Highgate School

Transport and Sustainabilty Manager

Job Description

THE SCHOOL 

Highgate School was established in 1565 by a Royal Charter of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the First. Sir Roger Cholmeley, our Founder, was granted Letters Patent to found ‘a grammar School…for good education and instruction. Today Highgate is a flourishing coeducational independent School which includes the Senior School for pupils aged 11-18; the Junior School for pupils aged 7-11 and the Pre-Preparatory School for pupils aged 3-7. There are currently in the region of 1,850 pupils at Highgate and the School employs over 550 full-time or part-time teaching and support staff. 

The School is situated in one of the most attractive and sought after areas of North London, only a short journey from Central London and adjacent to Hampstead Heath. The hilltop site in Highgate Village is the historic site of the Senior School. A few hundred yards along Hampstead Lane in Bishopswood Road lie the Junior and Pre-Preparatory Schools and the extensive playing fields, adjacent to the open spaces of Kenwood and Hampstead Heath. The Northern Line underground station is a short walk away, there are numerous bus routes in the vicinity and it is four miles to Central London.

Working at Highgate offers the opportunity to be part of a vibrant and welcoming community, committed to academic excellence and the highest standards of pastoral care for its pupils. The Governors consider the development of excellence in the education offered to the pupils to be the underlying purpose of activities undertaken by all staff.  

Highgate is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to this post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.

THE ROLE

The Transport and Sustainability Manager will lead on the implementation of services and initiatives aimed at developing transport solutions and sustainable travel for pupils, staff and parents/carers. Whilst this role will primarily focus on sustainable solutions to transport, we expect the successful candidate to help develop sustainable strategies within the School. Sustainability is a developing aspect of the role and there is scope for expanding this element.

The role will include the management of the Home to School bus service, maintaining a clear focus on the needs of all three Schools. The postholder will manage all aspects of the School bus service including identifying potential routes, procuring providers, promoting the service amongst parents/carers and pupils and managing performance.

The successful candidate will be a member of the Support Staff (non-teaching) at Highgate. The role  requires a candidate able to combine tact, diplomacy and effective communication with parents, carers, suppliers and School staff with the administrative and organisational skills needed to manage complex logistic requirements. It is  an exciting role involving engaging with pupils, staff, parents and carers about the importance of sustainable travel.  

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

School Travel Plan and Strategies

• Manage the development, implementation and monitoring of the School Travel Plan, in conjunction with the Transport for London STARS accreditation scheme. Ensure that this is consistent with and contributes to the School’s overall sustainability strategy.
• Identify and monitor relevant metrics to enable the School to measure its performance in relation to the environmental impact of School-related travel.
• To represent Highgate at any local community and resident forum meetings on matters concerning transport planning, and to report back to the School on such meetings.
• Working with the Admissions Office, senior pastoral ptaff, the Highgate School Parents’ Association and other colleagues to identify and promote safer, healthier travel choices for pupils, staff, parents and carers, and to assist in their promotion and monitoring as appropriate. This will include cycling proficiency courses, walking bus and car-sharing programmes that aim to reduce cars travelling to School and create walking to School initiatives.
• In consultation with local agencies and Transport for London, develop a thorough understanding of how the School’s location and facilities can be used to facilitate sustainable non-car travel modes, taking a proactive role to gain necessary support from these external organisations.
• Develop good working relationships with relevant local Council departments and Transport for London with regards to any transport-related issues.
• Actively contribute to travel and transport-related aspects of Estates matters, including capital projects and planning applications (which will require plans and strategies to be clearly set out on paper).
• Undertake research into air pollution and its effects upon the School and its surroundings, and take a lead on developing a practicable air quality strategy as necessary.
• Undertake necessary financial benchmarking of transport providers, and subsequently the planning and delivery for large scale transport operations such as regular sports fixtures, pupils’ trips, whole-year group residential trips and special events.

School Transport including the School Bus Service

Highgate is committed to expanding its existing School bus service and increasing the sustainability within all transport operations. A large part of this role will be to manage and implement effective and safe School transport, including the home-to-School bus service and the transport of pupils during the School day. In particular, the post holder will:

• Planning
  • Increase the use of the School bus service.
  • Plan the most cost-effective service.
  • Plan and adapt the School’s daily transport routes to reflect demand.
  • Obtain passenger requirements prior to the start of each academic year.
  • Plan and communicate routes and route plans.
• Procurement and Daily Management
  • Manage the procurement of providers on a term by term, annual, or longer basis.
  • Set the price for the service.
  • Check and validate invoices and ensure that these are paid.
  • Manage the daily transport service and coach contracts for routes.
  • Manage and maintain pupil lists.
  • Ensure there is a process for checking which pupils are travelling.
  • Monitor pupil behaviour and welfare on buses, liaising with academic staff and parents or carers to resolve any issues.
  • Investigate options of working in partnership with other Schools on transport initiatives.
• Performance monitoring
  • Set and then monitor and report against KPIs and Benchmarks for the service.
  • Create and analyse results of surveys on passenger requirements/customer satisfaction, and instigate new initiatives to improve performance.
  • Conduct periodic reviews of the home-to-School service to ensure the viability of the service.
• Marketing and Communication
  • Market the bus service to encourage greater passenger use.
  • Liaise with parents and carers and advise on the most suitable routes for their children.
  • Keep parents and carers aware of changes or updates and issues arising as required.
  • Handle and resolve public relations, complaints and queries.
  • Act as the point of contact for all travel-related parental contact and responses. This may include handling communications outside the School’s core hours.  
• Safety and Safeguarding
  • Ensure that safeguarding checks are completed for all drivers.
  • Ensure thorough risk assessments are in place and reviewed annually.
  • In conjunction with the coach operator ensure that the service is compliant with all relevant legislation, including but not limited to: Safety, Equality and the Environment.

School Vehicles and Transport Bookings

• Plan and implement a coordinated approach to providing cost-effective School transport solutions.
• Establish and manage the replacement strategy for School vehicles.
• Write and maintain management and operating procedures for all School vehicles.

Sustainability

• Be a champion for sustainability within the School
• Assist in the development of the Operations Department’s sustainability objectives, targets, action plan and KPI’s.
• Measure the School’s progress towards its sustainability objectives.
• Work with the pupils’ environment committees/eco councils in the three Schools.
• Lead relevant pupil non-curriculum clubs.

General

• Support of major “out of hours” School events such as Open Days and any others as may be reasonably requested.
• Undertake any other reasonable requests to further the work of the Operations team

CHILD PROTECTION

This role will involve some unsupervised contact with pupils; and the member of staff will frequently be in the presence of children and will be provided with training in child protection and safeguarding.

All members of staff must strictly comply with Highgate’s Safeguarding Policies.  If in the course of carrying out the duties of the post the post holder becomes aware of any actual or potential risks to the safety and welfare of our pupils, these concerns must be reported immediately in accordance with the Policy.  A copy of this Policy will accompany all offers of employment.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

Salary

Circa £34,804 p.a. depending on qualifications, skills and experience.

Hours of Work

Normal working hours for this role are Monday to Friday 7.00am-4.30pm (42.5 hours) during term time and Monday to Friday 8.00am-4.30pm during holiday periods. Telephone queries from parents and carers need to be answered between 7.00am-8.00am (during term time). The start time can be flexible and this will be discussed at interview. There is a need to be flexible about hours in order to carry out these duties and responsibilities effectively and no additional payment is made in this respect. In addition, attendance at very occasional evening meetings may be required. Time off in lieu may be given at your line manager’s discretion.

Probationary Period

This appointment will be subject to the completion of a probationary period of six months to the satisfaction of the Governors.

Lunch Period

The lunch break is one hour and is unpaid and does not form part of your working hours.  A complimentary lunch is available when the Dining Hall is in operation.

Holidays

25 days’ paid holiday entitlement plus public holidays to be taken at times agreed with the Bursar.

Pension

The School runs a defined benefit pension scheme which provides a pension benefit of 1/80^th of final salary for each year of membership based on a current employee contribution rate of 6%.

Leisure Facilities

Subject always to the needs of pupils and School’s operations, staff are offered free access at stipulated times to the School’s sports facilities including swimming pool (from 2020) and fitness suite.

Confidentiality

The need for absolute confidentiality and discretion, both within Highgate and the wider community, must be understood.

Dress Code

Teachers and support staff are expected to set an example to pupils and should dress appropriately at all times.

Smoking

Smoking, including vaping, is not allowed on or immediately outside any School premises (the footprint of the buildings and the grounds) or in areas where smoking might be seen by parents/carers or pupils during working hours.

Health and Safety

Highgate takes its obligations under the Health & Safety at Work Act seriously and the postholder will be required to comply with all aspects of Highgate’s Health and Safety Policy, particularly in relation to safe working practices.  All staff must keep up to date with Highgate’s Health and Safety Policies which are regularly updated and posted on the Staff Intranet.

Equality and Diversity

Highgate is committed to being an equal opportunities employer. To enable us to make any reasonable adjustments please let us know at application stage if you have any special requirements.

Data Protection

Highgate staff are expected to adhere to the Data Protection legislation at all times. Our Privacy Notice is available on the recruitment portal.

As a member of the support staff, this role is responsible to the Bursar. Job descriptions may be updated by the Bursar from time to time to accommodate the changing needs of the School. 

For operational reasons, the School reserves the right to transfer employees to alternative duties. For this reason it is a condition of employment that employees are willing to do so, if requested, from time to time.

How to Apply

Applications should be made via Highgate’s website https://www.highgateschool.org.uk/work-with-us/

For any queries please contact Alice Buchanan, HR & Recruitment Officer, Highgate School, North Road, London N6 4AY. Recruitment@Highgateschool.org.uk

Closing date:  Sunday 8^th December. Applications will be considered on receipt and we reserve the right to close an advert early if we find a suitable candidate.