School Bursar

We are looking to appoint a full time, permanent Bursar to oversee the day-to-day operation of our School.  It will be the successful candidate’s main responsibility to support the Principal in the efficient running of the school; maintaining its operational integrity with its ethos and values. The Bursar will sit on the school’s senior leadership team, known as Headsforum.

Role overview

In September 2017 all sixth form teaching moved to its new site at 333 Banbury Road and d’Overbroeck’s International School moved into the Swan Building, which was previously used for sixth form teaching.

Taken together, these changes have brought substantially more physical space and enable the School to take its facilities and its educational provision to a whole new level in a host of areas including the sciences, art, music and drama, as well as its library, social and dining provision. This is, therefore, an opportunity to join the School at an enormously exciting point in its development and to be a significant figure in a highly successful school.

Alongside the development of the teaching facilities, d’Overbroeck’s has also expanded its boarding provision. Over the last three years the number of boarders at the school has risen from 40 to 206 and the School now has 5 boarding houses across Oxford. The Bursar will be responsible for the upkeep and development of all the School’s facilities.

The Bursar will inherit a committed and professional team to which they will provide inspiring leadership that ensures individuals can give their best and in turn contribute to an outstanding student experience.

Duties and responsibilities

This job description is provided as a guide to the role. It is not intended to be an exhaustive description of the duties and responsibilities of a School Bursar, and may be subject to periodic revision. 

While we do anticipate that the main duties of the Bursar will fall into the below categories, for a fuller guide on the job and its associated duties, please refer to the included job description. 

Finance

• Proactively manage the operating costs for all service functions;
• Lead in identifying and monitoring the KPIs for all back office operations;
• Administer pension, income protection and private health care schemes for all staff;
• Assist with the preparation of budgets and financial outlook; and
• Play a lead role in planning future capacity and monitoring of capex budgets

Facilities

• Ensure that the School’s estates, buildings and accommodation are maintained efficiently and safely;
• Oversee site security
• Ensure that the IT service across the School is fit for purpose
• Manage catering contracts, ensuring standards for quality, hygiene and food safety are all met; 
• Manage cleaning contracts; and
• Draw up outline specifications for new buildings, obtaining tenders, planning permission and liaising with architects and builders

Health and Safety

• Supervise Health and Safety throughout the school;
• Monitor the work of the Facilities Manager on fire safety, premises and contractors ;
• Ensure appropriate procedures are in place for dealing with specific H&S matters including trips, activities and sport plus higher-risk academic activities: sciences, art, DT etc; 
• Advise and take appropriate security measures for buildings, vehicles and equipment and for the personal safety of staff and students; and
• Ensure compliance with the regulations for the operation of minibuses, driver training and assessments, servicing and vehicle inspectorate tests.

General Management and Administration

• Line manage the school’s HR team;
• Ensure compliance with all relevant aspects of employment law;
• In liaison with the central HR team, manage the employment, terms and conditions of all non-teaching staff;
• Ensure that the school has adequate insurance cover at all times;
• Purchase all goods and services for the school;
• Ensure the school’s suppliers are delivering a good value and service
• Act as correspondent with the Department of Education and be responsible for the records and returns required; 
• Maintain contact with the statutory authorities and other organisations as necessary; and
• Aid in Inspection preparation

Person Specification

Essential criteria

• Inspired and inspiring leadership ability based on breadth of experience;
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to command the respect of a diverse group of stakeholders;
• A proven track record of managing a multi-disciplinary team;
• Education to degree level or equivalent professional qualification;
• Financial and commercial acumen;
• Ambition, energy and resilience;
• Excellent IT skills;
• A passion and commitment to the education of children and young people in a setting that values individuality, informality and respect; and
• A commitment to the safeguarding and wellbeing of children and young people.

Desirable criteria

• Experience of working in a Bursarial or similar role;
• A professional finance qualification.

Applications

A fully completed non-teaching application form, along with a full CV and covering letter should be emailed to HR@doverbroecks.com. 

Please apply as soon as possible, but no later than 22 April 2019