Facilities Manager

Full Job Description

We believe in giving you more time to do the things you love outside of work

Job Title:  Facilities Manager
Location:  Abbey Gardens School, Bury St Edmunds, IP32 6SA
Hours:      40 hours per week | Monday to Friday | 7.30am - 3.30pm
Salary:      Up to £35,000 per annum (depending on experience, not pro rata)
Contract:  Permanent | 52 Weeks
Start:         ASAP
UK applicants only – no sponsorship available

About the Role

We’re looking for an experienced and hands-on Facilities Manager to take ownership of the facilities operation at Abbey Gardens School, ensuring our pupils and colleagues have a safe, welcoming and well-maintained environment in which to learn and work.

This is an ideal opportunity for someone who enjoys the variety of facilities management – leading people, managing contractors, overseeing compliance and budgets, solving problems and still being willing to roll up their sleeves when needed.

You’ll have responsibility for the day-to-day running and ongoing development of our facilities services, ensuring maintenance, domestic services, catering and housekeeping consistently meet high standards.

No two days will look exactly the same. You could be planning preventative maintenance and managing contractors one moment, then troubleshooting an urgent repair or identifying a practical solution to an operational issue the next.

With Monday-to-Friday hours of 7.30am–3.30pm, this is an opportunity to take on a varied facilities leadership role while maintaining a great balance outside of work.

Key Responsibilities

• Take ownership of the school’s facilities operation, ensuring buildings, grounds and services are safe, well maintained and fit for purpose.
• Lead and support facilities services including maintenance, domestic services, catering and housekeeping, maintaining consistently high standards.
• Plan and manage reactive, planned and preventative maintenance, prioritising work effectively and ensuring issues are resolved promptly.
• Manage external contractors, suppliers and projects, monitoring quality, performance, costs and value for money.
• Ensure compliance across Health & Safety, fire safety, COSHH, food hygiene and other regulatory requirements, maintaining accurate records and audit readiness.
• Manage facilities expenditure, equipment, vehicles, chemicals, supplies and resources effectively.
• Take a practical, hands-on approach to repairs, maintenance and troubleshooting, acting as a first point of response when facilities issues arise.
• Work collaboratively with school leaders and colleagues to continually improve the environment and ensure facilities effectively support the needs of the school

About You

We’re looking for an experienced facilities professional who combines strong leadership and organisation with a practical, solutions-focused approach.

You’ll bring:

• Proven experience within facilities management, estates, maintenance or a similar operational role.
• Experience leading facilities or maintenance teams and confidently managing external contractors.
• Strong working knowledge of Health & Safety, fire safety, COSHH and regulatory compliance.
• Ability to effectively balance planned projects and day-to-day reactive maintenance.
• Strong organisational and prioritisation skills, with the ability to manage multiple demands.
• A practical, solutions-focused approach with strong problem-solving skills.
• Confident people-management skills, including supporting, developing and motivating colleagues.
• A proactive, dependable and hands-on approach, comfortable leading the operation while getting involved when required.
• A Full UK Driving Licence.

About Us 

Abbey Gardens is a brand-new specialist school, part of Acorn Education, supporting young people aged 11–16 with SEMH needs. Opened in June 2026, we provide a nurturing, inclusive environment where every pupil is supported to thrive.

Our personalised curriculum builds on the National Curriculum while being adapted to each pupil’s individual needs, strengths and aspirations. We combine academic learning with personal development, helping pupils build confidence, resilience, independence and essential life skills.

As the school grows, our curriculum will remain relevant, engaging and purposeful, with Key Stage 3 and 4 pathways offering recognised accreditation wherever possible. Our aim is simple: to help every young person overcome barriers, experience success and build a positive future.

Acorn Education offers rewarding careers and meaningful challenges while making a real difference in young people’s lives. As a leading UK provider of specialist education for children and young people with special educational needs, and part of Outcomes First Group, we deliver innovative, evidence-based approaches that support measurable progress and lasting impact.

We are really proud to say that in 2025 Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the sixth year running.

Why Join Us?

We place pupils and vulnerable young adults at the heart of everything we do, so every day brings the satisfaction of making a real difference. We are committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase contributions
• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – mental health support and physical health checks
• Flexible Benefits Platform (Vista), including:
  • Health, wellbeing and insurance benefits
  • Hundreds of UK and international discounts
  • Cycle to Work Scheme & Electric Car Purchase Scheme
  • Critical illness cover
  • Family Growth Support, including enhanced maternity/paternity leave and paid fertility treatment support

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

Outcomes First Group is committed to carrying out a fair, thorough and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. Whilst we aim to keep applicants informed throughout, Outcomes First Group does not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other associated costs incurred by applicants as a result of delays or changes in the compliance process. All stages of the compliance process are subject to necessary safeguarding checks and compliance with statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.

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