Job Title: Operations Manager

Salary: £34,500 - £44,850

Location: Cambridge (hybrid – minimum 2 days per week onsite)

Contract: Fixed term (18 months), Full Time (35 hours per week)

We are Cambridge University Press & Assessment, a world-leading academic publisher and assessment organisation and a proud part of the University of Cambridge.

IELTS is the world's leading English language test for higher education and global migration, and it is jointly owned by The British Council, IDP: Australia and Cambridge University Press & Assessment. IELTS on Paper and IELTS on Computer tests are delivered in hundreds of test locations around the world to over 300k candidates each month.

IELTS Operations sits within the IELTS Delivery team here at Cambridge University Press & Assessment. The team supports the delivery of IELTS tests across all platforms through a wide variety of processes and tasks, working collaboratively with both internal colleagues and our external partner colleagues alike.

These are demanding times for IELTS Operations as we continue to play a pivotal role in the delivery of IELTS testing globally, whilst concurrently supporting the development of our systems and processes.

We are now seeking to appoint an experienced, enthusiastic and dynamic Operations Manager.

About the role 

This role, within the IELTS Operations team, encompasses a range of tasks and responsibilities. Reporting to a line manager, you will need to establish a high standard for the following activities:

• Manage key parts of the IELTS test processing cycle, ensuring your team completes a variety of business critical and strategic activities
• Manage an agreed set of operational and compliance processes and procedures
• Manage the development and maintenance of a culture of systematic process review
• Contribute to the management of IELTS Ops at multiple levels and in different forums
• Represent Cambridge at IELTS cross partner working groups
• Contribute to new developments and the delivery of new products and services as required
• Line or task management responsibilities – supporting Operations Support Managers, Senior Operations Administrators and Operations Administrators

About you

The successful candidate for this dynamic Operations Manager role will be motivated by delivering excellence in operational processes and customer service for our test takers, partners and centres. You will want to be part of a high performing team that ensures IELTS continues to be the world's most trusted English test.

The successful candidate should have experience of working collaboratively in a busy office environment. It will be an advantage if you can demonstrate how you have worked on strategic projects to continuously improve processes and people, and ideally you will also have experience of project and risk management as well as ongoing system development.

Ideal candidates will be educated to ‘A' Level standard or equivalent and be adept at using Microsoft Office products, including solid excel and Power BI capabilities. In addition, working knowledge of workflow management methodology and tools would be an advantage. As ever, accuracy and attention to detail, plus experience of providing a high level of customer service and stakeholder management are essential. Excellent interpersonal skills, the ability to work under pressure and to prioritise work to achieve multiple tight deadlines are also fundamental attributes for this position.

Line management experience is important in this role, but what we want to see in the successful candidate is someone that actively seeks to develop themselves and others which fits the high performing nature of the IELTS Operations team. Evidencing that, regardless of previous experience is the most important thing.

If you would like to know more about this opportunity and what will make you successful, please see the full job description attached to the bottom of this vacancy on our careers site.

Rewards and benefits

We will support you to be at your best in work and to live well outside of it. In addition to competitive salaries, we offer a world-class, flexible rewards package, featuring family-friendly and planet-friendly benefits including:

• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Private medical and Permanent Health Insurance
• Discretionary annual bonus
• Group personal pension scheme
• Life assurance up to 4 x annual salary
• Green travel schemes

We are a hybrid working organisation, and we offer a range of flexible working options from day one. We expect most hybrid-working colleagues to spend 40-60% of their time at their dedicated office or location. We will also consider other work arrangements if you wish to work more flexibly or require adjustments due to a disability.

Ready to pursue your potential? Apply now. 

Please apply with your CV and covering letter outlining how you meet the requirements of this role.

We review applications on an ongoing basis, with a closing date for all applications being although we may close it earlier if suitable candidates are identified so please apply as soon as possible. Interviews are scheduled towards the end of April.

Applications must be submitted through our Applicant Tracker System. Emailed applications cannot be accepted. Thank you.

Please note that successful applicants will be subject to satisfactory background checks including DBS due to working in a regulated industry.

Cambridge University Press & Assessment is an approved UK employer for the sponsorship of eligible roles and applicants under the Skilled Worker visa route. Please refer to the gov.uk website for guidance to understand your own eligibility based on the role you are applying for.

Why join us

Joining us is your opportunity to pursue potential. You'll belong to a collaborative team that's exploring new and better ways to serve students, teachers and researchers across the globe – for the benefit of individuals, society and the world. Sharing our mission will inspire your own growth, development and progress, in an environment which embraces difference, change and aspiration. 

Cambridge University Press & Assessment is committed to being a place where anyone can enjoy a successful career, where it's safe to speak up, and where we learn continuously to improve together. We welcome applications from all candidates, regardless of demographic characteristics (age, disability, educational attainment, ethnicity, gender, marital status, neurodiversity, religion, sex, gender identity and sexual identity), cultural, or social class/background.

We believe better outcomes come through diversity of thought, background and approach. We welcome applications from people from all backgrounds and communities, actively seeking to employ people from a wide range of different communities.