Head of Administration and Finance (NDORMS Chief Operating Officer)

INTERNAL APPLICANTS ONLY

The Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences (NDORMS) is part of the Medical Sciences Division and is the largest European academic department in its field, running a globally competitive programme of research and teaching.

Our mission is to discover the causes of musculoskeletal and inflammatory conditions to deliver excellent and innovative care that improves people’s quality of life. Our highly skilled teams have expertise in a broad range of areas, including orthopaedic surgery, inflammation, immunology, rheumatology, medical statistics, epidemiology, and clinical trials.

We currently have 460 staff, 100 students and have a grants portfolio worth over £148 million, and an annual turnover in excess of £38 million.

The Head of Administration and Finance (HAF) role is crucial in supporting the Head of Department, Kennedy and Botnar Institute Directors, other senior academic colleagues and the institute operational leads in the management of the Department. The HAF acts as the Department’s Chief Operating Officer, taking responsibility for supporting the formulation and implementation of Departmental strategy and the delivery of outstanding operational support for academic staff, researchers and students.  The HAF will have oversight for the effective and efficient day-to-day operational management of the Department in support of its academic mission of teaching, research and general academic responsibilities. With the Head of Department and the senior management team, the HAF is required to be proactive and innovative in the development of future strategic and business plans and the acquisition of funding for the department, to ensure academic growth and operational resilience, while providing solutions to potential operational and strategic threats and problems.

The operational duties of the post are wide-ranging and include personnel management of all academic-related and non-academic support staff, financial management, and the administration of research support activities. The HAF will also take a leading role in development and execution of the departments Equity Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) policies including implementation and assessment of their success. The department has postgraduate and undergraduate students for whom the appropriate non-academic support is to be provided. The HAF is also responsible for the maintenance of all the department’s buildings and facilities. S/He ensures that departmental procedures conform to relevant laws and government legislation, and to the university’s statutes, regulations, policies and procedures. The HAF is also expected to contribute to the overall administration of the university.

The HAF is the direct line manager for the Department’s Operations Managers, who are responsible to him/her for the various administrative areas (Finance, Facilities, Teaching, Health and Safety, IT, Communications, HR, PA Support, Research Support/Facilitation and department governance).

This role offers an excellent opportunity for you to demonstrate your strong business and managerial ability along with the ability to balance the needs and requirements of multiple stakeholders at all levels.

The successful candidate needs to have high personal integrity and is required to take a high level of personal responsibility for both their own work and that of the team members working within their remit. They must have sound judgement under pressure, be able to think laterally and creatively and have the intellectual capacity and strength of character to take and implement important, complex and difficult decisions. Extensive operational and financial management skills and experience are critical to this role, along with a sound understanding of the key current issues facing the higher education sector. You will have excellent organisational skills with the ability to organise and delegate appropriately. A sharp analytical mind with the ability to think laterally and creatively to resolve problems is key. Communication with people at all levels and backgrounds is essential, liaising both internally and externally with key stakeholders. Experience in financial management and analysis along with sound IT skills are essential. Educationally, you will ideally have a degree or equivalent ability in knowledge, intellectual capacity, reasoning and analytical skills.

The closing date is 12 noon on Monday 3 October 2022.