Senior Business Support Officer

The School of Global Affairs (SGA) is a hub of multi-disciplinary scholarship that seeks to address the most pressing issues facing our world today. We wish to appoint a Senior Business Support Officer to play a crucial role in the smooth running of our School, comprising 8 different academic units. If you are an outstanding individual, who loves working with a variety of people, and have a track record in working with large budgets, supporting HR processes and are looking to advance your career, this role is for you. The role will report to the School Business Manager.

You will:

•       Support the delivery of business support services (finance, estates, and HR) for students and staff within the SGA

•       work closely with the School Business Manager, Deputy School Business Manager and Heads of Department to support strategic planning and daily business

•       be expected to identify gaps in information, and conduct analyses to solve/resolve problems and issues with short-term consequences

•       put forward recommendations on managing more complex situations, having regard to their impact and consequences

At King’s, we are deeply committed to embedding good equality and diversity practice into all of our activities so that the university is an inclusive, welcoming and inspiring place to work and study, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion, sex or sexual orientation. King’s offers inclusive benefits to staff including flexible working, Enhanced Parental Leave, funds for Parents and Carers and the potential to join community staff networks. The School of Global Affairs is committed to embedding good diversity and inclusion practice into all of its activities. It actively supports the creation and maintenance of a community that allows all of its members to develop their full potential.

This post will be offered on a full-time, indefinite contract.

• To work proactively (with other Professional Services staff) to support the School of Global Affairs in its daily business and to ensure standard operating processes and procedures are complied with.
• To support the School and Departments in the preparation of strategic planning and policy reviews and provide other support for School / Departmental committee and meetings.
• To support the recruitment process, including preparing job packs, arranging advertising, interviews and induction, liaising with key School staff and the Human Resources department as necessary.
• To support HR processes, such as induction, probation, promotions, performance development review, recognition pay, professorial review, study leave etc.
• To support data collection and analysis, including data on equality, diversity & inclusion and workload modelling.
• To work with the School Business Manager and Deputy School Business Manager in financial processing including purchasing, invoicing, expenses claims and asset management, with particular oversight of allocated Department(s) non-pay budgets.
• To ensure financial processing is in compliance with College financial policies and regulations.
• To compile cases for resourcing of major projects within Departments.
• To work with Head of Department and the Lab Manager on local space and infrastructure matters including the allocation of space, resource requirements, minor estates works, obtaining estimates and the advising on long term space requirements.
• To support the School and departmental leadership team in planning and implementation of major changes.
• To regularly communicate information clearly and precisely, including clarification of non-routine matters. The job holder will have to routinely decide what and how best to communicate information and to choose an appropriate method of delivery and employ techniques to ensure understanding.
• To manage and contribute to ad-hoc projects as required.
• To provide support to SGA departments as required, as part of the School Business team.

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Essential criteria

1.       Educated to degree level or equivalent relevant work experience

2.       Excellent knowledge of university policies and procedures including financial regulations.

3.       Excellent numeracy skills with ability to manage large budgets (c. £1m) and provide budget monitoring information.

4.       Highly proficient IT skills (databases, Excel, Word, Teams).

5.       Familiarity with financial software, including Business World.

6.       Good oral and written communication skills with an ability to engage effectively with a range of stakeholders, both within and outside the organization.

7.       Experience and understanding of HR processes, procedures and software.

8.       Experience of working in an administrative environment within the HE sector or a similar administrative environment.

9.       Ability to prioritise workload in a busy environment.

10.    Demonstrable organisational skills with a high degree of attention to detail.

Desirable criteria

1.   Experience of workload modelling including the use of Simitive.

2.   Experience of managing projects.

3.   Experience of analysing and interpreting data to inform decision-making.

4.   Experience of space management including commissioning minor works.

Interviews to be held mid October 2022. The interview will consist of a test and a panel interview.