Premises Manager

Premises Manager

Salary : Grade 10 Salary Range £35451 - £39165 depending on experience.

Hour : 06:00 - 18:00 Monday - Friday 37 hours per week 52 weeks a year.

Start date October 2026.

Open Thinking Partnership is seeking to appoint a proactive, skilled and organised Premises Manager to support the safe, compliant and effective management of our school estate.

This is an exciting opportunity to join Open Thinking Partnership at an important stage in the development of the estates function. We are restructuring and strengthening the premises team to provide greater resilience, clearer site leadership and more consistent standards across our schools.

This is an important operational leadership role within the Trust estates structure. The postholder will work closely with the Head of Estates, Headteachers, School Business Managers, other Premises Managers and site-based Premises Officers to ensure our schools are safe, well maintained, welcoming and able to meet the needs of pupils, staff and visitors.

The successful candidate will be responsible for the day-to-day premises management of an allocated group of school sites. This will include leading and supporting Premises Officers, managing helpdesk tasks, coordinating repairs and maintenance, supporting compliance, monitoring contractor works, managing delegated premises budgets and ensuring accurate records are maintained within the Trust’s estates and asset management systems.

We are looking for someone with practical maintenance skills, strong organisational ability and a clear commitment to high site standards. The role will involve using your own skills and those of the premises team to complete repairs and minor works in-house where safe, appropriate and cost-effective, while also coordinating specialist contractors where required.

The successful candidate will have experience in premises, facilities, maintenance, site management, construction or a similar operational role. They will be confident using IT systems, including email, spreadsheets, helpdesk systems and electronic records. Experience of managing contractors, supporting budgets, working across multiple sites, operating Building Management Systems, and supporting school vehicle or minibus compliance would be advantageous.

The role requires a flexible and collaborative approach, including the ability to support other Trust sites and provide cover where required. A valid UK driving licence is required, and the postholder may be required to drive Trust vehicles where appropriately licensed, trained and authorised.

Travel between Trust sites will be a regular part of the role. The successful candidate will therefore need access to their own vehicle for business use, with business mileage reimbursed in line with Trust procedures.

The role is Monday to Friday, with working hours to be agreed within the operational needs of the Trust. Flexibility will be required between the hours of 06:00 and 18:00 to support site opening, operational cover, contractor access, emergencies and the needs of the schools.

Staff have access to a range of Trust benefits, which may include use of on-site EV charging facilities where available and in line with the Trust’s EV charging policy.

We welcome informal conversations about the role. If you would like to discuss the position in more detail, or have any questions before applying, please contact David Carter, Head of Estates, at [email removed].

Open Thinking Partnership is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and all relevant safer recruitment checks.

This post will close on the 31st August 2026

Interview will take place on 10th September 2026

You will need to have attended induction before paid employment starts - TBC October 2026.

The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and subject to a check being carried out at an Enhanced level by the Disclosure and Barring Service regarding any previous criminal record.

The Open Thinking Partnership shares a commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people. Our commitment is underpinned by robust processes and procedures that seek to maximise opportunity, minimise risk and continuously promote a culture that embraces the ethos of safeguarding amongst our workforce.