Head of Operations

Overview

In this role you will lead operational excellence within the Office of the Vice-President External Engagement (VPEE), overseeing finance, HR processes, and team culture. You will enable leaders to deliver VPEE objectives, train managers on policy, and drive engagement initiatives. By coordinating budgeting cycles, procurement, and operational planning, you help the department scale impact across brand, marketing, communications, and public affairs. You’ll collaborate with senior colleagues to optimise resources and deliver excellent professional services.

Pay / Benefits

• 41 days’ holiday
• Defined benefit pension (CARE)
• Cycle to work scheme
• Relocation support for eligible posts
• On-site nursery and gym
• Staff Support Service (employee assistance programme)

Responsibilities

• Coordinate cross-team activity including finance and budgeting, HR processes, and team culture and wellbeing
• Train managers on UCL policy and best practices in recruitment, onboarding, people processes, and appraisal conversations
• Lead induction and engagement initiatives to improve staff onboarding and measurement of colleague engagement
• Coordinate planning and information gathering for annual budgeting and reforecasting with budget holders and Finance Business Partner
• Assist colleagues with procurement processes and develop training on Finance processes and systems

Key requirements

• Strong understanding of financial management, operational planning, and organisational delivery
• Experience in higher education sector and university environments
• Experience developing budgets, monitoring financial performance, and using data for strategic decisions
• Ability to work with senior colleagues and professional services teams to allocate resources effectively
• Change management and process improvement experience
• People leadership with ability to manage via direct and matrix structures
• Strong influencing and relationship management skills
• Excellent communication skills and ability to present complex information clearly
• Resilience, adaptability and commitment to continuous improvement
• Commitment to inclusion, diversity and intercultural sensitivity
• Desirable: data analysis and evidence-based decision-making experience

• excellent communication
• relationship management
• influence and stakeholder engagement
• financial management
• budgets and forecasting
• procurement processes

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