Brief for the position of Estates Bursar November 2020 Winner: Independent Boys’ School of the Year 2019 (Independent Schools of the Year Awards: ‘Celebrating student experience’) Contents Background 3 The Estates Team and this Post 4 Job Description 7 About Tonbridge School 10 Application Process 12 Cricket on the Head – the First XI pitch Tonbridge School: Estates Bursar Tonbridge School is one of the leading boys’ boarding schools in the country and is highly respected internationally. The school aims to provide a caring and enlightened environment in which the talents of each individual flourish. We encourage boys to be creative, tolerant and to strive for academic, sporting and cultural excellence. Respect for tradition and an openness to innovation are equally valued. A well-established house system at the heart of the school fosters a strong sense of belonging. Tonbridge seeks to celebrate its distinctive mixture of boarders and day boys; this helps to create a unique broadening and deepening of opportunity. We want boys to enjoy their time here, but also to be made aware of their social and moral responsibilities. Tonbridgians should enter into the adult world with the knowledge and self-belief to fulfil their own potential and to become leaders in their chosen field. Equally, we hope to foster a life-long empathy for the needs and views of others; in the words of the great novelist and Old Tonbridgian E.M. Forster: “Only Connect”. Estates Bursar 3 tonbridge-school.co.uk CANDIDATE BRIEF | TONBRIDGE SCHOOL The Estates Team and this Post Tonbridge School wishes to appoint an Estates Bursar, to start in January 2021. To achieve the School’s aims, its facilities need to provide the best possible learning environment for the boys and teaching facilities for the staff, support excellent pastoral care, and make the School feel welcoming, safe and easy to get around. The School’s facilities are on an extensive campus close to the centre of Tonbridge and include many important historic and impressive buildings, 11 of which are Grade II listed, including significant academic buildings, 7 boarding houses and 5 day houses, a Sports Centre, Medical Centre, Theatre, the Chapel of St Augustine of Canterbury, over 150 acres of grounds and almost 100 units of owned and rented residential accommodation of various types. The Estates Bursar leads a department of 25 which incorporates managers, staff and tradespeople, and oversees the work of all building and maintenance contractors on site. Work is broadly split into three areas: • Core Estates Department work: completing a regular programme of planned and preventative maintenance, primarily aimed at ensuring the site meets all legislative requirements; undertaking repairs and improvements to academic buildings, co-curricular facilities, boarding, day and senior student houses, and private accommodation. • Major Projects: agreeing (with the School’s Senior Team) and completing a number of Major Projects (costing between £5,000 and £150,000 each) every year across the Estate. • Other Development Projects: helping to specify, enable and deliver various significant projects across the School. Over the past four years, the School’s current Estates Bursar has built up a strong team and an effective department, engaging well with members of the School Community and external specialists (contractors, architects etc.). In recent years, the School has undergone an extensive capital development programme, including refurbishment and extension of existing teaching spaces, and the development of the Smythe Library and the state-of-the-art Barton Science Centre, which puts science and technology at the heart of the School. Estates Bursar 4 tonbridge-school.co.uk CANDIDATE BRIEF | TONBRIDGE SCHOOL Estates Department Staffing Structure Estates Bursar Buildings & Finance & Maintenance Accommodation Maintenance Projects Forepersons Purchasing Manager Coordinator Administrator Manager Clerk Tradespeople Map of the Grounds, School Buildings and Houses Estates Bursar 5 tonbridge-school.co.uk CANDIDATE BRIEF | TONBRIDGE SCHOOL The School and Grounds Inside The Barton Science Centre Estates Bursar 6 tonbridge-school.co.uk CANDIDATE BRIEF | TONBRIDGE SCHOOL Job Description Job Title: ESTATES BURSAR Reporting to: BURSAR Main Purpose: To manage within existing H&S and other regulations and budget major building projects, maintenance and capital works, building services, fire regulations and all associated work within the School’s premises and property portfolio. MAIN DUTIES The nature of the post is such that it would be neither appropriate nor realistic to define strict Terms of Reference; however, the main duties are: • Managing an efficient and cost-effective service for the School, providing a comprehensive maintenance action plan, including allocation of all necessary resources for day-to-day cyclical and planned maintenance, repairs and improvements. • Reviewing and assessing all work carried out, monitoring performance and cost against budget targets and contractual agreements, ensuring best practice. • Communicating effectively with all levels of staff, being flexible and co-operative particularly when dealing with difficult situations and emergencies. • Having a sound knowledge of design principles and a thorough understanding of building construction, H&S, CDM Regulations, procurement and management. • Providing accurate budget applications and control expenditure of up to £3m per annum. • Motivating, supporting and reviewing Estates staff in order to build confidence and commitment to the Department and to the School. • Administering a comprehensive H&S regime, ensuring staff training and compliance with all legislation, updating when necessary. • Supervising a purchasing policy, ensuring maximum discounts / benefits and quality. • Acting as the School’s Supervising Officer on external building contracts, reporting to the Bursar on contractual matters, progress and quality. • Keeping fully abreast of relevant legislation, and advise the Bursar accordingly. • Preparing, maintaining and controlling the Departmental budget. • Maintaining and overseeing an emergency call out system. Estates Bursar 7 tonbridge-school.co.uk CANDIDATE BRIEF | TONBRIDGE SCHOOL • Establishing good working relationships with local planning and building control authorities, architects, and consultants. • Participating actively as a member of the Support Staff Leadership Team, supporting the Bursar and other team members in addressing School-wide issues and opportunities as they arise. CONFIDENTIALITY The successful candidate must maintain the confidentiality of information regarding the School, its staff and its business. Information must not be communicated to other persons either in or outside the School except in the recognised course of their duties. PERSON SPECIFICATION Experience & Qualifications • Professional membership of CIOB, CIBSE, RICS, RIBA or BIFM with appropriate qualifications would be a significant advantage. • Proven track record at a senior level or in a similar post in the construction industry. • Thorough and up-to-date knowledge of the building industry. • The ability to create and deliver planned maintenance programmes. • Proven financial awareness, competence and budget management. • Ability to relate to all personnel within the School and School Community. • Excellent written and oral communication skills. • IT skills: Word, Excel, Outlook essential; CAD an advantage. • Proven team leadership and management experience. HOURS OF WORK Monday to Friday 8.00am to 5.00pm plus such hours as are required to fulfil the responsibilities of the post. REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS • Competitive salary, dependant on skills and experience • 25 days holidays plus bank holidays per annum • CARE Pension Scheme • Private Medical Insurance • Lunch provided free of charge during term-time • Fees remission (after three years’ service). • Sports Centre membership (staff rates) subject to availability • All PPE and work clothing provided (if required). The post-holder’s responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young persons for who he or she is responsible, or with whom he or she comes into contact will be to adhere to and ensure compliance with the School’s Safeguarding and Child Protections Policy at all times. 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 or welfare of children in the School he or she must report their concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Lead or to the Headmaster. Estates Bursar 8 tonbridge-school.co.uk CANDIDATE BRIEF | TONBRIDGE SCHOOL Tonbridge School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to any post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service. Estates Bursar 9 tonbridge-school.co.uk CANDIDATE BRIEF | TONBRIDGE SCHOOL About Tonbridge School History Tonbridge School was founded in 1553 by Sir Andrew Judde. The Charter ordained that the Governors of the school after the death of the Founder were to be the Worshipful Company of Skinners, one of the oldest City Livery Companies. Sir Andrew, himself a distinguished member of this Company, left property in the City of London and in the parish of St Pancreas as an endowment for the school. The income from these estates is at the disposal of the Governors for the general benefit of the School.