Job Description

Shape Our Future: Interim Regional Operations Manager

Location:Essex Region - Based at Hylands Regional Office (Chelmsford) when required, with hybrid elements (dependent on business requirements)

Work Basis:Full-time / Flexible / Hybrid

Reporting To:Senior Regional Business Manager

Travelling: The expectation to travel to the Essex primary school in line with business requirements (Travel cost will be remunerated in line with the Trust travel policy)

• Heybridge Primary School, CM9 4TU
• Maldon Primary School, CM9 5DQ
• Stapleford Abbotts Primary Academy, RM4 1EJ
• Willow Brook Primary School and Nursery, CO4 0DT

Salary:NJC Essex, Scale 9, Point 32, £44,253

Role:37Hr/Wk, 52 Wk/Yr. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday - 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, & Friday 8:30 am to 4:00 pm

Role Overview

Are you passionate about creating a supportive, thriving environment where children and people can succeed?

Are you a proactive, structured, and experienced operations leader looking to make a meaningful impact across our schools? Do you excel at stabilising operations, driving operational consistency, and collaborating across multi-site environments?

We are seeking a dynamic and dedicated Interim Regional Operations Manager to support the Senior Regional Business Manager and oversee non-teaching, operational, and organisational processes across the region. This is a fantastic chance to be part of a vibrant department committed to our vision: 'Achieving More Together.

Serving as a crucial bridge between the central trust team and individual academy offices, you will stabilise day-to-day operations, lead key business projects, mentor front-office teams, and ensure robust compliance across all academies within our shared-service model. You will act as an ambassador for our schools and the Trust, embodying our core values, vision, and ethos in every interaction. Forming part of a shared-service model supporting a number of academies, you will act as a key point of contact for schools and stakeholders, embodying the Trust's values, vision, and ethos.

Your key areas of focus will include:

• HR, Recruitment & Payroll Support: Support safer recruitment, local onboarding/offboarding, and Single Central Record (SCR) maintenance. Oversee absence monitoring, mentor front-office admin teams, audit employee lifecycle data in MIS/HR systems, and assist with payroll queries in coordination with central teams.
• Compliance & Statutory Governance: Conduct termly safeguarding and SCR audits alongside Headteachers and Directors. Support local authority (LA) and DfE statutory returns, manage secure record archiving, and uphold strict data protection (GDPR) standards
• Local Financial Operations: Assist academy leaders and central finance with budget monitoring, expenditure tracking, and procurement below tender thresholds. Oversee local Service Level Agreements (SLAs), supplier/service contracts (e.g., catering, cleaning), and explore income generation or grant opportunities
• Estates, Facilities & Health & Safety: Collaborate with the Regional Premises Manager and central estates team to ensure school buildings and grounds are safe, compliant, and well-maintained. Coordinate logistics and contractors for site works, and oversee routine health & safety checks, risk assessments, and fire drills
• Training & General Administration: Oversee staff training allocations, manage external audit inspection processes/action plans, maintain emergency and business continuity plans, and conduct staff performance reviews (PDRs).

We are looking for someone who has:

• Educated to degree level or with equivalent relevant experience in a similar role. Proven experience working within a school, academy, or educational setting is essential.
• A flexible approach to working. Worked in an office and/or hybrid environment.
• Must have a valid driver's licence and be willing to travel across the academies.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and build strong relationships with administrative teams, Headteachers, central trust staff, and external stakeholders.
• Initiative and Self-Motivation: You need the ability to work independently, use your own initiative, and take appropriate action without needing constant supervision.
• Confidentiality and GDPR Knowledge: You must maintain confidentiality at all times and possess a strong working knowledge of GDPR to handle sensitive staff and school data securely.
• Excellent communication skills: The role requires excellent listening skills alongside effective written and verbal communication, as you will serve as a key point of contact for schools, staff, and external stakeholders.
• Strong knowledge of HR administrative principles, payroll coordination, GDPR compliance, and safer recruitment practices.
• IT Proficiency: You are expected to be experienced with ICT systems, specifically Google Suite or MS Office, and ideally familiar with school management information systems (MIS) and accounting software.

Investing in our employees wellbeing and career development is a priority for us, we can offer you

• Excellent ongoing CPD, career development and vast promotion opportunities across the trust
• A comprehensive induction programme
• Friendly and supportive environment, where everyone is committed to a work-life balance
• The opportunity to be part of exciting development and innovative change
• Cycle to work scheme
• Free eye tests
• Employee Assistance Programme - free & confidential advice on a variety of subjects ranging from physical and mental health to financial help

If you would like to have an informal discussion before applying, please contact Kenneth Sheard, Regional Business Manager, via kenneth.sheard@kemnal.org before the closing date. Internal applicants should discuss this role with their line manager before submitting an application form via the internal recruitment page on the one stop shop.

About Kemnal Academies Trust

Kemnal Academies Trust is a group of schools with ambition for every child and pride in the communities we serve. We provide a broad and rich education that opens doors. Working together, we give every pupil the support and the skills they need to build a life of purpose, agency, and contribution.

Our ultimate aim is to ensure we drive educational standards through the provision of outstanding teaching, leadership, and learning for all. Our leaders focus on pupil progress and attainment, regularly sharing knowledge, insight, and experience across our family of schools. We believe passionately in the power of collaborative working and actively promote school-to-school support because when we work together, every child benefits.

A Culture of Belonging: Equity, Inclusion & Diversity

Belonging is of utmost importance to us. We strive to create an atmosphere where everyone feels welcomed and respected, where expectations are high, and genuine support is provided. Here, colleagues are trusted to lead, contribute, and grow in alignment with our mission. At Kemnal Academies Trust, we are committed to Equity, Inclusion, Diversity, and Belonging. We embrace and celebrate differences, value individual experiences, aspirations, and achievements, and continuously learn how to grow better together. We actively encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, as we know diversity strengthens our community and drives us forward.

Flexible Working -Kemnal Academies Trust recognises the value of enabling our employees to develop their career while balancing their commitments and interests outside of work. We actively promote flexible working practices and opportunities to support a positive work-life balance.

Application Details & Next Steps -Interview dates for this role are listed in the key vacancy details above; please ensure you hold this date in your diary when applying. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early should we receive a high volume of applications, so early submission is encouraged.

Be Who You Are: Interview & Workplace Adjustments- Should you be selected and invited to interview, please let us know if you require us to adapt the recruitment process to enable you to participate fully. We are committed to making reasonable adjustments within both the recruitment process and the workplace to support every candidate.

Safeguarding & Safer Recruitment -Kemnal Academies Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all colleagues to share this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to statutory safer recruitment checks prior to appointment. These include, but are not limited to, an Enhanced DBS check with Children's Barred List check, online searches (in line with KCSIE guidelines), identity and right-to-work verification, reference checks, relevant qualification/prohibition checks, and overseas checks where applicable. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended), certain spent convictions and cautions are 'protected' and do not need to be disclosed.