Are you an experienced team manager with strong people skills?

Apply today to lead an SRWA team that makes a difference!

Support Services Manager

Permanent , full time, all year round: 52 weeks*

37 hours per week: Monday to Friday

8 hours per day (including a daily 30 min unpaid break)

Actual Starting Salary: £32,597p.a.

Annual leave: 28 days plus public holidays

*potential for an alternative term time +4weeks contract for the right candidate

The School:

The Sir Robert Woodard Academy, one of the ‘happiest’ schools in the country (The Sunday Times, 2025) and part of the Woodard family of schools, is a thriving 11–18 Academy serving primarily the students of Lancing, Sompting and West Shoreham, though we welcome students from all surrounding areas. We are committed to ensuring that every student is known and nurtured and is provided with teaching and learning experiences that allow them to fulfil their potential.   Every member of staff plays a part in this.

In January 2026, the Academy was proudly evaluated under the new Ofsted toolkit as being at ‘Strong Standard’ in four areas and ‘Expected Standard’ in three, further building on the Academy’s 2021 rating of ‘Good’ in all areas.

The Position:

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced, personable and positive Support Services Manager, to lead our essential administrative and operational functions. Reporting to the Finance & Operations Manager, this is a pivotal management role for a professional who thrives on building a collaborative, inclusive and high-performing team environment.  As the Support Services Manager, your primary mission is to lead, manage, and inspire the Support Services team. You will be responsible for managing a workspace where every team member feels valued, empowered, and motivated to provide high-quality operational services to our students, staff, and the wider community.

Key Responsibilities:

• Team Leadership: Provide effective management for the Support Services team, overseeing workloads, performance appraisals and professional development.
• Operational Excellence: Proven ability to manage high-volume workflows by effectively prioritising tasks, delegating responsibilities, dynamically adapting to shifting demands, and establishing robust systems for maximum team organisation.
• High-level Communication: Lead high-level communication and delivery of integrated support services across the Academy.

Quote from a current support staff employee at SRWA: "Working at SRWA is incredibly rewarding. We pride ourselves on our collaborative culture, where staff truly support one another. Our students are inspiring and, because no two days are ever the same, it is such a fulfilling environment."  

This is a fantastic opportunity to play a leading role in a vibrant educational community.

Only candidates who meet the essential criteria for the role will be considered as part of the shortlisting process; please ensure you review the Job Description and Person Specification and evidence clearly in your application how you meet the role requirements. 

                          Role type:  Permanent and full time, 52 weeks  

                          Hours:       37 per week, Monday to Friday, 8am-4pm (3.30 finish on Fridays)

                          Salary:       Actual starting salary £32,597p.a.

Holiday: 28 days plus public holidays

                          Benefits: 

• modern and spacious working environment

• free use of the Academy’s fitness suite

• free employee wellness programme and onsite wellbeing support

• generous employer contribution pension scheme of 15%

• free on-site parking and easy access to local public transport

• cycle to work scheme.

The Person:

At SRWA, our people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with wellbeing support, coaching, mentoring and a wide range of top-quality training and CPD programmes delivered at every level up to senior leadership. 

A Staff Well-being survey in May 2025 revealed our staff consider these areas ‘outstanding’:

Academy ethos and overall sense of common purpose

Staff morale and job satisfaction

Support from line managers and colleagues

Caring teachers

Appreciation of staff contribution and opportunities for staff to develop. 

The successful candidate will:

●      Demonstrate recent, proven experience in successfully managing and coordinating an administrative or operations team

●      Have advanced ICT skills and digital fluency

●      Evidence a good standard of education (GCSEs or higher) and recent and relevant CPD  

●      Commit to the needs of the pupils, parents and other stakeholders and challenge barriers and blocks to providing an effective service

●      Be an effective communicator with well-developed interpersonal skills and able to relate well to a wide range of people

●      Demonstrate a calm, positive, ‘can-do’ attitude, including suggesting solutions, participating, trusting and encouraging others and achieving expectations.

●      Hold a dedicated commitment to safeguarding and the need for confidentiality.

Our commitment to Safeguarding:

The Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share in this commitment. All posts will be subject to full safeguarding and vetting checks, including the receipt of two satisfactory references.  Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a criminal record self-declaration form and to give consent for an online search to be carried out against their name.  

The successful applicant for this post will be engaging in ‘regulated activity’, therefore they will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) Check.  It is an offence to apply for this role if the applicant is barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children, so individuals on the children’s barred list (and adults barred list where relevant) should not apply.  

Please be aware that the Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check will reveal both spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings, and any other information held by local police that is considered relevant to the role, unless any such information is ‘protected’ under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended).  If you are unsure, please visit this URL: https://www.gov.uk/tell-employer-or-college-about-criminal-record

There is a six-month probation period for all post-holders. 

Our Commitment to Equal Opportunities:

The Academy is committed to equality of opportunity. We positively welcome applications from suitably qualified individuals from all sections of the community.

We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at our Academy is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.

Application Process:

If you are interested, please apply online before the closing date* demonstrating how your skills and experience meet the essential requirements of the role. CVs will not be accepted.

Closing date: 10/7/26* (9am)

Interviews: 14/7/26

*Please note we reserve the right to close the advert at any time before the deadline date, should a large number of strong applications be received.  If you are interested, then you are advised to apply early.