Business Manager

Job Purpose

The Business Manager for Estates has three key areas of focus: providing wide-ranging professional and organisational support to the Executive Director of Estates; contributing to the management and delivery of the Estates Directorate; and leading on Directorate wide change projects.

This role will support the Executive Director of Estates with the implementation of a number of Directorate objectives. This will include researching and drafting strategic policy papers and processes; monitoring adherence to key performance indicators and objectives; liaising directly with customers and resolving issues; interacting with key internal and external contacts; and proactively and independently managing selected change projects across the full spectrum of the Executive Directors’ responsibilities and priorities.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

•  Lead and manage complex Directorate improvement projects using judgement and discretion. The range of projects is likely to include benchmarking service standards, customer service improvements, driving performance adherence, organisational efficiencies & service improvements. These projects  will often involving multiple stakeholders and University offices with conflicting priorities. This may involve securing input of other colleagues, services and project teams and negotiating and influencing to establish appropriate actions and agreed ways forward.

•  Driving the improvement project lifecycle including project initiation, management of the project resources; agreement of the technical and quality strategy; establishment of robust delivery schedules and applying discretion in coordination project delivery activities to meet project outcomes.

•  Project communication with all relevant sponsor and stakeholder communities, including consultation and management of expectations; reporting to project boards, engaging and managing stakeholders across the Directorate and, depending on the project -from across the wider University. Provide project status updates to sponsor, including any emerging risks or issues.

•  Proactively plan, manage and progress actions in relation to the Executive Director’s full range of activities often involving significant forward planning and engaging the input of others from across the Service / University and externally as required. The post-holder will have discretion to act independently where appropriate

•  Research and draft documentation, papers, briefing notes, presentation, responses to complex queries or complaints and reports as directed across the full spectrum of the Executive Directors’ business undertaking background research from appropriate sources, and using a broad awareness of the full Estates Directorate agenda and with consultation with key stakeholders.

•  Follow up actions for the Executive Director on an ad hoc basis, serving as the primary information source for on-going actions or undertaking investigations as required. This requires the post-holder to be aware of Estates’ priorities and pressures and be sensitive to the strategic direction of the University.

•  Support the development of Estates policies and procedures, including undertaking research, stakeholder consultation and securing necessary approvals and contribute to the delivery of specific areas within the Estates strategy.

•  Representing the Executive Director at various meetings where the Director is unable to attend. This will require a full understanding of the policies and direction of the Directorate.

Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Knowledge/QualificationsEssential:

A1 Ability to demonstrate the competencies required to undertake the duties associated with this level of post   having acquired the necessary professional knowledge and management skills in a similar or number of different specialist roles. Or: Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 9, 10 or 11 (Ordinary/Honours Degree, Post Graduate Qualification), or equivalent, including being professionally qualified in relevant discipline, with a broad range of professional experience in a management role(s)

A2 Knowledge of project management methodologies

Desirable:

B1 Knowledge of the property and/ or Higher education sectors

B2 Some knowledge of HR and Finance procedures

B3 Experience with Service Level agreements and Key Performance Indicators

B4 Project management qualification

SkillsEssential:

C1 Excellent oral and written communication skills with an ability to research and write reports and presentations for a variety of audiences and to draft and edit strategic documents.

C2 Proven analytical, organisational, project planning and problem-solving skills with the ability to bridge the gap between technical and non-technical. C3 Ability to act on own initiative and operate with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail and generate innovative solutions as required

C4 Demonstrated ability to set priorities, work with diplomacy and efficiency and work outwith regular business hours when needed .

C5 Ability to champion and lead on the benefits of change, challenging the status quo effectively and developing and introducing innovative approaches   C6 Skilled in relationship management including negotiating & influencing others to get to agreed outcomes.

C7 Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to engage positively with colleagues and students and a wide range of contacts. C8 Ability to contribute effectively as a member of a team.

C9 Numerate with excellent IT skills and ability to interpret, manipulate and present large amounts of sometimes complex data for a variety of audiences

Desirable:

D1 Skilled in presenting to senior colleagues

D2 Ability to adapt to changing priorities, often at short notice

ExperienceEssential:

E1 Experience of working with a range of colleagues, including senior stakeholders and Committees

E2 Proven problem solving abilities across a broad range of areas. E3 Experience of project work, delegating work to others and managing deliverables with a successful track record of delivery

E4 Managing & preparing papers for senior committees and managing actions resulting from these

E5 Experience of drafting policy or proposals for senior colleagues or groups or writing responses on behalf of others on a range of topics

E6 Experience of writing detailed project plans and ensuring these are agreed and communicated with the project team, project board (if applicable) and stakeholders

E7 Leading change management in a diverse organisation

E8 Experience of developing and running training programmes to introduce and support changes to work practices

Desirable:

F1 Experience of working with Trade Unions

F2 Experience of completing pieces of work at Senior Management level

F3 Experience of leading cross functional project teams

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 8, £46,047 – £53,353 per annum.

This post is full time and open ended.

As part of Team UofG you will be a member of a world changing, inclusive community, which values ambition, excellence, integrity and curiosity.

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.

2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension – pensions handbook https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/payandpensions/pensions/, benefits and discount packages.

3 A flexible approach to working.

4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/healthwellbeing/.

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/.

We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.

We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information.