Start Date: September 2026

Contract: Full-time, Permanent (Year-Round Framework)

Salary: Paid to scale (Support Staff Framework)

The Role

A renowned Secondary School in Southampton is seeking a professional, strategically minded, and exceptionally organised Facilities Manager to assume full operational command of their physical estate, capital maintenance plans, and safety compliance frameworks. This prominent leadership role is ideal for a dedicated facilities manager, senior estates coordinator, or building services engineer who excels at balancing complex regulatory audits with planned preventative maintenance tracking across a high-capacity public sector asset.

The successful candidate will take strategic and operational accountability for the school's mechanical, electrical, and structural infrastructure. Key responsibilities include managing the centralized premises budget, writing complex procurement specifications, supervising onsite caretaking shifts, and overseeing external specialized sub-contractors during major engineering interventions. You will be directly responsible for the flawless maintenance of the school’s digital health and safety archive, tracking rigorous statutory logs covering water hygiene parameters (Legionella), fixed wiring diagnostics, gas safety accreditations, and fire safety systems in total accordance with national regulations.

You will act as the primary specialist link between the senior leadership team, local authority planning panels, and health and safety executive inspectors. Absolute professionalism, analytical data literacy, and crisp communication skills are required to safely navigate long-term infrastructure improvements while keeping daily school learning logistics running seamlessly.

School Information

This is a thriving, well-established 11 to 18 Secondary School in Southampton with an exceptional reputation for structural innovation, environmental efficiency, and support faculty welfare. The campus features modernised classroom blocks, university-grade scientific zones, and high-spec community sports hubs designed to streamline public tracking and educational usage.

The facilities management department is highly supported, operating with an excellent dedicated operational budget and an independent administrative workspace. Senior leaders actively prioritize manageable teacher and support workloads, open management communication tracks, and funded pathways for advanced executive accreditations (including NEBOSH diplomas or advanced facilities leadership training).

Requirements

• Proven experience in a facilities management, senior estate leadership, or building operations role within an educational or high-volume commercial sector

• Mandatory possession of a recognized health and safety accreditation (such as IOSH Managing Safely or NEBOSH General Certificate)

• Deep working knowledge of statutory building compliance legislation, building management systems (BMS), and contract tracking frameworks

• Strong data literacy and IT capabilities, with absolute confidence writing compliance records and navigating digital helpdesk management software

• Exceptional team leadership and communication skills, with a track record of driving operational excellence and contractor compliance

Application

To apply, please send your comprehensive CV as soon as possible.