will also oversee projects and manage maintenance contractors on site. The School prides itself on its sense of community and the Estates Manager has a key role to play in delivering and further developing those areas that fall to them, which further enhances community spirit.
This role reports to the Bursar and the successful candidate will be a good communicator, with excellent interpersonal, communications and management skills, as well as a keen sense of humour.
This is a permanent, full-time position, working both term time and out-of-term time. The post-holder can expect to work flexibly in terms of start/finish times and beyond the standard hours on occasion, in line with the demands of the role. This is a hands-on role and will part of the Premises on call rota. We offer a competitive remuneration package in a welcoming, friendly environment within a beautiful setting. Salary will be commensurate with experience and market norms, in the range £33-37,000 per annum. This will be dependent on experience and qualifications. There is a range of benefits for staff, including an occupational pension, and access to a subsidised private health scheme at a reduced cost and free secure car parking. During term time, refreshments and lunch are provided free of charge. The post-holder will receive 25 days paid holiday a year plus all statutory public holidays. There is a requirement to work up to four Saturdays per year plus further overtime opportunities, which will attract additional pay or time off in lieu, dependent on the needs of the School.
The successful candidate will lead and manage a small, supportive team within a friendly school environment. They will be motivated to plan and oversee multiple tasks across a large site. Applicants must hold a clean driving licence, with either D1 entitlement or a willingness to undertake D1 training provided by the School. Candidates should be confident in carrying out a range of practical maintenance, housekeeping, and logistical tasks as required. Competence in Microsoft Office is essential.
The Peterborough School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants will be required to undergo child-protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The School is an equal opportunities employer.
More details and an application form are available from the ‘Contact Us’ section of our website: www.thepeterboroughschool.co.uk
Alternatively, please contact HR at hr@tpsch.co.uk
Closing date: 12 pm Thursday 22 October
Interview Week: Week Commencing 26 October
Summary of the role
The Estates Manager will be responsible to the Bursar for the delivery of high quality and professional services to the School. These include:
- Estates management
- Transport management
Reporting to the Bursar, they will be expected to think operationally but within a strategic context, as well as to liaise confidently and diplomatically with a wide range of stakeholders. This role focuses on the premises, grounds and operations of the School.
The Estates Manager must be fully in tune with the School’s vision, and with the strategic objectives of the School.
The Estates Manager must work flexibly to oversee the School maintenance operations. This is a hands-on role and will part of the Premises on call rota.
Line management responsibility for
Functional Relationships with
- Senior Leadership Team
- Teaching staff
- Professional Services & Support staff
- Visitors
- External suppliers and professional consultants
Main duties and responsibilities
Estates Planning & Maintenance
- Work with the Bursar to create and maintain a master Estates Development Plan and Planned Maintenance Programme.
- Regularly survey the School’s buildings, including the fabric, plant, furniture and equipment, heating systems, M&E services and the changing requirements of the School operations to identify essential works’ schedules, further informing the Estates Development Plan
- Coordinate and lead the Estates team to repair, maintain and make site improvements, ensuring compliance with Health and Safety legislation and best practice, including setting-up for School events, in a timely manner.
- Take a lead role in ensuring that all buildings, grounds and support activities meet health and safety requirements and that facilities comply with current legislation.
- Manage all maintenance activities, both reactive and planned, within the allocated budget.
- Monitor all aspects of contractors’ performance, ensuring that work has been completed satisfactorily, and following up on any deficiencies
- Project manage, supervise and coordinate the work of external maintenance contractors
- Working closely with the Domestic Manager/School Caretaker, manage and reinforce the School’s ‘Contractors on Site’ procedures and policies
- Liaise with the Domestic Manager /School Caretaker to plan holiday project work, taking into account of commercial lettings
- Respond appropriately to requests made via the Maintenance log, prioritising effectively and providing excellent service to stakeholders. This includes close liaison with the Domestic Manager/School Caretaker
- Respond appropriately to emergencies and urgent issues as they arise, and deal with the consequences to ensure the continued smooth-running of the School at all times
Grounds Maintenance
- Ensure the maintenance and landscaping of the School grounds, including all sports pitches, is upheld to the highest standards.
- Liaise with the Sports Department to ensure that all sports surfaces are maintained to the required standard and are safe to use and available, as required.
- Ensure that the School gardens remain attractive throughout the year.
- Responsible for all trees on site. Ensuring they are well managed and safe. Also responsible for regular tree surveys.
- Responsible for the delivery of any grounds projects.
- Responsible for the management and serviceability of all grounds maintenance equipment.
Compliance
- Arrange regular inspections of buildings, grounds and plant, ensuring that any issues are dealt with in a timely manner
- Be fully aware of, and ensure compliance with, the ISI regulations as they apply to the school buildings, facilities, environment and grounds.
- Take accountability for allocated aspects of the School’s Compliance schedules of work
- Follow best practice with regard to Manual Handling and Working at Height management.
Events:
- To coordinate Estates Team involvement and logistical arrangements to all major School events. Such events currently include the School Production, Folk Dancing Festival, Open Days, Alumni events and any other events, as directed by the Bursar.
- To attend the School’s Event Committee meetings.
Transport:
- To manage the School’s transport fleet, ensuring its physical, training and usage compliance with legislation.
- Ensure that all School vehicles are serviced, have valid road tax and MOTs and are fully roadworthy.
- To device, deliver and operate an effective transport plan for the School minibuses.
- To liaise directly with parents regarding the operation of the School minibus service.
- Conduct an annual review of the minibus routes to ensure efficiency.
- To arrange and coordinate all requests for transport, to include coach travel and taxi hire.
- Management of the Drivers and ensure all required training takes place.
General:
- Manage staff holiday requests in such a way as to provide adequate cover at all times
- To attend the Health, Safety and Security Advisory Group meetings.
- To support the Bursar in the progression of the School’s sustainability strategy and associated plans.
- To be aware of and adhere to the School’s code of conduct and confidentiality.
- To adhere at all times to safeguarding policy and procedures.
- To present an approachable and professional manner at all times to staff, pupils, parents and visitors.
- Undertake any other duties which may be reasonably required in the course of the Estates Manager role]
Person Specification
Qualification
Essential
The professional, technical or academic qualifications that the Applicant must have to undertake the role or the training that they must have received
- NVQ4, degree or extensive practical experience of leadership and management of a team.
Desirable
The professional, technical or academic qualifications that the Applicant would ideally have to undertake the role or the training that they should ideally have received
- Appropriate qualifications in transport management, would be beneficial.
- Appropriate Health and Safety qualification (ideally IOSH Safety Manager).
- Driving license with D1 (driving a minibus)
Experience
Essential
The categories of work or organisations, types of achievements and activities that would be likely to predict success in the role
- Managing a team.
- Solving challenges within resources and making the case for additional resources where appropriate.
- Experience of managing and supporting events
- Able to manage suppliers.
- Ability to relate well to other staff, demonstrating excellent communication skills.
- Ability to lead from the front, setting standards and ensuring they are met.
Desirable
The categories of work or organisations, types of achievements and activities that would be likely to contribute to success in the role
- Experience of transport fleet management.
Skills
Essential
The skills required by the Applicant to perform effectively in the role
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Ability to prioritize day to day tasks and meet deadlines
- D1 License
Desirable
The skills that would enable the Applicant to perform effectively in the role
- Health & Safety qualified
- Fire Safety qualified
IT skills: Word, Excel, and Outlook are essential.
Knowledge
Desirable
The knowledge that would enable the Applicant to perform effectively in the role
- Knowledge of plant, machinery, equipment and tools needed in the operations of a school.
Personal Competencies and Qualities
Essential
The personal qualities that the Applicant requires to perform effectively in the role and to ensure that the Applicant safeguards and promotes the welfare of children and young people
- Motivated to learn and take on new challenges
- Ability to relate to all personnel within the School and the wider School Community
- Able to work independently and to take ownership of tasks
- Willingness to work independently delivering objectives within agreed timescales
- Have enthusiasm for handling a range of tasks of varying complexity, while maintaining a positive attitude towards routine demands
