Head of Domestic Services (Excellent Career Step-Up)
Location: Leweston School, Sherborne, Dorset
Job Type: Part-time, Permanent (Year-Round)
Salary: £30,030 FTE, actual salary £28,028
About the Role:
Are you an ambitious Housekeeping Supervisor, Team Leader, or Senior Assistant Manager looking for the next big step in your career? If you have proven experience leading teams on the floor and are ready to step into full departmental ownership, this is the perfect opportunity for you.
Leweston School is seeking an energetic, organised, and approachable Head of Domestic Services. Reporting directly to the Head of Operations, this role is a fantastic transition into a full managerial position. You will take overall responsibility for our school’s housekeeping functions, ensuring our internal campus areas and boarding houses are flawlessly presented.
You will oversee day to day operations, staffing, and budgets, this is a hands-on, year-round role where you will lead by example, collaborating closely with your team, managing the high-tempo shift between term-time operations and holiday deep-cleaning schedules, and supporting our commercial letting activities.
Why this is the perfect next step for you:
- Take full strategic and operational ownership of your own department.
- We will support you as you take on budget management, supplier negotiations, and inter-departmental collaboration.
- Collaborate daily with key school leaders, including the Head of Operations and Estates Manager.
What you’ll be doing:
- Inspire & Lead: Recruit, manage, and motivate the domestic and laundry teams, managing rotas across term-time and holiday periods.
- Maintain Standards: Set, audit, and maintain immaculate cleanliness standards across the school site and boarding houses, including project-managing holiday deep cleans.
- Budget & Resources: Work within a defined budget, source consumables/uniforms, and learn to negotiate with external suppliers for best value.
- Safety & Committees: Ensure compliance with Health & Safety and COSHH regulations, representing your team on the Health and Safety Committee.
What we are looking for:
- A proven track record of supervising, motivating, and organising a diverse operational team (whether in hospitality, education, residential care, or facilities management).
- Organisational Potential: Strong project management and computer literacy skills (MS Word/Excel), with the ability to plan large-scale schedules.
- The Right Attitude: A collaborative team player who is ready to act decisively and take accountability. You should have excellent, empathetic, and approachable communication skills.
- Commitment: A dedication to actively promoting and safeguarding the welfare of our pupils at all times.
Benefits:
- Working hours 5am to 12pm Mon - Fri
- Hours 35 hours a week
- Occasional weekend and evening work will be expected
- Membership of a pension scheme with the School contributing up to 12%
- Free onsite parking
- Complimentary meals during working hours
- Employee Assistance program
- Generous Annual leave allowance of 7.2 weeks
To Apply:
If you are ready to take the next step in your management career and take pride in creating a pristine environment, we want to hear from you. Click Apply Now to apply on the schools job portal.
We will be reviewing applications as they are received so early applications are strongly encouraged.
Leweston School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
Job Types: Part-time, Permanent
Pay: £28,028.00 per year
Expected hours: 35.0 per week
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Discounted or free food
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
- On-site gym
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
