Operations Manager

The University of Sheffield; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 39,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

41 days annual leave

Hybrid working

Generous pension scheme

Discounts and rewards

Job summary

The University of Sheffield is seeking an Operations Manager to lead the School's operations team, includingExecutive support, HR, estates, health and safety, and business continuity. You will deputise for the School Manager and drive strategic initiatives within a large, complex academic environment.

You will manage budgets, drive service improvements, and work collaboratively across departments to support Athena Swan accreditation and broader university goals.

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience).
• Experience of managing and motivating a team in a complex environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication across all levels.
• Ability to plan, organise resources and meet deadlines.
• Understanding of Higher Education policy and regulatory environment.
• Experience of delivering service improvements.
• Excellent customer service skills and ability to respond to enquiries.
• Flexible and collaborative to achieve strategic aims.

Responsibilities

• Deputise for the School Manager and lead on strategic initiatives.
• Lead and motivate the operations team delivering executive support, HR, estates, safety, and business continuity.
• Oversee staff contracts, recruitment, and development schemes in partnership with HR.
• Lead estates matters and project management support with Estates and Facilities.
• Support optimisation of post award research funds and large grant portfolios.
• Lead information management, asset registers, and compliance with regulations.
• Oversee annual workload planning and budget management.
• Support Athena Swan accreditation and One University activities.

Skills

Leadership

Communication skills

People management

Organizational skills

Problem solving

Customer service

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Job description

Overview

The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

Overview

As Operations Manager, you will work closely with the School Manager to lead a wide range of operational support activities which are crucial to the efficient and effective running of the School, ensuring compliance with University regulations and legislation where relevant.

You will manage the operations team and the broad range of activity they cover including Executive support, HR and staffing, estates, health and safety, business continuity, and where applicable, reception services.

It is essential that the post-holder has strong communication skills, has excellent organisational and problem solving skills and is able to lead, develop and motivate a team

Main Duties And Responsibilities

• Deputise for the School Manager as required, including attending relevant meetings and leading on strategic initiatives.
• Lead and motivate the School’s operations team to ensure delivery of high quality support. The service will include executive support, HR and staffing, estates, health and safety, business continuity, information management and where applicable, reception services.
• Manage and oversee the School’s people management functions in close partnership with HR colleagues, including staff contract management, staff recruitment, the Staff Review and Development Scheme and promotion processes, liaising with the Faculty HR team as required.
• Lead on all estates matters on behalf of the School, in close partnership with Estates and Facilities Management, resolving issues and providing project management support.
• Support optimisation and effective utilisation of post award research funds, including management of complex grants/ large portfolios.
• Lead on Information Management processes for the School, including developing the School’s information asset register, ensuring compliance with University regulations and relevant legislation, and line managing the School’s Information Champion.
• Strategic oversight of business continuity management leading the development and implementation of arrangements within the School.
• Lead on annual academic workload planning for the School, liaising with colleagues.
• Take delegated responsibility for budget management from the School Manager where agreed and appropriate.
• Support One University activities in the School including work around Athena Swan accreditation.
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply.

Criteria

• Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience).
• Previous experience in a professional role, ideally within a Higher Education or similar environment.
• Experience of successfully managing and motivating a team and aligning day-to-day work and goals with local priorities.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, including the ability to communicate productively with staff at all levels and explain complex information clearly.
• Ability to assess and organise resources, and plan and progress work activities within required deadlines.
• Understanding of Higher Education policy and operational environment, and knowledge of relevant systems, policies, legislation and quality standards.
• A creative and flexible approach to problem-solving, with an appreciation of longer term implications.
• Experience of high quality administrative and business support within a complex organisation including evidence of implementing service improvements.
• Excellent customer service skills, with experience of responding efficiently and effectively to enquiries.
• Experience of to work flexibly and collegiately to achieve strategic aims.

Further Information

Grade

7

Salary

£38,784 - £47,389 per annum. Potential to progress to £51,753 per annum through sustained exceptional contribution.

Work arrangement

Full-time

Duration

Open-ended

Line manager

School Manager

Direct reports

Operations Officers, Staffing and Contracts Officer, Operations Assistant

Right to work in the UK

If you do not currently hold the right to work in the UK, you can find more information here to help determine your visa eligibility. Additional guidance is also available on the UK Visa & Immigration website.

Our website

https://sheffield.ac.uk/cmbe

Contact

For informal enquiries about this job contact Jenny Miller, School Manager: on [e-mail].

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place in late September/early October. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage as soon as possible following the closing date. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact [e-mail].

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).

What We Offer

• A minimum of 41 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• Generous pension scheme.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).
• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Professional Services Shared Skills Framework
• A range of generous family-friendly policies
• paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
• access to menopause support in the workplace
• paid time off and support for fertility treatment
• and more

More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).

We are a Disability Confident Leader (opens in a new window). If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

Closing Date : 17/09/2026

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.