Operations Manager
Downsend School
Surrey
- Expired
- Job type:
- Full Time, Permanent
- Apply by:
- 20 July 2025
Job overview
About the School - Downsend
Downsend is a forward-thinking, independent co-educational day school in Surrey, catering to children aged 6 months to 18 years across five campus’ in Ashtead, Epsom and Leatherhead. With a strong emphasis on innovation, creativity, and a holistic approach to education, the school combines academic excellence with extensive co-curricular opportunities. Downsend prides itself on its nurturing and inclusive environment, modern facilities, and commitment to developing confident, well-rounded pupils. As a member of the Cognita Schools Group, it benefits from global best practices in education while retaining a strong local identity in the community. Working at Downsend offers the chance to be part of a dynamic, collaborative team dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people for the future.
The school now has an exciting opportunity for an experienced Operations Manager to join our fantastic team.
About Cognita
Cognita is a global leader in independent education. Founded in 2004, we are a growing community of 100+ schools in 17 countries - in Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East - serving more than 85,000 students. Each of our schools are proudly unique, however our collective purpose is to create an environment where everyone can, ‘Thrive in a rapidly evolving world’.
About the role
As Operations Manager across all Downsend sites, you’ll play a vital role in ensuring the smooth and efficient running of both schools' support functions. You’ll lead a range of operational areas—from facilities and compliance to HR processes and finance collaboration—creating the foundation for a safe, welcoming, and high-performing learning environment. Working closely with the Headteacher and central teams, you’ll ensure that day-to-day operations run seamlessly, projects are implemented effectively, and that the school meets all regulatory requirements. Your focus will be on delivering excellent service and contributing to the school’s growth, reputation, and community.
To view the full Job Description, please click here
Who we are looking for:
You are a natural organiser and people-person who thrives in a fast-paced environment. With experience in managing facilities or back-office functions, you’re confident in leading teams, juggling competing priorities, and making sound, commercial decisions. You’re calm under pressure, solutions-focused, and able to relate to colleagues, parents, and external partners with professionalism and empathy. Your strong communication, IT, and problem-solving skills allow you to work effectively across departments and levels. Above all, you bring integrity, energy, and a commitment to making things work better—for staff, students, and the wider school community. If you’re ready to take the lead in a dynamic, purpose-driven role, we’d love to hear from you.
Benefits at Cognita:
- Competitive salary depending upon qualifications and experience
- Free lunch provided during Term Time
- Holiday Allowance
- Free parking on site (subject to availability)
- School fee discount
- Exclusive third-party discounts
- Professional Development
How to Apply
Complete this application before the closing date. The Closing Date for Applications is: Sunday 20th July 2025
Cognita Schools are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff, volunteers and other third parties to share this commitment. Safer recruitment practice and pre-employment background checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.
We are an equal opportunities employer committed to diversity and treating all employees with dignity and respect regardless of background.
Early applications are encouraged, we reserve the right to interview and appoint prior to closing date for the right applicant.
About Downsend School
Introduction
At Downsend, we prepare children for the future with a creative and problem-solving approach to learning that not only inspires young minds, but fosters bravery, sparks imagination, celebrates innovation and creates opportunity every day.
From nursery through to A Levels, we provide the skills, motivation and inspiration for our students to be successful throughout their school journey and far beyond.
We have three Little Downsend locations in Ashtead, Epsom and Leatherhead. Each teaches children from the age of two to six. All the Little Downsend sites are overseen by the Head of Little Downsend, Mrs Lisa Burns, who instils the same ethos, high standards and innovative curriculum across each school through her dedicated team of experts.
The main school is located in Leatherhead and continues the same innovative, creative and academically excellent curriculum from Year 2 to Year 13. Over the last few years, Downsend has benefited from an £15m investment in brand new flexible teaching spaces and our cutting edge Creative Arts Centre opened summer 2022. The latest development at our main site saw the addition of a new Senior School teaching block, consisting of 5 contemporary classrooms.
Our ‘Inspiring Young Minds’ philosophy pervades all our schools and has resulted in some really creative teaching and learning initiatives across the schools, as well as fantastic enrichment opportunities, such as our tailor-made Stretch Programme.
The core curriculum provides a solid framework, preparing children well for their educational journey through Downsend. We achieve amazing success at all levels academically, and we have been delighted with our first cohorts of GCSE pupils who have achieved remarkable results in the last couple of years. We are delighted by their results, which are a testament to their hard work. With 100 % of all pupils securing the grades required for their first-choice onward destination.
It is the school's broader curriculum and strong pastoral support that particularly sets us apart, with an emphasis on practical subjects such as STEAM, Computing, Design Technology, Drama, Textiles and Food Technology.
The sporting programme offers scope for nearly every child to represent the school, with strong results achieved in both county and national competitions. The school’s huge range of clubs, with more than 50 activities on offer each week, further enhances the schedule.
The active programme continues into the school holidays when Downsend+ takes over. Children have the opportunity to participate in horse riding, rock climbing, scuba diving, fashion design or any of the other activities that are on offer throughout the holiday weeks. The school also offers Downsend Early Years+, for younger girls and boys age 2 to 5, at Little Downsend Leatherhead. Combined with term time schooling, Downsend can offer 50 week provision for working parents.
Downsend School’s newest addition, Downsend Sixth, opening in September 2025, offers a modern and innovative approach to post-16 education. Designed with a focus on future-ready skills, Downsend Sixth combines a personalised learning journey for students aged 16-18, with a balanced emphasis on academic achievement and personal development. Students will thrive in a unique, state-of-the-art environment featuring exceptional academic facilities alongside inspiring spaces for socialising and collaboration. This holistic approach ensures students are equipped not only for academic success but also for the challenges of an evolving, globalised world. Downsend Sixth prepares young people to excel, empowering them to take confident next steps into higher education, apprenticeships, or the workplace.
We are an incredibly friendly and supportive staff and we are looking for the right people to join us. So, if you are a great practitioner with a level of creativity and innovation to your teaching, would relish contributing to the extra-curricular life of school, are ambitious, and are happy to challenge and be challenged in a positive way for better outcomes for the children, then we want to hear from you.
Additional Benefits
· Free on-site parking
· Good road and rail transport links and proximity to London
· School Fee remission after qualifying period
· Childcare voucher scheme in operation
· Holiday club discount
· Free lunch available
Benefits of being a Cognita School
Cognita is an international group with over 90 schools in Europe, Latin America, Middle East and Asia, we employ 15,000+ teaching and support staff in the care and education of more than 60,000 students.
Teaching excellence represents everything we stand for at Cognita. We’re committed to hiring and retaining outstanding talent: teachers and school leaders who are passionate about their craft as well as functional leaders and professionals in our Head and Regional offices who can take the business forward.
We are looking for people who want to make a positive difference to children’s lives, who can help us stretch and support children to achieve beyond expectation.
Our diverse portfolio of schools and Regional Offices, combined with our ongoing investment in the professional development of our people, means we can offer first-class career opportunities with a global dimension. If you want to take your career further, we want to support you in achieving that goal within Cognita. www.cognita.com
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