Facilities Manager

Facilities Manager (Schools)

Location:

Watford

Salary:
Up to £50,000 + pension, healthcare, free lunch, free parking, school fee discount and an excellent long‑term career opportunity.

Are you an experienced Facilities or Estates Manager looking for a role where you can genuinely lead, influence, and make your mark? Do you want to manage an impressive 11‑acre independent school campus, lead a dedicated estates team and play a key role in maintaining and developing a unique educational environment? This is an outstanding opportunity to join one of the UK’s leading independent schools, combining exceptional academic achievement with a warm, collaborative community and an ambitious vision for the future.

Set within 11 acres of beautiful Hertfordshire grounds, the estate includes a striking Grade II listed building alongside a diverse range of modern facilities, creating a varied and technically interesting environment unlike a typical facilities management role. This isn't a position where you'll simply keep the lights on.

You’ll lead the Estates function, manage a small but experienced team, oversee contractors, drive planned maintenance programmes, support ongoing building developments and become the go‑to expert for everything relating to the school's estate. With exciting refurbishment projects planned and a fast‑moving environment, you’ll enjoy genuine ownership and the opportunity to make a lasting impact.

The ideal candidate will already have experience managing facilities or estates operations and will be looking for a role that offers greater responsibility, variety and autonomy. This would particularly suit someone who has achieved success in their current position but is ready for a new challenge where every day is different and no two projects are ever the same.

If you enjoy solving problems, leading people, and taking ownership, this is an opportunity to join a supportive organisation where your expertise will be valued and your contribution will have a visible impact across the entire school community.

• Lead the day‑to‑day management of an 11‑acre independent school estate
• Supervise and develop the Estates Team and coordinate external contractors
• Manage planned and reactive maintenance through the helpdesk system
• Oversee statutory compliance, health & safety and planned preventative maintenance
• Support refurbishment, improvement and future development projects
• Manage budgets, quotations, purchase orders and contractor performance
• Ensure the estate remains safe, compliant and operating to the highest standard

• Facilities, Estates or Site Management experience within an education establishment
• Experience leading teams and managing contractors
• Strong knowledge of maintenance, compliance and health & safety
• Organised, proactive and confident managing multiple priorities
• Comfortable working within a fast‑paced environment
• Looking for a role with genuine ownership, challenge and long‑term stability

The salary advertised is the bracket available for this position. The actual salary paid will be dependent on your level of experience, qualifications and skill set and will be decided by our client, the employer. Rise are not responsible or liable for any hiring decisions made by the end client.

We are an equal opportunities company and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.