Operations Manager

Job Type

Full Time Permanent

Salary

£44,263 - £54,395 per annum

Location

University Innovation Centre

About the Job

Interview Date: 9 May 2024

This is an exciting opportunity for a highly professional and motivated individual with excellent business, commercial and communication skills to provide operational leadership and management of the Competence Test Centre (CTC) ensuring the requirements of the Nursing Midwifery Council (NMC) contract are met and the CTC operates at its maximum capacity. The successful candidate will direct, line manage a team of business administrators and manage all aspects of the NMC contract ensuring service level agreements and key performance indicators are met, reported on and a high-quality service is always maintained. The post holder will act as the primary interface between the CTC and the University’s professional services and will provide external representation for the test centre with partnered NHS Trusts and the NMC.

Working collaboratively with the Clinical Manager and Deputy Managers, the post holder will ensure efficient operational delivery of the Test of Competence and facilitate an excellent customer service journey for all candidates and organisations. Project management, budgetary responsibilities, resource management, contract and bid management and identification of income generation opportunities also form part of this post.

The CTC is integral to the University of Northampton. It offers the OSCE Test of Competence (TOC) and other exams to Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs) and midwives (IEN/M) seeking entry to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) register and nurses, midwives and nursing associates returning to the register after lapsed registration. It performs an important function and has a national social impact. The CTC facilitates NMC registration to around 10, 000 IENs and midwives annually, allowing them to enter the UK healthcare workforce and directly contribute to patient care nationally.

The CTC is a welcoming, inclusive workplace with a diverse workforce.  We care and are committed to staff professional development. You will benefit from a structured induction programme, annual appraisal to help identify career aspirations, access to an extensive programme of in-house and Linked-In courses. You will be supported through a mentoring, shadowing and coaching approach along with mandatory and more formal training.

The post holder will be expected to work in partnership with the business team and the CTC leadership team to provide leadership cover for occasional weekends.

About you

This post is suitable for a senior business administrator who has the knowledge, skills and experience in leading professional teams, managing contracts, meeting targets, monitoring results and productivity. 

The post holder should have:

• Significant experience in a commercial management capacity
• Significant experience of leading teams, team building and mentoring
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate at a professional level with stakeholders, such as the NMC, Trust employers, and candidates; along with exam delivery partners from other test centres, and test developers attending meetings in line with the post
• Experience in developing and managing administration and operational processes
• Experience of governance through quality assurance and risk management processes
• Ability to accept individual accountability in the delivery of a high-quality service
• Experience of leading and contributing to successful service delivery; showing initiative in improving service delivery to meet the needs of “customers” and key stakeholders
• Excellent organisational, planning, IT and delegation skills to manage complex tasks and ensure that deadlines are met
• Evidence of successful project management and budget control
• Experience of stakeholder engagement and management
• Experience of line management and a supportive approach when managing team members in the performance of their roles and responsibilities
• Ability to adapt to and implement organisational change
• Ability to be responsive to changing culture, expectations and needs
• Experience in aspects of income generation, bids and tenders
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• An understanding of HR policies and procedures
• The motivation to strive to do the best individually and collectively

Essential Qualifications

• Hold a degree or equivalent qualification and or significant experience in project, commercial and business operational management
• Hold a relevant professional level qualification in either: administration business or commercial management

Department

The Competence test centre is part of the Faculty of Health Education and Society.

NMC Test of Competence - The Nursing and Midwifery Council

We offer the Test of Competence (TOC) which measures candidates against the current UK pre-registration standards for nursing, midwifery and nursing associates.

Standards for nurses - The Nursing and Midwifery Council (nmc.org.uk)

Standards for midwives - The Nursing and Midwifery Council (nmc.org.uk)

Standards for nursing associates - The Nursing and Midwifery Council (nmc.org.uk)

The distinct fields of practice tested includes:

Adult, Child, Learning disabilities, Mental health, Midwifery and Nursing Associates.

Our test centre (CTC) has expanded its facilities, and offers purpose built examination facilities for international candidates; centrally located in the heart of Northampton, opposite to the railway station.

About Us

Come to the University of Northampton and you will see that we do things a bit differently.

We are one of the youngest universities in the UK but we are already leading the way in adding value to society, which we call social impact. We have won multiple awards for our work in this area, among others, but what matters the most to us is ensuring that our students and graduates have the opportunity to make their mark on the world too. That’s why we were the first university in the UK to be named as a Changemaker Campus in 2012.

We want to break the mould of what Higher Education can be. This has led us to build a whole new University from the ground up that is designed to reflect the way that students actually learn rather than the way they are expected to learn. Waterside Campus opened in September 2018.

Our commitment to transforming lives and inspiring change is at the heart of all that we do.

Right to Work

All candidates will be asked to provide proof of eligibility to work in the UK at interview.

Equality

We welcome applications from underrepresented groups.

The University of Northampton is committed to providing a vibrant, ethical and sustainable work, study and living environment that values equality, diversity and inclusion.

This commitment, along with our legal and moral obligations, provides an inclusive environment for staff, students and the public who may be affected by our activities.

Together @ UON confirms our commitment to equality and inclusion, underpinned by our belief in taking action. We are dedicated to creating an environment that celebrates equality and harnesses the power of diversity.

Together @ UON demonstrates our pledge to our staff, students and partners to nurture and develop an environment where equality and inclusion can thrive whilst we Transform Lives and Inspire Change.

To find out more, please visit: https://www.northampton.ac.uk/about-us/governance-and-management/management/equality-and-diversity/