School Business & Operations Lead

The Role We are seeking a highly capable and proactive School Business & Operations Lead to become the operational heart of our small, dedicated special needs school. This is a senior administrative position designed for a "systems thinker". Someone who takes pride in ensuring that every school process, from HR compliance to financial reconciliation, is robust, efficient, and fit for purpose. Reporting directly to the Head of School, you will act as a vital partner to our HR Manager and Finance Department. Your day-to-day work will bridge the gap between high-level compliance and the practical, "anything really" realities of a busy school office. You will have a strategic overview of our parental communications and school systems, while also serving as a professional front-of-house presence for our families, contractors, and visitors. Key Responsibilities A significant portion of this role involves the meticulous oversight of our school’s data and compliance. You will lead the monthly financial reconciliation process, managing school procurement to ensure "best value" and maintaining a detailed audit trail of all expenditure. On the HR front, you will manage the end-to-end recruitment cycle via MyNewTerm, ensuring our Single Central Record (SCR) is inspection-ready and that all pre-employment and safeguarding checks are executed with total accuracy. Beyond the data, you will be a visible and supportive presence in our school community. This involves managing our reception area, coordinating student welfare, including dealing with sick children or locating students and assisting the Head of School with bespoke projects and policy updates. Whether you are reconciling a complex spreadsheet in Google Sheets or sorting through school uniform stock, you will maintain a calm, professional, and "can-do" attitude that supports the wider school team. About You The successful candidate will be an expert user of Google Workspace and SIMS, with the technical ability to monitor and improve administrative workflows. You must possess a high level of emotional resilience and discretion, which is essential for working in a small, specialized secondary setting. We are looking for someone who is well-presented, friendly, and approachable, with a deep commitment to our school’s Christian values and the welfare of our vulnerable students. You should have a proven track record of working within a school environment and a sophisticated understanding of safeguarding and GDPR requirements. Most importantly, you will be a proactive problem-solver who enjoys the variety of a role where no two days are ever the same. About the School The St Marylebone CE Bridge School is a co-educational Special Free School for students aged 11-16 with EHCPs for Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN). Many of our students also experience social, emotional and mental health needs, and we are committed to supporting the whole child — their learning, wellbeing and futu