General Manager - Operations

Job Description: General Manager (Operations)

Company: PEP Schoolv2

Location: Bangalore, Karnataka (across multiple centers)

Position: Full-time

About PEP Schoolv2

PEP Schoolv2 is a growing network of schools across Bangalore, dedicated to providing a safe, nurturing, and high-quality learning environment for children. We believe that a well-managed physical environment is crucial to fostering educational excellence, and we are looking for a dedicated leader to uphold these standards.

The Role: Position Overview

We are seeking a seasoned, hands-on, and dynamic General Manager (Operations) to independently lead and manage all non-academic operations for our network of schools. This is a critical leadership role responsible for ensuring the seamless functioning, safety, and efficiency of our facilities, services, and key financial processes. The General Manager (Operations) will be the backbone of our school's physical environment and fiscal discipline, directly impacting the daily experience of our students, parents, and staff.

The ideal candidate will have a strong sense of ownership, exceptional people management skills, and a proven track record of operational and financial excellence across distributed locations.

Key Responsibilities

1. Facilities & Infrastructure Management:

• Oversee the complete upkeep, preventative maintenance, and enhancement of all school facilities across multiple campuses.
• Take full ownership of facility upgrade projects, from planning to execution, including painting, renovations, furniture procurement, and acquisition of electronics (laptops, printers, etc.).
• Ensure a clean, hygienic, and welcoming physical environment that meets the needs of both children and staff.

2. Transportation & Fleet Management:

• Manage the end-to-end school transportation system, prioritizing the safety and timely transit of all students.
• Develop and optimize bus routes for efficiency, considering traffic patterns and logistical challenges.
• Act as the primary point of contact for transportation-related matters, ensuring a high-quality customer experience for parents.

3. Team Leadership & Workforce Management:

• Lead, mentor, and manage the entire blue-collar support workforce, including drivers, nannies, security, and maintenance personnel.
• Oversee the complete employee lifecycle for the operations team: strategic hiring, onboarding, regular training, performance management, and retention.
• Foster a positive, disciplined, and productive work culture built on accountability and teamwork.

4. Vendor Management & Procurement:

• Skillfully manage relationships, contracts, and performance of all external vendors and service providers (e.g., plumbers, electricians, painters, material suppliers).
• Handle the procurement of all essential non-academic supplies, including stationery, cleaning materials, and other operational necessities.
• Negotiate contracts to ensure high-quality service delivery while optimizing for cost-effectiveness.

5. Budgeting & Cost Control:

• Develop and manage the annual operations budget, ensuring all activities are executed within financial guidelines.
• Continuously identify and implement cost-optimization strategies without compromising on quality, safety, or the overall student experience.

6. Financial Operations & Oversight:

• Oversee the entire payroll process, ensuring timely and accurate compensation for all employees.
• Manage, guide, and provide leadership to the school's accounting team.
• Coordinate and oversee all internal and external audits, ensuring regulatory compliance and financial integrity.

7. Safety, Security & Compliance:

• Implement and rigorously enforce robust health, safety, and security protocols across all school premises and within the transportation fleet.
• Ensure full compliance with all relevant government regulations, including RTO norms for transport and applicable labor laws.

Ideal Candidate Profile

Experience & Background:

• A minimum of 10+ years of proven experience in an operational leadership role, preferably with financial oversight.
• Demonstrated success in managing operations across multiple locations/centers.
• Essential: Strong, hands-on experience managing a large blue-collar workforce.
• Preferred professional backgrounds:
• Hospitality: (e.g., Facilities Manager for a hotel).
• Large-Format Retail: (e.g., Store Operations Manager).
• Corporate Services / Office Administration.
• Armed Forces: A background in the military is highly valued for its emphasis on discipline, operational excellence, and people management.
• Business Operations / Corporate Finance: Roles combining operational and financial responsibilities.

Skills & Competencies:

• Leadership: Exceptional people management skills with the ability to train, motivate, and retain a diverse team.
• Ownership: A proactive, problem-solving mindset with an unwavering sense of accountability.
• Operational Excellence: A keen eye for detail and a passion for process improvement, efficiency, and standardization.
• Strong Financial Acumen: Deep understanding of budgeting, financial management, payroll, accounting principles, and audits.
• Vendor Management: Strong negotiation and relationship-building skills.
• Communication: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to effectively interact with staff, vendors, and parents.

What We Offer

• An opportunity to make a significant and lasting impact on the learning environment for many hundreds of children.
• A key leadership role with a high degree of autonomy and responsibility.
• A competitive compensation package, benchmarked against industry standards for the right candidate.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Work Location: In person