Head of Professional Development Operations

Cambridge University Press & Assessment (CUPA); Cambridgeshire and Peterborough; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 81,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days annual leave + bank holidays

Private medical and Permanent Health

Discretionary annual bonus

Group personal pension

Life assurance

Green travel schemes

Job summary

Cambridge University Press & Assessment in Cambridge combines academic publishing with global assessment services and seeks a Head of Professional Development Operations. The role leads end-to-end delivery of the Professional Development portfolio and scales operations globally.

The post holder reports to the Director of Professional Development, owning production, trainer recruitment, course management and booking support while fostering accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading complex operations or portfolios.
• Proven track record improving processes to scale revenue and outcomes.
• Expertise in programme/project management approaches (Agile/PMO).
• Experience managing budgets, forecasts and operational reporting.
• Experience in content production at scale and supplier management.

Responsibilities

• Lead the annual planning cycle and maintain a roadmap aligned with demand and commercial goals.
• Own end-to-end programme delivery against targets for reach, revenue and quality.
• Establish robust governance, manage risks and keep delivery on time and budget.
• Lead revenue forecasting, cost-efficiency planning and resource decisions.
• Prioritise initiatives across portfolio teams with clear business benefit.
• Use learner feedback and data to improve processes and performance.
• Ensure compliance with risk policies and regulatory requirements.
• Provide inclusive leadership and matrix coaching across global teams.
• Build strong internal and external relationships; be the main contact for escalations.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Operational leadership

Budgeting & forecasting

Data analysis

Stakeholder management

Communication

Change management

Team development

Risk management

Education

First degree in business or operations management

PMO or project management certification

Tools

Agile

Scrum

Lean Change

Job description

Head of Professional Development Operations

Salary: 60,400 - 80,800

Location: Cambridge, UK - Hybrid

Contract: Fixed term 12 Months

Hours: Full time 35 hours per week

Could you turn an ambitious professional development strategy into an outstanding global operation?

Cambridge teachers and school leaders around the world rely on high-quality professional development to strengthen their practice and improve outcomes for learners. Delivering that experience consistently, efficiently and at scale takes exceptional operational leadership.

We are Cambridge University Press & Assessment, a world-leading academic publisher and assessment organisation and a proud part of the University of Cambridge.

We are looking for a Head of Professional Development Operations to lead the successful delivery and continued scaling of Cambridge International's Professional Development portfolio. This fixed-term opportunity will bring together newly aligned teams, strengthen end-to-end operations and build the capability needed to support a growing global programme.

If you combine strategic thinking with a passion for operational excellence, this is an opportunity to create lasting impact for educators, schools and learners worldwide.

About the role

Reporting to the Director of Professional Development, you will take end-to-end accountability for the smooth, efficient and commercially sustainable delivery of the full Professional Development programme. Your remit will span course and materials production, trainer recruitment, course management and customer booking support.

You will translate strategy into a coherent, costed and resourced delivery plan, with ownership of revenue forecasting, cost-efficiency planning, operational governance and readiness for increasing demand. You will also lead and develop a newly integrated Operations function, creating clear ways of working and a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.

Additional responsibilities and accountabilities include

• Lead the annual Professional Development planning cycle and maintain a clear portfolio roadmap aligned with customer demand, strategic priorities and commercial expectations.
• Take end-to-end accountability for programme delivery against agreed targets for reach, revenue, contribution margin, quality and customer success.
• Establish robust operational governance, managing risks, dependencies and escalations so delivery remains on time, within budget and to the required standard.
• Lead revenue forecasting, cost-efficiency planning and resource decisions that enable sustainable growth.
• Prioritise and assess the feasibility of initiatives across portfolio teams and regional innovation hubs, focusing investment on the greatest customer and strategic benefit.
• Use learner feedback, commercial data and operational metrics to improve processes, customer experience and portfolio performance.
• Ensure operations comply with internal risk policies, external regulatory requirements and organisational standards.
• Provide inclusive leadership, coaching and development to Senior Professional Development Managers and their teams, including matrix leadership across global locations.
• Build strong internal and external relationships and act as a clear point of contact for operational issues and escalations.

This role is based in our Cambridge Headquarters and the successful postholder will spend 40-60% of their time collaborating and connecting face-to-face with their teams. Aside from our hybrid principles, other flexible working requests will be considered from the first day of employment, including other work arrangements should you require adjustments due to a disability or long-term health condition.

About you

You are an experienced operational leader who can bring clarity to complexity, unite teams behind a shared plan and turn strategy into reliable delivery. You are comfortable working at pace and with ambiguity, and you use data, insight and sound judgement to improve performance and solve problems.

To succeed in this role, you will bring

• Significant experience leading complex operations, programmes or portfolios, ideally across international teams or markets.
• A strong record of improving processes to increase scale, revenue, efficiency, quality or customer outcomes.
• Expertise in programme and project management approaches, such as Agile, Scrum, Lean Change or PMO disciplines.
• Experience managing budgets, forecasts, financial performance and operational reporting.
• Experience of content production at scale, supplier management and the integration of digital platforms or systems.
• Strong data management and impact-reporting capability, with the ability to turn insight into action.
• Proven team leadership, including coaching senior managers and creating the conditions for high performance through change.
• Excellent communication, influencing and negotiation skills, with the ability to build constructive relationships at every level.
• Strong planning, risk and dependency-management skills, together with the ability to assess complex information and make timely recommendations.
• A first degree or equivalent experience in a relevant field such as business or operations management.

If you meet the above minimum requirements, we encourage you to apply. Your application will be even stronger if you can also demonstrate:

• Experience working in international education or with professional learning programmes.
• Knowledge of adult learning, instructional design or customer experience.
• Experience of sales and marketing processes within a portfolio or programme environment.
• A further qualification in business, management, operations or a related discipline.

For a detailed job description, please refer to the link at the bottom of the advert on our careers site.

We are a Disability Confident employer that is committed to equality and inclusion, ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to all. The Disability Confident scheme's Offer of an Interview commitment applies to applicants who opt in and disclose a disability or long-term health condition, and who best meet the minimum criteria for the role. Where interviewing all qualifying candidates is not practicable or appropriate, we prioritise those who best meet the minimum criteria, as we would for applicants who do not have a disability or long-term health condition.

Please note that Cambridge University Press & Assessment will not ordinarily be able to provide sponsorship for vacancies of less than 12-months in duration. Applicants must therefore have an existing right to work in the UK to be eligible for this position.

Rewards and benefits

We will support you to be at your best in work and to live well outside of it. In addition to a competitive salary, we offer a world-class, flexible rewards package, featuring family-friendly and planet-friendly benefits including:

• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Private medical and Permanent Health Insurance
• Discretionary annual bonus
• Group personal pension scheme
• Life assurance up to 4 x annual salary
• Green travel schemes

The closing date for all applications will be 20th September. We will review applications on an ongoing basis, and shortlisted candidates can expect interviews to take place between 25th September and 9th October.

If you are shortlisted and progressed through the stages, you can expect:

• An initial interview online.
• An in-person second stage interview with a task to prepare in advance.
• A short, final stage interview online or in person.

If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process due to a disability or long-term health condition, there will be an opportunity to inform us via the online application form. We will do our best to accommodate your needs.

Please note that successful applicants will be subject to satisfactory background checks, including DBS, due to working in a regulated industry.

We are committed to an equitable recruitment process.

Why join us

Joining us is your opportunity to pursue potential. You will belong to a collaborative team that is exploring new and better ways to serve students, teachers and researchers across the globe, for the benefit of individuals, society and the world. Sharing our mission will inspire your own growth, development and progress, in an environment that embraces difference, change and aspiration.

Cambridge University Press & Assessment is committed to being a place where anyone can enjoy a successful career, where it is safe to speak up, and where we learn continuously to improve together. We welcome applications from all candidates, regardless of demographic characteristics, cultural background or social class.

We believe better outcomes come through diversity of thought, background and approach. We welcome applications from people from all backgrounds and communities.