School Operations Assistant

University of Manchester; Manchester; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous employer pension contribution

Christmas closure across all depts.

Purple Place employee discount

Job summary

The University of Manchester is seeking a proactive School Operations Assistant to support the SEED School and broader operations team. You will help deliver essential administrative services, coordinate events, bookings, and maintain records to ensure smooth daily operations.

You will work with a friendly, collaborative team, meet tight deadlines, and provide excellent service to staff, students and visitors while respecting university processes and policies.

Qualifications

• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Experience with administrative processes and following instructions.
• Experience working in a team and supporting colleagues.
• Ability to work independently using own initiative.
• Good organisational skills and prioritising multiple demands.

Responsibilities

• Support Operations activity across the School as directed by the line manager.
• Provide professional and timely customer service for students, staff and enquirers.
• Deliver operations tasks on time and to deadlines.
• Process routine school operational activity and maintain accurate records and documentation.
• Assist with School/Department events, arrange venues, AV equipment, travel and catering; act as operations contact.

Skills

Oral communication

Written communication

Administrative processes

Teamwork

Independent working

Organisation

Job description

We are seeking a motivated and collaborative individual to join our team as a School Operations Assistant. The School Operations Assistant role provides proactive operational support for key activities across the School of Environment, Education and Development (SEED) as a member of the School Operations team. This includes delivering an excellent service provision for all staff and PGR students within the School’s wider community and the School’s departments.

• Working as part of the Operations team to deliver Operations activity across the School as directed by the line manager, relating to School, Faculty or University processes
• Providing a helpful, professional and timely customer service for students, staff, and other enquirers; escalte to others when appropriate
• Delivering Operations activity accurately and on time, including working to deadlines
• Processing routine department / school operational activity including casual worker, visitor and honorary staff applications; producing and maintaining accurate records and documentation; maintaining listservs and webpages
• Supporting School and/or Department event/meetings including arranging venues, audio visual equipment, travel and catering (lunches, dinners and receptions); acting as an operational point of contact on the day; servicing meetings and proactively chasing agreed actions

We welcome candidates who bring diverse perspectives, experiences, and approaches to their work.

About You

We encourage applications from individuals with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. You should demonstrate:

Essential Criteria

• Effective oral and written communication skills, with the ability to liaise with a wide range of individuals
• Experience of working with administrative processes, with the ability to follow instructions and to work within prescribed processes
• Experience of working in a team environment with the ability to be flexible and to provide assistance to colleagues and contribute to a positive and collaborative team culture
• The ability to work independently, using own initiative, and to take responsibility for an area of work
• Good organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise multiple demands in a busy environment and meet deadlines

We value transferable skills and real-world experience as much as formal qualifications.

Our benefits include:

• Generous employer pension contribution
• Christmas closure across all departments outside of annual leave and bank holidays
• Purple Place employee discount platform

For more information, please see University of Manchester Benefits. You can also find information on our Flexible and Hybrid working here.

We are an open place of enquiry and challenge. We embrace and celebrate difference, diversity and debate, and we pride ourselves on being a place of education, learning and community where we are able, within the law, to question and test received wisdom, express new ideas and explore controversial or unpopular topics and opinions. Find out more from our Freedom of Speech Policy.

Enquiries about the role, shortlisting and interviews

Name: Hannah Quirk

Email Address: [e-mail]

General enquiries and administrative support

[e-mail]

Technical and job portal support

https://jobseekersupport.jobtrain.co.uk/support/home

This role is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Applicants must demonstrate the right to work in the UK.

Applications close at midnight on the closing date.

Further particulars (with person specification) linked below.