Premises Manager | Progressive Academy | Southwark

CORE PURPOSE

We require an exceptionally organized, highly proactive Premises Manager to oversee the operational integrity, safety, and physical development of our vibrant inner-city school estate. Operating within a high-achieving, culturally diverse community academy celebrated for its inclusive values and exceptional student outcomes, the successful candidate will lead the site, maintenance, and cleaning teams to deliver an outstanding, compliant, and inspiring learning environment. You will hold strategic and operational responsibility for health and safety, preventative maintenance, subcontractor management, and sustainability initiatives, ensuring our modern campus remains a safe, welcoming, and efficient hub for students, staff, and the wider Southwark community.

THE SCHOOL

Our academy is a dynamic, highly supportive state school situated in the heart of South London. We are dedicated to cultivating a mature, inclusive learning environment where academic excellence and outstanding community care go hand in hand. Widely recognized across the borough for our strong behavioural standards, proactive leadership, and deep celebration of our diverse pupil population, we offer an exceptionally collaborative professional atmosphere. Our school site features a blend of historic architecture and state-of-the-art modern learning facilities, requiring a sophisticated approach to asset management. We operate with highly structured centralized systems, ensuring that our operational teams are fully supported, respected, and integrated into the wider life of the academy.

KEY TASKS & DAILY OPERATIONS

• Strategic Estate & Compliance Management: Maintain, monitor, and update all statutory compliance records (including fire safety, legionella, asbestos, electrical testing, and gas safety), ensuring the school remains fully compliant with all Health and Safety Executive (HSE) standards and education sector regulations.

• Proactive Maintenance & Contractor Oversight: Design and execute a rigorous planned preventative maintenance (PPM) schedule, managing daily reactive repair requests efficiently while directly supervising external mechanical, electrical, and structural subcontractors to ensure value for money and minimal disruption to learning.

• Team Leadership & Operational Standards: Line-manage, mentor, and schedule the shift patterns of the school's cleaning and site maintenance teams, fostering a proud, meticulous service culture that keeps the internal and external campus pristine, secure, and fully operational year-round.

• Budget Optimization & Energy Efficiency: Manage the facilities operational budget effectively, identifying cost-saving procurement strategies and driving local sustainability initiatives to reduce the academy's carbon footprint and optimize energy consumption across the estate.

• Lettings, Events, & Community Integration: Coordinate the logistics, safety protocols, and staffing for external community lettings and internal school events, maximizing the utilization of our premium sports, performance, and classroom spaces to support local Southwark initiatives.

PROFILE REQUIREMENTS

• Qualifications: A recognized professional qualification in Facilities Management (such as IWFM Level 4 or above) or a relevant technical trade, paired with robust health and safety credentials (such as NEBOSH, IOSH Managing Safely, or equivalent).

• Operational Experience: A proven track record of managing facilities, estate compliance, and multi-disciplinary site teams, ideally within an educational, public sector, or high-footfall building environment.

• Proactive & Solution-Oriented Ethos: Exceptional organizational, communication, and digital system skills, possessing the collaborative mindset and hands-on approach required to balance strategic compliance with day-to-day practical problem solving in a busy school setting.

REGIONAL CONTEXT

• A Historic South London Borough Driven by Culture and Regeneration: Based in the highly dynamic and culturally rich London Borough of Southwark, the school capitalizes on a unique urban identity shaped by world-class arts institutions, rapid architectural regeneration, and a deeply rooted community spirit. Stretching from the historic banks of the Thames to the green spaces of Peckham and Dulwich, Southwark blends heritage Victorian brick school buildings with cutting-edge, sustainable design. This progressive local landscape connects the school directly to local enterprise partnerships, environmental urban-greening programs, and the diverse, collaborative spirit of South London.

• Connectivity & Infrastructure: The campus benefits from outstanding inner-London transport links, offering straightforward commutes via multiple London Underground lines (Jubilee, Northern, and Bakerloo lines) and extensive National Rail services via hubs like London Bridge, Peckham Rye, and Elephant & Castle. Complemented by comprehensive Transport for London (TfL) bus networks and excellent cycling infrastructure, the school is highly accessible for staff and contractors traveling from across South, East, and Central London.

APPLICATION INTAKE

Please submit your current CV to begin the application process.