Partnerships Operations Manager - RGU

Job Summary

Robert Gordon University (RGU) is a distinctive, professionally focused university that has national recognition for student success, career-focused education and the positive impact it has on graduates' futures. With strengths across a wide range of disciplines, an impressive portfolio of awards, and one of the UK's most beautiful campuses, RGU is transforming lives through education. Recognising the changing nature of education, with many students choosing not to travel to the UK for their education, RGU is seeking to significantly grow its academic partnerships portfolio and its international reach.

The University is seeking an experienced and proactive Operations Manager to play a key role in delivering and enhancing the University's academic partnership portfolio. In this new role you will report to the Head of Partnerships and lead the operational management of governance, compliance and continuous improvement of partnership activity, ensuring it supports the University's strategic ambitions and delivers value for the institution and its partners.

Working closely with Schools, Professional Services and external partners, you will lead partnership operations throughout the full lifecycle, from opportunity assessment and business case development through to implementation, performance monitoring and review. You will oversee governance and compliance processes, manage partnership risk, support financial planning and reporting, and drive operational excellence through process improvement, digital transformation and effective stakeholder engagement.

You will bring significant experience of operational management within a complex organisation, with strong expertise in governance, risk management, financial planning and business process improvement. You will be an excellent communicator with the ability to influence stakeholders, lead cross-functional initiatives and deliver successful outcomes across organisational boundaries. Experience of higher education partnerships, transnational education or collaborative provision would be advantageous.

This role may require you to occasionally travel internationally.

This post is subject to a Disclosure Scotland check. For more information visit: https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)./

In keeping with RGU's commitment to work/life balance you will have the opportunity to work from home for a portion of the working week.

• generous pension scheme
• 46 days annual leave (including statutory days)
• on-site nursery and sports centre
• a range of voluntary health and travel benefits

We are committed to attracting and engaging a diverse range of staff and fostering a culture where everyone feels welcome, comfortable to express their ideas, and can reach their full potential. For more information, please visit Our Diverse Workforce pages.

RESPONSIBLE TO: Head of Partnerships

RESPONSIBLE FOR: No direct reports

PURPOSE OF POST:

The Partnerships Operations Manager (POM) provides institutional leadership for the operational management, governance, compliance and continuous improvement of the University's academic partnership portfolio. Reporting to the Head of Partnerships, the postholder is responsible for developing, implementing and monitoring the operational frameworks, procedures and systems that enable the successful delivery of the University's Partnership Plan and contribute to the achievement of the University's strategic objectives.

The role leads the management of partnership operations throughout the partnership lifecycle, from opportunity assessment and commercial evaluation through to implementation, ongoing delivery, performance monitoring and review. Working collaboratively with Schools, Professional Services and external partners, the postholder ensures that partnership activity is operationally effective, financially sustainable, compliant with regulatory requirements and aligned with University policies and strategic priorities.

As a key member of the Partnerships Office, the Partnerships Operations Manager drives continuous improvement, digital transformation and operational excellence across all aspects of partnership activity and provides expert advice and recommendations to senior stakeholders on partnership operations, governance, performance, risk and resource planning.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES:

Strategic and Institutional Leadership

• Lead the development, implementation and continuous improvement of operational processes, procedures and systems that support partnership activity across the University and with partner organisations globally.
• Provide institutional operational leadership for partnerships, ensuring effective coordination across Schools, Professional Services and external partners.
• Advise senior managers on partnership operations, governance, compliance requirements, performance, investment decisions and risk management.
• Lead the operational implementation of the University's Partnership Plan, translating strategic objectives into institutional…