School Office Manager & Operations Lead

Location: Redbridge, East/Outer London

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

Contract: Full-Time, Permanent (37 hours per week, Term-Time + 2 Weeks or All-Year-Round option)

Start Date: Immediate / ASAP

An exceptional, high-achieving secondary school and Sixth Form in the London Borough of Redbridge is seeking an organized, proactive, and dynamic School Office Manager to lead their busy administrative hub and front-of-house operations. Serving as the central driver of day-to-day administrative excellence, this role is ideal for an experienced office supervisor, school administrator, or administrative team leader looking to direct front-office workflows, manage administrative personnel, and support the School Business Manager in delivering seamless operational support.

About the Role

As the Office Manager, you will oversee the school's central administrative function, ensuring that all front-of-house services, student records management, parent communications, and administrative support for senior leadership operate with precision and professional warmth. Leading a dedicated team of administrative staff, you will streamline office systems, manage daily operational priorities, and foster an efficient, welcoming environment for staff, pupils, parents, and visitors.

• Environment: A high-performing Outer London secondary school equipped with integrated management information systems (e.g., SIMS, Arbor), digital visitor management tools, and modern administrative infrastructure

• Culture: A collaborative, high-standard professional environment where operational excellence, clear communication, and outstanding service to the school community are deeply valued

Key Responsibilities

• Team Leadership & Workflow Coordination: Line manage and develop the administrative and reception staff, coordinating daily duties, cover arrangements, and performance appraisals to ensure optimal office efficiency.

• Administrative Operations & MIS Management: Oversee school data management systems (SIMS/Arbor), ensuring pupil records, admissions data, attendance logs, and statutory returns (e.g., Census) are processed accurately and on schedule.

• Parent Communications & Front-of-House: Direct external communications (e.g., ParentMail, website updates, newsletters), resolve escalated stakeholder inquiries, and maintain high hospitality and security standards at main reception.

• Executive & Event Support: Provide high-level administrative support to the Headteacher and Senior Leadership Team (SLT), coordinating school events, open evenings, governor meetings, and external inspection logistics.

• Compliance & Office Procurement: Manage office supply budgets, oversee administrative compliance (GDPR/Data Protection), and maintain efficient, confidential record-keeping protocols across all school departments.

Requirements

• Proven experience in office management, senior administration, or team leadership (experience within an educational, public sector, or high-volume administrative setting is highly desirable).

• Advanced proficiency in administrative databases (e.g., SIMS, Arbor, Bromcom) alongside strong mastery of Microsoft Office 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

• Exceptional leadership, interpersonal, and organizational skills with the ability to prioritize competing workloads in a fast-paced environment.

• Deep understanding of data protection (GDPR), confidentiality, and safeguarding principles in a school setting.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, characterized by a calm, authoritative, and customer-focused approach.

Salary & Benefits

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

• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), structured continuous professional development (CPD), generous leave provisions, and access to staff health and wellbeing programs.

How to Apply

If you are an accomplished administrative professional ready to direct operations and lead a key support team at a thriving secondary school in Redbridge, we encourage you to apply. Please submit your application and CV as soon as possible for consideration.