School Site Manager: How the Role Has Evolved in Schools

In this blog, you will learn:

• About the roles and responsibilities of a School Site Manager.
• Why the demands of School Site Managers requires a broader range of skills and qualifications.
• Where the latest School Site Manager jobs are and how to apply for them.

Behind every school is a dedicated professional ensuring the site is safe, secure and fully operational each day. The role of a School Site Manager has evolved beyond simply opening and closing buildings and now requires a broad skill set and the ability to respond to constantly changing demands.

In this interview, we speak to Tony, an experienced School Site Manager and Mechanic whose career spans more than 30 years across maintenance, engineering and supervisory roles within educational settings.

This interview offers an insight into the realities of school site management and the challenges facing those within this role. Throughout this interview, we explore what it takes to succeed as a School Site Manager, from managing day to day operations and emergency situations within today’s education sector.

Tell us about your career journey so far and your current role

I joined the royal navy at age 18 as an aircraft handler (mechanical). I like working with my hands so I have worked for over 30 years in the maintenance industry. 

My various job titles have included Maintenance Technician, Maintenance Engineer, Electrical Engineer and Supervisor in places such as Broadgreen Hospital, Atlas FM Limited and Fletchrose Heat Team. I have a wide range of experience in the maintenance world.

I have earned a lot of valuable experience within different trades over the years and I am a multi-skilled Engineer and Manager. I have 5 years' experience as a Site Manager/Supervisor and before that various employment as a mobile and static Engineer.

What does a typical day as a Site Manager look like?

A typical day for a Site Manager would be opening the school, switching on all the lights, raising the shutters and conducting a site walkaround to make sure the school is ready for the day. 

My daily duties include various planned preventative maintenance such as plantroom checks, air conditioning checks and various security checks. Then, any paperwork or new jobs on the system are to be allocated and completed.

I also conduct daily health and safety checks and fire marshal duties, as well as stock control and cleaner supervision.

During school hours, my main responsibilities are to ensure the smooth running of all maintenance issues and to be on hand for reactive and ongoing works. 

I also do a security walkaround and at the end of the day, I close the school. This is only a small part of the daily routine as maintenance works are preplanned and reactive.

What do you find most fulfilling about being a School Site Manager?

I think that rewarding moments come at different times. This may be something simple like helping a Teacher or a child all the way up to repairing faults in an emergency which allows the school to remain operational.

What has been the most valuable lesson you’ve learned in your career so far?

The most valuable lesson I’ve learnt would be the ability to correspond and operate. I believe communication is key to a smooth-running department.

What educational reforms do you hope to see in the future?

The reforms I would like to see in the future are things like providing an even better service to the school and always striving to improve.

Can you share an example of a challenging situation you’ve faced in your role or career and how you resolved it?

When working at a university, the electrical power from the mains dropped out and the back-up generator also failed meaning the university would have to temporarily close.

Due to my mechanical and electrical background, I was able to rectify the situation and the university remained open. 

This meant over three thousand people carried on with their day of learning. That felt pretty good and I was actually promoted as a result of my efforts.

What are the current challenges facing the industry?

I feel the current challenges in the industry are that caretaking has moved on from an ‘opening, closing and porterage’ era, where the role was primarily focused on unlocking and securing buildings, setting up rooms and carrying out basic manual tasks.

While many Caretakers were trained for this traditional model, the demands of the role now require a far broader range of skills. The qualifications and ability to multitask effectively are ever increasing.

What advice would you give to those aspiring to become a School Site Manager?

It’s important to realise that things change due to increased workload and pressure. 

Be prepared to go above and beyond due to the intensity of the occupation. 

It really is an excellent and rewarding job.

What were your experiences of working with Spencer Clarke Group?

My experience with Spencer Clarke Group has been outstanding. They are always approachable and willing to help and whenever I spoke to someone, they had excellent training and knowledge. 

I would like to give a special shout out to my recruitment advisor Emma Dobson who was absolutely magnificent in handling my affairs. She is so good at her job that within weeks I felt that I had made a new friend who looked after me and was always at hand.

I really could wax lyrical all day about Emma's professionalism and dedication. The best thing about her manner is how she makes you feel and you just know everybody she looks after gets the same treatment.

I would just like to add that I cannot praise Spencer Clarke Group and Emma enough as with her assistance and efforts, my career has improved largely.

Teaching, school support staff and school facilities jobs

If you’re searching for a new career opportunity, why not take a look at the latest education jobs, or simply upload your CV to be notified when a relevant job opening becomes available. 

Recruit teaching, support and facilities staff

As a specialist education recruitment agency, we support mainstream and SEND schools with their recruitment needs. 

Whether you’re searching for teaching, support, or facilities staff, we have exclusive access to some of the best educators in the North West.

If you’re struggling to fill a vacancy, why not get in touch with one of our team to see how we can help?

Primary schools - Jimmy Callagher
Secondary schools - Liam Jones
SEND schools - Jamie Heath 

Share your experience

Every individual brings a unique set of experiences, thoughts, and insights to the table. We believe in giving a voice to a community of professionals to inspire positive change and champion reform in the education sector.  

If you work in the education sector and would like to share your own personal and professional experiences, we’d love to hear from you. Perhaps you have a different perspective, could offer a fresh angle, or want to challenge assumptions. 

Simply reach out to our Head of Content, Nicole Sherwood, to discuss a collaboration which makes your voice count. 

Meet Jamie Heath

Who is Spencer Clarke Group?

Established in 2017, we’re an award winning and progressive recruitment agency based in the heart of the North West. Our reputation is built on trust, expertise and an unwavering commitment to exceed expectations. 

In 2025, Spencer Clarke Group was awarded Best Public/Third Sector Recruitment Agency and Best Temporary Recruitment Agency at the Recruiter Awards. In 2024, Spencer Clarke Group was also named Recruitment Agency of the Year.