Student Operations Manager

Online Education Services (OES); Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

35 hour working week

Hybrid work model

25 days annual leave + Bank holidays

Study assistance and leave forEligible

Job summary

Online Education Services (OES) is looking for a strategic and people-focused Student Operations Manager to lead our Birmingham-based Operations Team. You will drive student administration, support services, engagement, retention and funding, reporting to the Director of Academic and Operations.

Build scalable operating models and leverage data to inform decisions and improve outcomes. The role requires partnering with Technology to optimise systems, including Salesforce, and delivering services

Qualifications

• Experience leading student services or student operations in higher education or online education.
• Proven track record transforming operational processes and implementing scalable operating models.
• Strong experience partnering with technology teams to improve CRM systems and reporting.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a high-performing Student Operations team across administration, support and funding services.
• Drive operational excellence through process redesign, automation and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Oversee student lifecycle activities including enrolment, progression, retention, re-engagement and completion.
• Partner with Technology teams to optimise systems, workflows and Salesforce capabilities.
• Use operational data and insights to influence strategy and improve performance.

Skills

Leadership

Operations management

Salesforce

Data-driven decisions

Stakeholder management

Education

Experience in higher education

Tools

Salesforce CRM

Job description

OES is a global education services partner, working with universities, employers, and industry bodies to deliver market‑leading online learning solutions. Our purpose is to enhance lives through education, and our vision is to be the world’s most impactful enabler of education. We are a values‑led organisation that empowers our people to make a meaningful impact every day. Through collaboration, innovation, and a student‑focused approach, we create engaging learning experiences while supporting our teams to grow, develop, and thrive in a culture that embraces change and continuous improvement.

The Opportunity:

We have an exciting opportunity for a motivated and people‑focused Student Operations Manager to join our Operations Team, based in Birmingham City Centre. We’re seeking a strategic and commercially minded person to lead and evolve our Student Operations function for one of our major University Partners. This is an exciting opportunity to drive operational excellence within a growing education business, shaping the way we support students throughout their entire learning journey. Reporting to the Director of Academic and Operations, you will lead a high‑performing team responsible for student administration, support services, engagement, retention, progression, and student funding. As a key leader within the business, you will play a critical role in delivering an outstanding student experience while ensuring operational effectiveness and compliance. This role goes beyond day‑to‑day operations management. You will be responsible for identifying opportunities to streamline and improve processes, developing scalable operating models, enhancing systems and technology capabilities, and using data‑driven insights to inform decision‑making and improve business performance. Your leadership will help drive continuous improvement, support organisational growth, and ensure students receive an exceptional experience from enrolment through to graduation.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and develop a high‑performing Student Operations team across administration, support and funding services.
• Drive operational excellence through process redesign, automation and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Oversee student lifecycle activities including enrolment, progression, retention, re‑engagement and completion.
• Partner closely with Technology teams to optimise systems, workflows and Salesforce capabilities.
• Use operational data and insights to influence strategy, improve performance and enhance student outcomes.
• Manage service delivery against SLAs, KPIs and regulatory requirements.
• Build strong relationships with university partners and key internal stakeholders.
• Support organisational growth through the development of scalable and sustainable operational models.

About you:

You are an experienced operations leader who thrives in complex service environments and enjoys creating structure, efficiency and measurable outcomes.

You’ll bring:

• Significant leadership experience within student services, student operations, higher education, online education, or a similarly complex customer‑focused environment
• Proven success transforming operational processes and implementing scalable operating models.
• Strong experience partnering with technology teams to improve systems, reporting and CRM platforms such as Salesforce.
• Excellent commercial acumen and the ability to use data to drive decision making and business improvements.
• Deep understanding of customer or student lifecycle management, retention and service excellence.
• Experience leading high‑performing teams and fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
• Outstanding stakeholder management and communication skills.

What’s in it for you?

At OES, we’re transforming lives through education. You’ll join a high‑performing, values‑led organisation where your work directly influences business decisions, drives meaningful outcomes, and supports some of the world’s leading education providers. If you enjoy working with smart people, solving complex challenges, and making a genuine impact, you’ll thrive here.

Along with joining a passionate, energetic and highly skilled team, this role will allow you to gain exposure to many growth and development opportunities. OES offers a hybrid, approach to work, where we work 2 days from our office in Birmingham, and the rest from home (or wherever you choose!). Ultimately, you will be joining a values‑driven, collaborative business where your creativity and innovation will be nurtured and celebrated.

We pride ourselves on being a ‘People First’ employer and if you join the OES Team, you will benefit from:

• Global organisation focused on growth with lots of opportunities for our employees
• Engaging & vibrant organisational culture
• 35 hour working week, within a flexible working environment
• 25 days of annual leave + Bank holidays
• Purchased leave scheme
• OES strategy reflects respect, honesty & diversity
• Continuous improvement through challenging & meaningful work
• Study assistance and leave for eligible employees
• High growth industry & strong partner/shareholder backing
• Genuine focus on student success
• We are proud to support the Living the Wage movement

If you’re motivated by helping others, thrive on achieving results, and enjoy creating positive experiences, we’d love to hear from you.

At OES, we are committed to creating an inclusive and diverse environment, where we encourage candidates of any nationality, age, background, disability, and gender identity to apply. If you feel aligned to the role and would like to further explore your suitability, we welcome your application and would love to consider your fit for the role at OES.