Faculty Director of Operations

UCL Laws

At the heart of legal London, we attract the leading figures in the field to contribute to our vibrant programme of events, informing public debate and understanding of contemporary social, legal, environmental and economic issues. The Faculty is currently rated No 1 in the UK for the quality of its legal research (REF2021), runs world-renowned programmes for legal education at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and prides itself on its community spirit and embrace of diverse perspectives to drive excellence.

About the Director of Operations role

The Director of Operations (DoO) is a senior leadership role, reporting to, and a trusted advisor of, the Dean of the Faculty. The DoO is responsible for creating the operational environment to empower our academics to deliver excellent research and teaching. This is a pivotal role in shaping the operational landscape, ensuring alignment of resources, processes and technology to support the faculty’s objectives. The DoO has four core responsibilities:

• Leading the professional services/operational teams within the Faculty;
• Working with the Dean, Academic Head of Department, Vice-Deans, and Faculty colleagues to ensure the Faculty is financially and operationally sustainable, collegiate and working optimally as a community;
• As required, championing and delivering meaningful and beneficial change to support Faculty and organisational objectives;
• Representing the Departments and Faculties in UCL-wide decision making and leading on UCL-wide initiatives from time to time, as directed by the Executive Director, Faculty Operations to whom the role will have a dotted line.

The DoO also takes part in and represents the Faculty in cross-faculty and University-wide initiatives requiring senior input and presence, such as committees, boards and internal and external events. Additionally, the DoO will have Faculty-specific initiatives that they will be responsible for leading, some of which can be found in the Appendix.

About you

The ideal candidate will have substantial experience of leadership and management of business operations in a complex organisation, preferably within the Higher Education sector.

Demonstrable leadership, organisational and change management skills; the ability to prioritise in the face of competing demands and proven success in embedding strategic, financial and resource management and motivating high-performing teams that deliver excellent outputs.

Relevant professional experience with a high standard of education, preferably to postgraduate level or equivalent.

Application Details:

• This appointment is subject to UCL Terms and Conditions of Service for Research and Professional Services Staff.
• This role meets the eligibility requirements for a skilled worker certificate of sponsorship or a global talent visa under UK Visas and Immigration legislation.
• DBS is not required for this role.
• The UCL Ways of Working for professional services supports colleagues to be successful and happy at UCL through sharing expectation around how we work.

Application Process:

• Closing date: Friday 01 May at 17:00 BST (applications may close early if we receive a high volume of applications, so early application submission is recommended).
• Interviews will be held the weeks commencing 25 May and 01 June.
• Job description and person specification can be accessed at the bottom of this page.

Contact Details:

• If you have any queries regarding the vacancy or application process, please contact Julie Smith, Interim Executive Director, Faculty Operations on julie.smith@ucl.ac.uk.
• If you need reasonable adjustments or a more accessible format to apply for this job online or have any queries about the application process, please contact Stacey Kirkham on s.kirkham@ucl.ac.uk.

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