Head of School Operations

This role is for a Head of School Operations at Newcastle University's Faculty of Science, Agriculture & Engineering. The position involves partnering with the Head of School to deliver operational excellence, leading professional services teams, and driving continuous improvement in education, research, and innovation. Key requirements include experience in large, complex organizations, strategic leadership, financial management, and the ability to foster strong partnerships.

• Are you a strategic and collaborative leader who thrives in a complex environment and is passionate about supporting both colleagues and students to succeed?
• The Faculty of Science, Agriculture & Engineering (SAgE) at Newcastle University is seeking an exceptional individual to take on the role of Head of School Operations to work in partnership with the Head of School to deliver excellence across education, research and innovation.
• Leading professional services within the School of Engineering, you will drive operational performance, champion continuous improvement and help create an outstanding experience for students, staff and external partners.
• You will lead and develop high-performing teams within a matrix management model, working closely with professional service business partners and academic colleagues to deliver strategic priorities and outstanding service.
• You will play a key role in shaping the School's future, leading change, building effective partnerships and ensuring the smooth operation of a large and complex School.
• For informal enquiries about the role please contact Kate McGill, Director of Faculty Operations at kate.mcgill@ncl.ac.uk
• We would welcome requests for flexible working and depending on the needs of the role, blended working opportunities to work remotely as well as on campus may be considered. The hiring manager will discuss the requirements of the role, should you be invited to interview.
• To apply, please attach your CV and a cover letter, no longer than 2 pages, that demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria for the position, as outlined in the Person Specification of the Job Description.
• Any requested additional documents required as part of your application, should be included within the same file as your cover letter.
• The total file size must not exceed 10MB.
• A Head of School Operations at this level would typically support a complex unit comprising of a significant number of administrative, academic and research colleagues located over several sites, which includes several different academic discipline areas and both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, including lab-based programmes.
• Please see the School website to understand the size and scope of this particular unit.
• The Head of School Operations will work in partnership with the Head of School to set the strategic agenda for the School and ensure effective implementation and delivery of school wide plans, coordinating both administrative and academic effort to achieve this success.
• The post holder will be expected to deliver the following:
• Ensure the effective and efficient operation of the School by directing and actively leading the day-to-day running of the school including supporting, reacting and responding to queries effectively and in a timely manner, delivering an exceptional operational environment.
• Drive the successful delivery of the School’s strategic and operational objectives by shaping, contributing and participating in the School’s strategic and operational planning processes,
• supporting the strategic direction of the School, Faculty and University, including responding to opportunities and challenges that might affect these strategic and operational plans and to forward-plan the business cycle of the School.
• Build, develop and lead a high-performing professional services team.
• Manage and develop a team of administrative colleagues supporting and facilitating the School’s activities, ensuring that they are deployed efficiently to deliver a customer-orientated service to all colleagues, students and visitors.
• This includes the coordination and leadership of business partner teams line managed via the matrix structures.

• Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.
• We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent.
• At Newcastle University we hold a Gold Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality.
• We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC.
• We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.
• In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.
• Experience of working in a large complex organisation, with an understanding of the Higher Education Sector operations and challenges.
• A knowledge and understanding of the external environment in which the School operates and ability to develop strong relationships with external stakeholders.
• An understanding of business and management processes, and the application of performance measures.
• Proven ability to lead, empathise, inspire confidence, foster a team-based approach, and build equally effective relationships with colleagues from multiple job families.
• Evidence of developing and implementing strategy to deliver key objectives and of leading innovative solutions and managing strategic planning processes.
• Experience of managing and controlling budgets/resources/funding and a good understanding of financial management procedures.
• Intellectual capacity and strong Influencing skills - getting 'buy in' to policy and strategy and to facilitate changes in behaviour and direction at both a strategic and operational level across organisational boundaries.
• Effective contribution to organisational change, e.g., in a leadership role within a research-intensive organisation
• Experience of leading a culture of equality, diversity and inclusion including skills to coach and mentor individuals across the Faculty and effectively motivate and lead individuals across teams.
• Professionally qualified with a degree plus significant relevant management and leadership experience, in a similar role or environment