Head of Operations

University of Bedfordshire; Luton; On-site; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A UK higher education institution is seeking a Head of Operations. The successful candidate will lead and manage student and course administration for assigned provisions, ensuring high-quality services that enhance the student experience. Candidates should possess strong leadership skills, the ability to implement change, and a thorough understanding of student policies and systems. The role offers opportunities for significant contribution to ongoing program changes and the university's strategic objectives, based in Luton with some travel required.

Benefits

Generous pension

Annual leave entitlement

Free fitness classes

Flexible working arrangements

Personal and professional development

Qualifications

• Experience delivering change in a higher education context.
• Ability to navigate complexity and ambiguity.
• Proactive, innovative, and adaptable.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Good understanding of policies and current sector debates.
• Well-developed IT skills, experience with complex student systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, and support student and course administration.
• Develop and manage operations for the assigned team.
• Ensure continuous improvement of policies, regulations, and processes.
• Deliver high-quality and effective services to enhance the student experience.

Job description

Job information

The University of Bedfordshire's Student Registry Services is responsible for supporting all aspects of the student journey, from the point of registration through to graduation. We are seeking a Head of Operations to join our team, and to lead, manage and support student and course administration throughout the student life cycle for assigned provision. This post is one of three Heads of Operations, working closely together to deliver high-quality and effective services to enhance the student experience and to support academic and professional services teams through digitally enabled, streamlined registry and academic services. The post holder will develop, lead and manage the operations for their assigned team that will ensure the continuous improvement of policies, regulations, processes and systems it supports, aligned to institutional strategic priorities.

In line with the university's strategic objectives, our aim is to deliver:

• Sector‑leading and flexible student services, processes and systems to support our strategy and an improved student experience.
• High quality, efficient, tailored and accessible service delivery for our staff and external partners.
• Continuous improvement, sustainable operations and enhanced services.
• A distinctive professional service based on creative partnership and excellent service quality for colleagues and students.
• High levels of staff satisfaction through a positive and open culture and investment in people and skills.

To help us achieve our priorities we are looking for a higher education professional who is:

• a competent leader with experience delivering change and the ability to navigate complexity and ambiguity.
• a proactive, innovative, adaptable individual, with the ability to plan, prioritise and organise the work of themselves and others.
• a problem solver who can think on their feet, and have the willingness to engage in projects effectively, whilst supporting collaboration across teams.
• a knowledgeable professional with a good understanding of key polices and current sector debates.
• an individual with a good understanding of the development, implementation and operation of policy and regulation to support processes.
• An individual with well‑developed IT skills and considerable experience of complex student systems such as SITs.

This post will provide the right candidate with the opportunity to make a significant contribution to the university as it continues to deliver on its programme of change.

Interviews date TBC

We kindly request that all applicants refrain from canvassing during the shortlisting process. Your applications will be thoroughly reviewed, and you will be contacted and informed of the outcome of in due course.

For a full job description and person specification please click here.

The post will be based at Luton (with travel to other campuses as required).

The University is committed to equality of opportunity and values the diversity of all its workforce and student population. At the University of Bedfordshire, inclusivity is a key University value, and we are committed to creating an environment in which we celebrate and value the diversity of our staff and student community and provide fair opportunity and outcomes for all. We recognise that diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent and benefit from opportunities that the diversity of talent and thought creates. We, therefore, particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in the University of Bedfordshire's workforce. These include people from Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority backgrounds (particularly in roles in grades 7 and above), disabled people; LGBTQ+ people; and women in some senior grades. The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

We offer a range of employee benefits including a generous pension and annual leave entitlement, free fitness classes and gym membership, flexible working arrangements, personal and professional development and family‑friendly policies. For further details, please click here.

To Apply

Please visit our website www.beds.ac.uk/jobs.

For any enquiries contact People & Culture email [e-mail].

Please note a Curriculum Vitae will only be accepted if accompanied by a fully completed University application form.