Operations Lead - Education

Operations Lead – Education

Diamond Search Recruitment – Representing a Confidential Client

Location: Billingshurst
Salary: £60,000 – £65,000 per annum
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: Full Time – 40 hours per week
Sector: Education / Specialist Education

About the Opportunity

Diamond Search Recruitment is delighted to be partnering with a leading provider of specialist education services to appoint an experienced and ambitious Operations Lead – Education.

This is a high-impact leadership opportunity for an operationally focused professional who is passionate about improving educational outcomes and driving excellence across a multi-site environment.

Working closely with Headteachers, Principals and senior leadership teams, you will provide strategic and operational support to ensure schools deliver outstanding standards of quality, compliance, performance and sustainability.

This role will suit an experienced education operations professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment, enjoys leading improvement initiatives and has a proven ability to influence stakeholders across geographically dispersed locations.

The Role

As Operations Lead – Education, you will play a key role in supporting a portfolio of specialist schools, ensuring operational effectiveness, regulatory compliance and continuous improvement.

You will work collaboratively with education leaders and central support functions to strengthen processes, improve performance and support schools through growth, change and development.

Key Responsibilities

Driving Operational Excellence

• Partner with Headteachers and Principals to support effective school operations.
• Drive consistency across operational processes, systems and standards.
• Identify improvement opportunities and implement practical solutions.
• Support schools through periods of growth, transition and change.
• Provide operational leadership during inspections, audits and regulatory reviews.
• Identify operational risks and ensure appropriate mitigation plans are implemented.

Supporting Workforce Performance

• Work alongside education leaders and HR teams to improve workforce stability and performance.
• Monitor recruitment, retention and agency usage trends.
• Support workforce planning and organisational change initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with supervision, appraisal and mandatory training requirements.
• Promote colleague wellbeing, engagement and best practice.

Performance Improvement & Reporting

• Develop and maintain performance reporting tools and dashboards.
• Analyse operational data and provide insight-led recommendations.
• Monitor key performance indicators including:

Attendance

Safeguarding

Behaviour

Complaints

Recruitment and retention

Staff turnover

Training compliance

Budget performance

School improvement activity

• Produce reports and recommendations for senior leadership reviews.

Quality & Compliance

• Support schools in meeting Independent School Standards and inspection requirements.
• Ensure readiness for Ofsted and regulatory inspections.
• Coordinate audits, action plans and improvement programmes.
• Promote a culture of accountability, quality assurance and continuous improvement.

Projects & Change Management

• Lead operational projects across the education division.
• Support mobilisation of new services and expansion programmes.
• Implement new systems, processes and improvement initiatives.
• Manage project milestones, risks and delivery plans.

Financial & Commercial Performance

• Support leaders with budget monitoring and resource optimisation.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency and sustainability.
• Contribute to forecasting, planning and business performance reviews.
• Support occupancy growth and referral activity.

About You

We are seeking an experienced education operations leader with a strong understanding of regulated environments and a passion for improving services.

Essential Experience & Skills

Experience operating across multiple sites and working with diverse stakeholders.

Proven experience supporting leaders within education or another regulated environment.

Strong understanding of quality assurance, compliance and performance improvement.

Experience analysing management information and operational data.

Demonstrable project management and change implementation experience.

Excellent communication, influencing and relationship-building skills.

Strong organisational, analytical and problem-solving abilities.

Ability to work independently across geographically dispersed locations.

Knowledge & Qualifications

Degree-level qualification or equivalent professional experience.

GCSE English and Mathematics (Grade C/4 or above).

Evidence of ongoing professional development.

Knowledge of:

Independent School Standards

Ofsted inspection frameworks

Safeguarding requirements

Workforce planning and HR processes

Health & Safety compliance

GDPR and data protection

Desirable

PGCE or equivalent teaching qualification.

Experience within specialist education settings.

Why Apply?

This is an excellent opportunity to join a respected education organisation where you will have the opportunity to influence operational excellence, support school leaders and make a meaningful impact on outcomes for children and young people.

The successful candidate will benefit from:

Competitive salary of £60,000 – £65,000.

A senior operational leadership position with significant influence.

Opportunity to support improvement across a specialist education portfolio.

Access to professional development and career progression opportunities.

Comprehensive employee benefits package including:

Employee Assistance Programme and wellbeing support.

Online GP services and healthcare benefits.

Financial wellbeing support.

Life assurance.

Cycle to Work scheme and lifestyle discounts.

About Diamond Search Recruitment

Diamond Search Recruitment partners with leading organisations across the UK to identify exceptional talent and connect professionals with career opportunities where they can make a genuine impact.

We are managing this recruitment campaign on behalf of our confidential client. Company details will be disclosed during the recruitment process.

Safeguarding Statement

Our client is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable individuals. The successful applicant will be required to complete appropriate pre-employment checks, including an enhanced DBS check and any relevant background screening.

Apply now to be considered for this exciting Operations Lead – Education opportunity.