Interim Head of Operations - Higher Education

Cedar; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

An esteemed higher education institution is seeking an Interim Head of Operations to provide strategic and operational leadership for one of its academic departments. This senior-level position requires extensive experience in higher education and strong financial acumen, along with the ability to manage budgets and foster a culture of continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in a senior operational role within Higher Education.
• Strong financial acumen including budgeting and forecasting.
• Excellent leadership and people management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage operational infrastructure across the department.
• Act as a strategic advisor to senior academic stakeholders.
• Oversee and manage budgets for efficient resource use.

Skills

Financial Acumen

People Management

Strategic Thinking

Change Management

Communication

Education

Professional training or relevant qualifications in operations, administration, or management

Job description

Interim Head of Operations - Higher Education

Employer Cedar Location South East, United Kingdom Salary Competitive Salary Closing date 20 Jun 2025

View more categories View less categories Sector Education Responsibilities Operations ,Strategy Position/Level COO ,Department Head Contract Type Contract / Interim

Interim Head of Operations - Higher Education

Rate:£35 - £45 per hour Inside IR35

Location: South East

Hybrid: 2 days per week on site

Duration:6-month contract - Full Time

Start: ASAP

An esteemed higher education institution in the South East is seeking an experienced Interim Head of Operations to provide strategic and operational leadership for one of its high-performing academic departments. This is a senior-level interim opportunity offering a wide-ranging remit within a world-renowned faculty.

You will play a critical role in shaping and delivering operational strategy, leading a team of professional support staff, and ensuring robust service delivery across core areas including finance, HR, estates, student services, and research support. Working closely with academic leadership and central professional services, you will also drive a culture of continuous improvement and high performance aligned with institutional values.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage operational infrastructure and service delivery across the department.
• Act as a strategic advisor to senior academic stakeholders, contributing to short- and long-term planning.
• Oversee and manage budgets, ensuring efficient use of resources and financial sustainability.
• Provide leadership across HR, space planning, health and safety, and compliance processes.
• Support research activity and teaching provision by ensuring appropriate professional services are in place.
• Line manage and develop professional services staff, fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence.
• Champion equality, diversity, and inclusion within the team and broader community.

Essential skills:

• Extensive experience in a senior operational or administrative role within Higher Education
• Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting and resource planning.
• Excellent people management and leadership skills, with a track record of motivating and developing teams.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to drive organisational improvement and innovation.
• Confident communicator, comfortable influencing at a senior level and working across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Experience in change management and delivering effective operational services to support academic activity.

Desirable:

• Experience leading projects or initiatives across departments or at institutional level.
• Professional training or relevant qualifications in operations, administration, or management.

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