Deputy Operations Manager

College of Social Sciences

Full-time starting salary is normally in the range £34,980 to £44,263 with potential progression once in post to £46,974

Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to December 2025

Birmingham Business School is one of the oldest business schools in the country and sits within a prestigious 1% of the world's business schools that hold the gold standard 'triple-crown' accreditations of AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS. Our vision is to promote curiosity and thought leadership for responsible business. We are embedding a culture of responsible business and inclusive values across our education, research, and operations and are dedicated to developing our future responsible business leaders.

The Deputy Head of Operations is a critical role in the School, undertaking strategic and operational projects and deputising for the School's Head of Operations as required. Leading a team of 16 across the Business Operations and Dean's Office teams, the postholder has responsibility for all general administration for 6 departments along with research, financial, and HR operations in the School. The Deputy Head of Operations ensures that the teams provide efficient and continuously enhanced services to a broad range of managerial and academic stakeholders.

The postholder works closely with senior Academic and Professional Services leads across the School and College developing and implementing initiatives to embed efficiencies and continuous improvement across college operations, particularly in HR, business planning and finance, facilities, IT and space management, and research support. They are a member of the School's Professional Services Senior Management Team and contribute to Committees and working groups within the School's and College's governance structure, including acting as secretary to the Research and Knowledge Exchange Committee.

The Deputy Head of Operations reports directly to the Head of Operations and undertakes projects and initiatives that contribute to the effective day-to-day running of the school, the development of a high performing professional services team, and a culture of continuous improvement and excellence.

• Lead, manage and develop the central school hub and Dean's Office teams to provide service excellence across the administrative, PA, HR, Finance and Research functions.
• Work with the Head of Operations, Strategic Management Team and academic staff to operationalise the School's and College's strategic plans.
• Work with the Head of Operations and College Head of Facilities to manage space allocation and the provision of high-quality space across all Business School buildings.
• Manage all School-level administration and governance processes ensuring activities are professionally supported by the School Hub and Dean's Office, including projects, events, internal communications and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Through the School's Senior Administrators, proactively manage HR and financial processes, working with the Head of Operations and Head of Operations (Education) to develop and monitor the School's annual planning cycle, ensuring planned and deliberate connection between the predicted volume of students, academic and professional services resource and physical infrastructure.
• Work with colleagues in Accreditations, Careers, Education Support, Executive Projects and Reputation to deliver continuous improvement across the school's professional services functions and drive a culture of collaboration, connection and excellence.
• The post-holder will work with the Head of Operations to deliver cross-College initiatives as required and will provide cover for the Head of Operations' responsibilities in their absence.

• Regularly manage and maintain a portfolio of projects relating to core School administration, facilities and space management, research, including Research Excellence Framework (REF) preparation, events support, and governance.
• Under the direction and guidance of the Head of Operations, occasionally manage other projects spanning the breadth of the School's activity which originate from the School's Senior Management Team, the School's Committee structure and from the College or wider University.

• Support the Head of Operations to ensure that the School has robust governance and decision-making structures that are fully aligned with those at College and University level, advising on governance and compliance as appropriate.
• Lead on School compliance with University Regulations, all other University policies, procedures and guidelines, and relevant legislation, including responsibility for the School's visa assessment process.
• Liaise and network with College process leads and peers to ensure effective and timely delivery of services for the School.

• In partnership with key members of the School undertake a continuous review of the School's activity in relation to general administration, external partnership and research support.
• Provide key strategic support to the Director of Research and the RKE Committee, building outward-facing relationships with teams across the College and University that support research activity.
• Develop and foster excellent communication and feedback channels with the School Heads of Department and other appropriate academic colleagues.
• Take a leading role in monitoring and understanding the needs and expectations of externally funded research centres and ensure that there are effective communication mechanisms in place at all times.
• Work as a member of the School's Professional Service Management team in pro-actively fostering effective, flexible, and efficient administrative interfaces across the College(s) and University offices to help provide coordinated services to students and academic staff.
• Pro-actively assist the Head of Operations in the ongoing development of the School, its values, standards, service levels, and professional ethos within the overall strategic objectives of the School and the Birmingham Professional agenda.
• Ensure that the role and its responsibilities are delivered in accordance with procedures and regulations as defined by both the School and the University of Birmingham.

The specific areas of responsibility and/or tasks may change from time to time in accordance with the requirements of the School and its priorities and as reasonably required by the Head of Operations.

Proactively champion and embed equality and diversity within the school, acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.

Support the University's sustainability agenda and the School's Responsible Business mission by establishing and monitoring sustainable ways of working.

Excellent leadership and management skills and the ability to motivate teams and manage performance.

Excellent project management skills with experience of managing a varied portfolio of projects.

Excellent communication skills and the ability to produce a variety of documentation including strategies, operational plans, business cases, minutes and other reports.

Experience working with data and management information, analysing complex data and producing reports that influence policy and facilitate decision-making.

Sound understanding of the academic endeavour and experience managing relationships with senior academics.

The ability to work under pressure, manage competing priorities, and complete tasks based on only broad direction and with minimum supervision.

Experience of resource planning and financial and budget management.

Strong intellectual ability and confidence and the ability to apply this to management tasks and written material.

Experience of working in a University environment and the potential and desire to develop as a successful Higher Education manager and leader.

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.