"Operations Manager"

Operations Manager

Queen Mary University of London - Strategic Planning Office

Placed On: 21st January 2026
Closes: 24th February 2026
Job Ref: 6306

About the Role

As Operations Manager in the Strategic Planning Office (SPO), you will play a central role in leading a team of Planning Analysts and Senior Planning Analysts to deliver both routine and project-based work that supports strategic decision-making across the university. You will be responsible for embedding a project management approach within the SPO, ensuring consistent delivery of initiatives, and managing resources effectively. The role also includes overseeing project progress, producing insightful reports, and deputizing for the Deputy Director of Planning, making it a key leadership position within the department.

About You

You are an experienced and proactive professional with a strong background in project and resource management, ideally within a complex or data-driven environment. You bring excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills, and are confident in managing teams and driving performance. You are comfortable working across multiple priorities, assessing new initiatives, and aligning them with broader strategic goals. A degree or equivalent experience is essential, and a project management qualification such as PRINCE2 or Agile is highly desirable.

About the Department

The Strategic Planning Office (SPO) plays a vital role in supporting Queen Mary’s strategic and operational planning. The team is responsible for a wide range of activities including risk management, student number planning, statutory returns, and data provision. The SPO works closely with senior leaders across the university to ensure that planning is informed, data-driven, and aligned with institutional goals. It is a collaborative and forward-thinking environment where innovation, continuous improvement, and inclusivity are at the heart of everything we do.

About Queen Mary

At Queen Mary University of London, we believe that a diversity of ideas helps us achieve the previously unthinkable.

Throughout our history, we’ve fostered social justice and improved lives through academic excellence. And we continue to live and breathe this spirit today, not because it’s simply ‘the right thing to do’ but for what it helps us achieve and the intellectual brilliance it delivers.

We continue to embrace diversity of thought and opinion in everything we do, in the belief that when views collide, disciplines interact, and perspectives intersect, truly original thought takes form.

Benefits

We offer competitive salaries, access to a generous pension scheme, 30 days’ leave per annum (pro-rata for part-time/fixed-term), a season ticket loan scheme and access to a comprehensive range of personal and professional development opportunities. In addition, we offer a range of work life balance and family friendly, inclusive employment policies, campus facilities and flexible working arrangements.

Queen Mary’s commitment to our diverse and inclusive community is embedded in our appointments processes. Reasonable adjustments will be made at each stage of the recruitment process for any candidate with a disability. We are open to considering applications from candidates wishing to work flexibly.

Valuing Diversity & Committed to Equality