Facilities Manager

Introduction

Blackheath Prep is an independent prep school for just over 370 boys and girls aged 3 to 11. Founded in 1996, it occupies a beautiful five-acre site close to Blackheath village. Its original Georgian and Victorian buildings have been extended and adapted to include large playgrounds and extensive playing fields, tennis courts and a Forest School area. In April 2023 we were delighted to announce our merger with Eltham College to form a new family of schools. 

It is a remarkable school with outstanding facilities, a formidable track record in academic success and impressive achievements in Music, Sport, Drama and Art.  Children go on to a range of independent and maintained secondary schools, with a large proportion being awarded academic scholarships at schools such as Eltham College Senior School, Alleyn’s, Colfe's, Dulwich College, James Allen’s Girls’ School, Sevenoaks School and City of London Schools and/or places at top Grammar schools such as Newstead Wood and St Olave’s.

The Role

We are seeking to appoint a Facilities Manager to ensure that the School’s premises are well managed and maintained, providing excellent facilities for school, community and commercial use with a safe and secure environment for all.

The successful candidate will promote the ethos and wellbeing of the School as determined by the Head, in particular with regard to Health and Safety, neatness, cleanliness, orderliness, presentation and attractiveness.

This is a hands-on role and candidates must have an understanding of all relevant statutory requirements to ensure the school is compliant with health and safety legislation and act as the registered Competent Person for the school.

Key Duties

Health and Safety

• Act as the schools designated Competent Person.
• Report to the Head of Facilities on any Health and Safety non-compliance as necessary.
• Oversee risk assessments for all maintenance and premises in conjunction with the Family of Schools Health and Safety lead.
• Keep abreast and maintain compliance with current regulations in all areas.
• Ensure emergency and fire procedures are appropriate and reviewed regularly.
• Promote a positive and effective culture of health and safety across the school.
• Deliver the school’s Health and Safety Policy in conjunction with the Chief Operating Officer.
• Supervise water hygiene monitoring.
• Provide support with out of hours security needs as required.

Fire and major incidents

• Act as one of the Fire Officers of the school.
• Ensure all systems are regularly maintained and tested, appropriate records and all related policies and procedures are reviewed and update as necessary with the Head of Facilities .

Financial accountability

• Formulate and manage premises and maintenance budgets and authorise invoices as required.

School Management

• Delivery of annual planned and reactive maintenance for the school.
• Ensure the schools gas, electrical and water suppliers are operated efficiently, compliant with regulations, upgraded where necessary and maintained effectively.
• Undertake minor repairs and building tasks to a high standard when necessary.
• Oversee contracted cleaning services.
• Oversee the management of service contracts, including tendering and tender analysis.
• Ensure appropriate digitalised reporting, monitoring and control systems relating to the schools internal building fabric and furniture, including the maintenance of an asset register.
• Undertake general maintenance as appropriate.
• Ensure that the grounds of the school site are maintained to the highest standard.
• Work with the school community, parents and PTFA to create smooth logistical programmes for events within the school grounds e.g. Christmas Fair.
• Ensure contractors carry out works as required in a safe manner.

People Management

• Deploy, lead, manage and effectively supervise the premises and maintenance team including conducting appraisals.
• Oversee the staffing needs for external club support over evenings and Saturdays with potential opportunity to earn overtime if working in person.
• Ensure all PPE is fit for purpose, correctly worn and maintained.
• Train staff in use of systems where needed.

Project Management

• In conjunction with the Head of Estates and Head of Facilities, manage allocated projects from inception to completion of snagging and complying with budgets.

Person Specification

The appointee will need to be physically fit, organised, financially aware, computer literate, forward thinking, adaptable, able to work at heights, be a good communicator and have attention to detail. Other qualities include:

· Excellent team working ethic with the ability to use initiative and work on own when required.

· Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to interact with people at all levels, particularly young people of all ages.

· Confidence and assertiveness combined with the ability to exercise tact and diplomacy when dealing with difficult situations.

· Excellent timekeeping skills with a clear ability to prioritise work, solve problems and seek help when needed.

· Excellent attention to detail and high standards.

· Tact, humour and assurance.

A full job description and person specification is available within the candidate information pack.

Terms of Appointment

· The post is available ASAP on a permanent, full-time basis.

· The role requires working a shift pattern of 40 hours per week between 7am and 9pm, with the occasional opportunity for overtime.

·  Salary is offered at £36,000 per annum.

·  Benefits include school fee remission (subject to the child meeting the entrance requirements of the school), life assurance and pension scheme  

·  Wellbeing benefits including free annual eye test, annual flu vaccination and access to our Employee Support helpline 

· Travel benefits include Season Ticket Loan, Bike2Work scheme and electric car salary sacrifice scheme

· Free staff lunch and tea/coffee is provided during term time

How to Apply

Please send by email a completed application form and equal opportunities form, together with a covering letter to Emma Over, HR and Recruitment Assistant: recruitment@blackheathprep.co.uk 

Closing date for applications is 9am, Monday 6 January 2025.

Interviews will take place wk/co 13 January

***Please note that the recruitment campaign might end earlier as the applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis so please do not delay in applying***

The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and all other safer recruitment checks, including checks on social media.