Operations Assistant
Location: Windlesham House School
Salary: £12.82 per hour 8am to 9pm (ie social hours) £15.52 per hour(unsocial hours)
Hours: Full Time, 52 weeks a year, Monday – Friday, 06:00 – 14:00
Windlesham House is a distinctive day and boarding school for girls and boys aged 4-13 where tradition meets innovation, providing opportunities for the children to be creative, courageous and successful.
As the oldest prep school in the country (est 1837) and the first prep school to become co-educational (1967), we have always led the way in embracing the new. We are progressive and innovative in our ethos and approach while embracing our traditions and rich history. Focusing on the wellbeing of every child, each benefits from a first class and distinctive education full of exciting opportunities and experiences in the glorious South Downs.
Overview:
We are seeking a reliable, proactive, and professional Operations Assistant to join our busy prep school. The Operations Assistant plays a vital role in ensuring the school is a safe, clean, and welcoming environment for pupils, staff, parents, and visitors. The successful candidate must be highly flexible and willing to adjust working hours to meet the changing needs of school life, including early starts, late finishes, and occasional weekend support.
The role includes event setup, site security, housekeeping support, manual handling, compliance checks, general caretaking, logistics and supporting the Estates Team with practical tasks across the site.
Key Responsibilities:
Daily School Operations
- Assist with the smooth running of the site on a day-to-day basis.
- Carry out daily tasks such as unlocking and lock-up, ensuring buildings are secure and safe for use.
- Maintain a visible presence around the school, responding promptly to requests for assistance.
- Adapt working patterns during busy periods such as productions, parent events, fixtures, exams, and other large school events.
Event Setup and Support
- Set up and set down areas of the school for a wide range of school events, including but not limited to: assemblies, concerts, open days, sports events, exams, and meetings.
- Move and arrange furniture, staging, AV equipment, and other event materials to required standards.
- Provide out-of-hours support for key events, sometimes at short notice
Housekeeping
- Assist with cleaning tasks where required, including spill response, touchpoint cleaning, and supporting the housekeeping team during staff absence or high demand.
- Keep communal areas, external spaces, storerooms, and pathways tidy and well presented.
- Support waste and recycling routines, including collection, relocations, and disposal where needed.
- Carry out scheduled compliance checks in COSHH storage areas.
- Stocking of COSHH cupboards from central stores.
Person Specification
Essential:
- Strong work ethic and pride in maintaining a well-kept school environment.
- Highly flexible approach, comfortable with changing hours and varying daily demands.
- Friendly, approachable, and professional around pupils, staff, and visitors.
- Physically fit with the ability to carry out frequent manual handling tasks.
- Reliable and punctual.
- Able to use initiative, problem-solve, and work independently.
- Effective communication skills.
- Calm and reassuring in busy environments or emergency situations.
- Good attention to detail.
- Willingness to complete training relevant to the role.
- Able to drive school vehicles, including vans.
Compulsory Workdays:
As part of the school’s busy event programme, there are a few events that will be required for all Estates, Operations, and Grounds staff to attend to ensure a safe and smoothly run event, which are included within the overall salary:
Speech Day: 8 hours
Sports Day: 8 hours
Bonfire Night: 4 hours
Carol Service: 4 hours
In addition, there will be opportunities to help with other events that run throughout the year, that will be paid at an hourly rate.
Benefits of employment
Contributory occupational pension scheme
Cash health plan currently provided by +Medicash
Access to an employee assistance programme
Membership of the school’s nine hole golf course at a reduced subscription
Participation in a ‘Cycle to Work’ scheme (subject to eligibility)
Invitation to school productions and concerts throughout the year
Support for professional development and training
Free on-site parking (at the owners own risk)
To Apply
If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for Windlesham House School, please click apply to redirected to our website to complete your application
