School Office Manager & Operations Lead

Location: Hackney

Ofsted Rating: Outstanding

School Type: Secondary School & Sixth Form (Co-educational)

Contract: Full-Time, Permanent (36 hours per week, Full Year or Term-Time Plus negotiable)

An Ofsted-rated ‘Outstanding’ secondary school and Sixth Form in the vibrant London Borough of Hackney is seeking a dynamic, organized, and proactive Office Manager & Operations Lead to head their central administrative hub. This is a vital leadership position for an experienced administrative professional, whether an established school office manager or a senior corporate/public sector executive assistant, looking to drive operational excellence, lead a dedicated administrative team, and ensure smooth front-of-house services in a flagship Inner London academic environment.

About the Role

As the Office Manager, you will serve as the operational nerve center of the school. Working directly alongside the Headteacher and School Business Manager, you will oversee day-to-day administrative functions, manage secretarial and front-office staff, streamline communication channels, coordinate major school events, and ensure that administrative systems operate with precision, efficiency, and professional warmth.

• Start Date: Immediate or upcoming term

• Environment: A high-performing, culturally rich secondary school celebrated for academic achievement, innovation, and an inclusive community spirit

• Culture: A fast-paced, collegiate, and highly supportive operational environment where leadership, system innovation, and team morale are actively nurtured

Key Responsibilities

• Administrative Team Leadership: Line manage, mentor, and deploy the school’s administrative team (receptionists, admissions officers, and reprographics staff), optimizing workflows, managing appraisal cycles, and encouraging professional growth.

• Front-of-House & Communications Management: Oversee the main reception and phone services to guarantee exceptional customer care; manage parent communication portals, whole-school mailouts, newsletters, and incoming/outgoing correspondence.

• Management Information Systems (MIS): Maintain student database integrity on the school’s MIS (e.g., SIMS, Arbor, Bromcom), overseeing pupil data input, census submissions, admissions records, and attendance reporting routines.

• Events & Operational Logistics: Coordinate administrative support for major school events, including open evenings, parent consultations, governor meetings, photo days, and examination logistics.

• Executive Support & Facilities Liaison: Provide high-level executive assistance to the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), maintain office supply inventories, liaise with external suppliers/contractors, and assist with compliance record-keeping.

Requirements

• Proven experience in office management, senior administrative leadership, or operations coordination (prior experience within an educational setting, local authority, or complex public sector body is highly desirable).

• Advanced proficiency with school management information systems (e.g., SIMS, Arbor, Bromcom) alongside expert Microsoft Office 365 / Google Workspace skills.

• Outstanding organizational, time-management, and multitasking capabilities with a track record of implementing effective administrative systems under pressure.

• Exemplary interpersonal and written communication skills, with the ability to lead a team with warmth, authority, and professionalism.

• Comprehensive understanding of data protection principles (GDPR), school compliance, and child safeguarding practices.

Salary & Benefits

• Pay Scale: Inner London Support Staff Scale (commensurate with leadership experience).

• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), generous annual leave allowance, funded professional development and management training opportunities, and access to comprehensive staff health and wellbeing benefits.

How to Apply

If you are an accomplished, detail-oriented administrative leader ready to guide operational success at an Outstanding secondary school in Hackney, we would love to hear from you. Please submit your application as soon as possible for consideration.