James Ramsden

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Operations Manager  (Redundancy due to re-structure)                                                                    Jul 22 to Aug 23

I previously worked as a School Operations Manager at Co-op Academy Leeds. My role included a wide range of responsibilities as detailed below.

I was the Academy’s Competent Person responsible for Health and Safety. I was also the Staff Health and Safety Advisor. I reported to the Academy Leadership Team, the Headteacher and regularly updated the Academy Governor responsible for Health and Safety.

I prepared risk assessments for staff and students to ensure that they work and study in a safe manner and to inform the preparation of action plans. I regularly reviewed risk assessments and updated them as required. 

When a health and safety incident occurred, I conducted investigations in line with Health and Safety Executive (HSE) requirements whilst keeping Academy and Trust senior personnel informed. I liaised with a range of stakeholders including Trust legal representatives and insurance agents. I conducted daily site walks to ensure the safety of the school site. I ensured that any issues such as faulty lighting or roof leaks were dealt with promptly prior to the school day starting.

I was the First Aid lead, as part of this role I ensured that all First Aiders’ certification was in date. I scheduled courses for First Aiders to attend and dealt with both routine and serious incidents. I maintained a stock of spare first aid items to replenish first aid kits around the site. I also carried out monthly checks on Academy defibrillators to ensure that they were charged and were serviceable. 

I also had the responsibility of Chief Fire Warden. I ensured that the Academy is compliant with fire regulations and safe in the event of a fire. As part of this I organised staff Fire Warden Training, oversaw fire drills and organised annual Fire Risk Assessments.

I was a designated budget holder and had oversight of several budgets covering many areas of school life. I monitored these budgets to ensure that spending was within limits and planned for future spending. I ensured that the Academy received good value for money by obtaining multiple quotes for any items bought or services required. 

I was the Fleet Manager for the Academy. As part of this role I ensured that minibuses were safe, available for use and were compliant with Trust requirements and legislation such as the Road Traffic Act. I did this by ensuring that any faults were fixed promptly by Fleet Services. Where necessary, I obtained quotes and booked coaches for school trips. 

I was also a key holder and was responsible for arranging door access cards, preparing and issuing ID cards and issuing keys or arranging for them to be issued to staff.

My other key role was PFI Champion. I attended and contributed at regular facilities management meetings with Mitie and other stakeholders, I consulted with Mitie on a regular basis to ensure that the school was run in an organised manner. I liaised with Mitie, Leeds City Council and the building owners to execute Variation Orders to ensure that the school site was used in the best manner possible and to improve the learning environment. 

I monitored the provision of services provided by Mitie and their sub-contractors to ensure that the terms of the PFI Project Agreement were met and that the Academy received best value for money.

I liaised with Mitie to manage and monitor the quality and output of food prepared by their chosen sub-contractor Chartwells. I liaised with Mitie to enable staff catering requests to be organised by Chartwells. Other main areas of my work with Mitie included resolution of buildings issues as well as day to day tasks including porterage and setting up locations for events.

I helped to plan projects and events requested by staff to enable their goals and visions to come to fruition, including the refurbishment of the library which is took place this summer. 

I organised and tendered work for contractors for projects that the Academy has organised. I carried out a quality assurance role, ensuring that any work carried out was to a high standard and was fit for purpose prior to making payment. I did this by inspecting the work using my property management experience. 

School Site Manager (Fixed-Term)                                                                                             Nov 2021 to May 2022

School Site Manager at Broadgate Primary School, responsibilities include: Health & Safety on site including risk assessments, maintenance including obtaining quotes and carrying out the tender process, site security, key holder and emergency out of hours contact, monitoring of on-site contractors using the Construction, Design and Management model (CDM). Management of cleaning staff and contractors. Regular and emergency cleaning, stock control, porterage of equipment and furniture. Management of specialist site functions.

Martin & Co                                                                                                                                      Jan 2021 to Nov 2021  Portfolio Manager, responsible for property and tenancy management for both corporate and private Landlords. responsible for marketing of properties, arranging tenancies, inventories, tenancy management, end of tenancy including deposit returns, service of documents including eviction documentation, tenant and landlord liaison, compliance, property management and complaints, oversight of the maintenance issues, property refurbishment, oversight of a portfolio of approximately 190 properties. Also conducting sales and Letting viewings and progressing sales to the point of exchange and completion. Conversant in the use of Jupix and Goodlord software.

Home Office – United Kingdom Visas and Immigration (UKVI)                                           Aug 2019 to Dec 2020                                                                       

Asylum Decision Maker, responsible for interviewing Asylum seekers and making relevant asylum decisions.   Responsible for management of own casefiles and official documentation. Conducting interviews with vulnerable individuals. Highly detailed decision reports compiled using documentary and interview-based evidence. Operating in a target-based environment in line with UK government policy utilising and applying UK, Foreign, International laws and UN conventions. Widely regarded as the most difficult job within the Home Office due the requirement to understand and interpret complex legal issues and due to the weight of the responsibility on individuals. SC level security cleared.                                                       

Estate and Letting Agent                                                                                                               Apr 2016 to Aug 2019 

Worked for various companies in the industry covering Lettings, Residential Sales and Property Management. I have worked for firms such as Places for People, Adair Paxton and Watts & Co. I have worked as a Lettings Administrator, Lettings and Residential Sales Negotiator, Property Manager and Portfolio/ Office Manager.

I have used various CRM systems such Qube, Vebra Alto, Jupix and Goodlord. My reasons for moving between companies was to gain more senior positions.

Various Temp work and Property Development                                                                         Jun 2015 to Apr 2016

Working for various agencies doing temp work. Mostly helping a friend renovate a couple of properties as well as working on a friends farm.

British Army, UK, NI and Germany                                                                                               Nov 2004 to Dec 2014

Initially served with the Royal Military Police attached to Infantry patrols during Op Banner in Northern Ireland providing Military Aid to the Civil Community (MACC). Later posted to Germany providing an Armed Response policing function to the British military community and their families. Duties included writing detailed crime scene reports as well as writing detailed witness statements as well as other legal paperwork.

Re-traded to the Royal Artillery, serving in an Air Defence Regiment. Numerous roles within the Regiment. First 3 years as second in command of a Rapier FSC Surface to Air Missile system detachment. 1 year in the Regimental HQ serving as the Regimental Intelligence NCO, a role which required research skills and an ability to compile target packs and brief fellow soldiers and senior commanders. Followed by 2 years as a Signals Detachment Commander in the Battery HQ, responsible for maintaining 24 hr communications and command and control of the Battery. Responsible for management of personnel and equipment. Numerous tours, including Afghanistan, Falkland Islands and the 2012 London Olympics. Also a member of the Regimental shooting Team, Range Safety Officer and shooting coach.