School Business Manager

Bents Green and Talbot Specialist Schools

37 hours per week – 52 weeks per year

Are you a highly skilled and experienced Business Manager looking to work in a setting that makes a genuine difference to the lives of young people with a range of special needs in Sheffield?

Bents Green and Talbot Specialist Schools have worked as a successful partnership since 2014, being led by a single Executive Headteacher, who is leading both schools forward in growth and success for their students and families.  Each has its own Head of School, and is increasingly considering a number of arrangements which will embed the partnership, build greater capacity for both and exploit every opportunity to create efficiencies in resources.

Bents Green is a Specialist Secondary School for young people who present with a range of Communication and Interaction Difficulties including Autistic Spectrum Disorders.  The school currently has a population of 163 young people aged 11-19 years, and was judged Good in its last inspection of July 2014.

Talbot is a Specialist Secondary School, for young people presenting with Severe and Complex Health/ Learning Difficulties.  The population of 163, includes those with Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties, Severe Learning Difficulties and Autistic Spectrum Disorders.  The school was judged to be Outstanding in 2009 and 2013.

Due to the continued growth of the partnership, the Governors now wish to appoint an experienced manager to work across both schools, providing strategic financial leadership and planning. This is a new role in which the successful candidate will work as part of the senior leadership team in both schools, and closely with the Executive Headteacher.  You will have the opportunity to lead the schools Business Strategy, manage hard-working and diverse teams across two sites, and help to shape services to schools which includes FUSION TSA and School to School support.

This is an exciting and innovative development for a highly skilled and experienced Business Manager, who can demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the demands on schools, as they establish new and innovative working practices. We welcome applicants with diverse experience; a schools background is not essential. Our governors are looking for knowledge around the educational sector and a passion for working in this environment.

We are looking for:

• Strong recent experience in the leadership of a team to deliver on finance, premises, human resources and facility management.
• Proven experience in managing multiple budgets and advising leadership about operational and strategic financial decisions.
• A recognised business qualification such as CSBM or other relevant professional qualification or can demonstrate equivalent experience.
• A high level of drive and motivation with the ability to motivate others
• The ability to work with the senior leadership team in the delivery of the strategic vision and direction of the schools 
• A proactive, innovative approach to school business development
• Strong interpersonal skills to effectively liaise with different stakeholders and service providers including PFI providers and managed services
• Experience in the education sector; although not essential.

We can offer:

• Dynamic, highly skilled and committed staff teams
• A thriving school community, with well motivated, high achieving, enthusiastic young people
• Developing strong links with families and the wider community
• A desire to be the best, a committed and creative leadership team, who strives to shape and influence city wide delivery and practice
• Working with a visionary leadership team with high aspirations and innovative approaches for the future of the partnership

Applications forms and further details are available from: Mrs Karen Taylor, Ringinglow Road, Sheffield, S11 7TB or email: KTaylor@bentsgreen.sheffield.sch.uk

Closing date: 5 July 2015.
The assessment process and interviews to be held on: 14 and 15 July 2015.

We invite you to come and visit the schools and meet our staff and children on 22 or 23 June. Please call Karen Taylor on 0114 2363545 to arrange this.

The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare and safety of children and young people and expect all staff to share this commitment.  Enhanced DBS check required for this post.

Bents Green School 
Ringinglow Road   
Sheffield         
S11 7TB        

Talbot Specialist School
Lees Hall Road
Sheffield
S8 9JP