About the job

Job summary

We’re seeking an experienced operations manager to oversee daily activities. An ideal candidate will be process-focused but also able to demonstrate flexibility. They must be able to adapt to different situations, have a sharp business mind and proven success managing multiple staff and looking after a variety of training programmes. We are looking for someone highly skilled in decision making, an effective communicator, highly organised, skilled at building and sustaining relationships with customers and able to manage and develop staff. Additionally, they will be able to display a proven ability to develop and maintain an environment of trust, diversity, and inclusion within the team. The crucial element of the role is to maintain and increase our operational efficiency and quality standards in Business Operations.

Job description

We’re seeking an experienced operations manager to oversee daily activities and strategic projects for the Commercial and Contract Management Assessment & Development Centre (ADC). The successful candidate will lead the delivery of a professional, top-quality, streamlined, efficient and customer-focused operation. Furthermore, they will need to be process-focused but also able to demonstrate flexibility. They must be able to adapt to different situations, have a sharp business mind and proven success managing multiple staff and looking after a variety of training programmes. We are looking for someone highly skilled in decision making, an effective communicator, highly organised, skilled at building and sustaining relationships with customers and able to manage and develop staff. Additionally, they will be able to display a proven ability to develop and maintain an environment of trust, diversity, and inclusion within the team. The crucial element of the role is to maintain and increase our operational efficiency and quality standards in Business Operations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Maintain effective communication with management, staff, and customers to ensure proper delivery of the Assessment & Development Centre (ADC) and be a key player within redesign projects that are part of the ADC any new L&D products added to the curriculum.
• Direct line management of a HEO Deputy Operations Manager, and indirect line management of a small team of EO Event Support Officers.
• Lead operational delivery of the ADC to ensure that all scheduled assessment events can be delivered with a high-quality candidate experience.
• Support major project implementation, review and locally manage the Assessment Development Centre & any new changes to the product.
• Review and maintain quality assurance protocols and ensure standard operating procedures are regularly reviewed and updated.
• Grow the efficiency of existing organisational processes and procedures to enhance and sustain the organisation’s internal capacity.
• Actively pursue strategic and operational objectives.
• Ensure operational activities remain on time and within a defined budget.
• Ensure invoices are reviewed and signed off in a timely way.
• Lead, motivate, and bolster a team within a time restrictive and demanding environment, including setup and implementation of career development plans for all direct reports and effectively manage problem resolution. They will track staffing workload, hiring new employees as needed.
• Partner with cross-functional related teams in improving customer experience tools and systems.
• Own the localised commercial e-learning platform data related to ADC delivery, including individual responsibility for data governance and management of data assets held within the team.
• Build up sustainable customer relationships.
• Lead on any associated projects relating to ADC delivery and design administration learner journeys associated with ADC delivery.
• Work closely with other teams within capability services.
• Manage and support localised contracts, specifically contracts used for query management.

The duties listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. In the role, you will be expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant adjustments may require re-examination under the Job Evaluation scheme and shall be discussed in the first instance with the Job Holder.

Person specification

Essential:

• Excellent organisation skills
• Effective communication skills when dealing with internal and external customers
• Project support/management skills
• Excellent IT skills
• Experience of a working with a Learning Management System
• Experience of working with a query management system
• People management skills

Desirable:

• Experience working within a business operations management role
• Contract management experience
• Experience working within an L&D department

Additional information:

A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £40,850, Cabinet Office contributes £11,029 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Application process

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, a 250 word personal statement and one 250 word behaviour statement on the lead behaviour, Leadership. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using the lead behaviour Leadership. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Selection process

During the blended interview you will be assessed against your experience and the behaviours that are contained within this advert. 

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Expected sift date – w/c 26th February
Expected interview date/s – w/c 18th March
Interview location - Virtual (Google Meet)

Further information

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to Cabinet Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service or Disclosure Scotland on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading. 

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. 

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Reasonable adjustments

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. 

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: 

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. 
• Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'contact point for applicants' section.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.