Director of Operations

The School of Management at the University of Bath is seeking an experienced and confident leader to take on the role of Director of Operations. This is a senior position that plays a central role in supporting the School’s strategic aims and ensuring the effective delivery of its operational activities.

About the School of Management

The School is widely recognised as one of the top business schools across the UK. In the Complete University Guide 2026, we are ranked 1st for Marketing, 2nd for Accounting and Finance, and 3rd for Business and Management Studies. We are also a leading centre for research: in the most recent Research Excellence Framework, 56% of our submissions were assessed as 4*, the highest possible rating.

We hold EQUIS accreditation and are listed in the FT Global Top 100 for our MBA programme. Our new, purpose-built facility close to the centre of Bath provides an excellent working environment for over 180 academic colleagues and around 100 professional services staff. The University campus is set in attractive countryside overlooking the UNESCO World Heritage City of Bath, with good national transport links and a high quality of life.

The School is currently developing its next five‑year strategy, making this an important and constructive period in which to join.

About the Role

The Director of Operations provides leadership and coordination across all professional services functions in the School. Working closely with the Dean and senior colleagues, the postholder ensures that operations are aligned with the School’s strategic objectives and that staff, students, and partners receive high‑quality support. The role also provides strategic oversight of marketing, student recruitment, external relations, and alumni engagement activities in support of the School’s growth ambitions.

The role carries significant responsibility for resource planning, service delivery, and day‑to‑day operational management. The postholder will be accountable for financial planning, resource allocation, and the effective management of professional services budgets across the School. It also contributes to the School’s external profile through effective communication, collaboration, and representation at various levels.

A key focus of the role will be driving continuous improvement through process optimisation, digital innovation, and effective service design.

About You

We are seeking an individual with:

• Proven experience managing and leading professional services teams
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build positive working relationships
• Resilience, good judgement, combined with competence for making well‑considered decisions
• A commitment to delivering high standards of service and supporting organisational improvement
• Experience of leading large, multi-functional teams and delivering operational or organisational change

Further information

This post offers the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the continued development of one of the UK’s most respected business schools. The successful candidate will play a key role in advancing the School’s strategic direction and ensuring the effective delivery of its operations.

This is a full time, permanent position working 36.5 hours per week with a minimum of three days per week on campus.

Informal enquiries may be made to Professor Steve Brammer, Dean of the School of Management or Jess Skinner, Executive Assistant to the Dean.

However please ensure that you submit your application through the university website.

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