School Office Manager & Operations Lead

Location: Waltham Forest, East London

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

Contract: Full-Time, Permanent (36 hours per week, Term-Time + 2 Weeks or All-Year-Round negotiable)

Start Date: Immediate / ASAP or January Start

An ambitious, community-minded secondary school and Sixth Form in the East London Borough of Waltham Forest is seeking a dynamic, solution-focused, and highly organized School Office Manager to lead their busy central administrative operations. This is a key operational leadership post for an experienced administrative manager, senior school administrator, or executive coordinator who excels at optimizing office workflows, leading support staff, and maintaining high customer service and safeguarding standards across the front line.

About the Role

As the School Office Manager, you will serve as the engine room of the school's administrative infrastructure. Working closely with the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and Business Manager, you will oversee day-to-day front office functions, lead and line-manage the administrative support team, streamline internal communications, and ensure that student records, compliance routines, and visitor management operate with precision.

• Environment: A progressive East London secondary school recognized for academic ambition, strong community partnerships, and modern administrative technologies

• Culture: A collaborative, fast-paced operational hub where initiative, clear leadership, professional empathy, and administrative excellence are deeply valued

Key Responsibilities

• Administrative Leadership & Team Management: Line-manage, train, and deploy administrative assistants, receptionists, and reprographic staff, establishing high standards of service and smooth daily coverage.

• Office Systems & Workflow Optimization: Oversee front-of-house operations, main switchboard management, incoming/outgoing correspondence, and daily office workflows to maximize efficiency.

• Data Integrity & MIS Oversight: Supervise the accurate maintenance of pupil and staff records on the school’s Management Information System (SIMS, Arbor, or Bromcom), supporting census returns, attendance tracking, and reporting.

• Compliance & Safeguarding Support: Ensure all single central record (SCR) inputs, visitor management protocols, and administrative routines strictly align with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) and GDPR regulations.

• Logistics & Event Coordination: Coordinate administrative logistics for key calendar events, including parents' evenings, admissions open days, school trip permissions, and staff briefings.

Requirements

• Proven track record in a senior administrative, office management, or supervisory role (experience within a secondary school or educational establishment is highly desirable).

• Strong working knowledge of school management software (e.g., Arbor, SIMS, Bromcom) and advanced proficiency with digital workspace tools (Google Workspace, Microsoft 365).

• Excellent leadership and line-management skills with the ability to motivate, develop, and organize an administrative team effectively under fast-moving deadlines.

• Superior interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, with a professional, polished approach when dealing with parents, staff, visitors, and external stakeholders.

• Sound knowledge of data protection regulations (GDPR), child protection safeguarding protocols, and school operational compliance.

Salary & Benefits

• Pay Scale: Outer London Support Staff Scale (commensurate with management experience and qualifications).

• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), generous annual leave/pro-rata holiday allowance, continuous professional development (CPD) and leadership training pathways, and access to staff wellbeing programs.

How to Apply

If you are an adaptable, organized administrative leader ready to drive operational excellence at a vibrant secondary school in Waltham Forest, we would love to hear from you. Please submit your application and CV as soon as possible for consideration.