Operations & Development Manager

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Operations & Development Manager

The post holder will be part of the team delivering the Routes into Languages Cymru Project , an outreach project which works with primary and secondary schools to provide positive experiences of, and opportunities to interact with, language learning. The project has been funded by a consortium of organisations, including Higher Education Institutions and organisations such as the British Council, for a number of years (please see the additional information section for more information about the project). The post holder will play a critical role in the future development of the project. 

This role is designed to support an overhaul of the operations of the Routes into Languages Cymru Project, and to lead on securing its future with a focus on its strategic and financial development.

The post holder will be responsible for the successful delivery of the activities that come under the Routes into Languages umbrella. These comprise of a range of events in primary and secondary schools, with key events also held in partner universities. These are delivered both face-to-face and online, with an increasing emphasis on face-to-face delivery. You will be required to be actively supportive of and visible across the project events. The role requires the post holder to manage the Project Coordinator to ensure successful delivery of such events.
Within the operational remit of the role, the post holder will also be charged with managing ongoing partnerships with partners internal and external to Cardiff University; supporting the data collation services and impact measurement of the project; lead the review and refresh of all policies and process; and deliver any other operational requirements of the project.

Within the development remit of the role, the post holder will also be charged with scoping out and securing new partnerships; finding relevant funds and applying for them to secure the future of the project; strategically analysing the strategy of Routes and aligning with potential funders; reporting on impact; working closely with the Academic Lead and Programme Manager to outwardly and visibly promote the project in a variety of forums; planning forward the activities of Routes and the organisation structure needed to deliver; and any other development tasks required.

The post holder will work closely with the Routes into Languages Programme Manager, but will be expected to be confident to lead, to problem solve and to offer creative ideas and input. Autonomous and creative working will be key to this role.   

The role is suited to someone who enjoys taking the initiative, being creative and is passionate about supporting our young Welsh learners. In particular, the role will suit someone who enjoys a varied task load and will thrive in a busy, enthusiastic team. The role will require some travel and weekend working. It would be advantageous if the post holder has experience of teaching, mentoring or ambassador roles, working in education and/or learning an additional language, but this is not a requirement if the post holder is eager, enthusiastic and keen to develop their knowledge.

This role is 0.8FTE (28 hours per week), available immediately, and will be available for 12 months from the first date of employment.

Salary: £39,347 - £44,263 per annum, pro rata for hours worked (Grade 6)

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Lucy Jenkins, Routes into Languages Programme Manager: [email protected]  

Date advert posted: Wednesday, 10 January 2024

Closing date: Wednesday, 24 January 2024

Please be aware that Cardiff University reserves the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient applications be received.

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds who have the ambition to create a University which seeks to fulfil our social, cultural and economic obligation to Cardiff, Wales, and the world.  In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.

Job Description

Key Duties

• Lead the day-to-day operations of the Routes into Languages Cymru activity, ensuring that compliance with all regulations of risk, management and evaluation are adhered to, resolving issues independently, and proactively contributing to the continuous improvement of operational systems and processes to facilitate the work of the project.
• Line management of the Project Coordinator, including planning, organising and delegating work, monitoring progress and performance, and intervening as required. Actively contributing to the training and development of other team members and supporting other staff where required.
• Provide professional advice and guidance to internal and external staff and partners on all Routes into Languages activity, processes and procedures. 
• Support the development and achievement of project plans, ensuring objectives are met and deliverables are realised on time to agreed standards and within budget.
• Maintain existing and establish new working relationships with key contacts, developing appropriate communication links with relevant internal and external outside parties and stakeholders as required.
• Lead on the writing of project reports and present about the project in a range of forums.
• Use a range of project management skills to maintain appropriate project documentation and implement new systems and processes where needed.
• Lead on the development of the data collation and data workflows of the project including, data storage and retention, and data analysis for reporting.
• Plan and deliver specific small-scale projects, co-ordinating and supervising project teams as needed.
• Actively monitor and report on the broader languages, outreach, and Higher Education landscape, and other language engagement strategies and activities, to provide market insight that can shape future funding plans of the project.
• Ensure the implementation of robust and effective processes and policies to better understand and meet the needs of individuals who come from under-represented or vulnerable groups.
• Actively seek out and identify additional funding streams and lead on the development of funding applications.
• Effectively manage a budget to ensure that project objectives are achieved within budget.
• Use creativity and initiative to highlight areas within existing practices where innovation could bring increased impact and funding.

• Ensure that an understanding of the importance of confidentiality is applied when undertaking all duties.
• Undertake a variety of administrative duties to support the department.
• Abide by University policies on Health and Safety and Equality and Diversity.
• Perform other duties occasionally which are not included above, but which will be consistent with the role.

Person Specification

It is Cardiff University's policy to use the person specification as a key tool for shortlisting. Therefore, candidates must evidence they meet ALL the essential criteria and, where relevant, the desirable. Please attach a supporting statement, using each of the below criteria as a heading evidencing how you meet each. When attaching the supporting statement to your application, please ensure you name it with the vacancy reference number: XXXXBR.

Essential Criteria

Qualifications and Education

10. Experience of, or a significant and evidenced interest in, developing/writing funding bids and grant applications.

Desirable Criteria

Additional Information

Routes into Languages Cymru is a collaborative outreach project that aims to inspire enthusiasm for International Languages across schools in Wales. Established in 2009, Routes Cymru joined the established network in England and became the 10th regional consortium of the Routes into Languages community. From 2009-2014, Routes Cymru was funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW). It was a partnership of all Universities in Wales with CILT Cymru, the then National Centre for Languages in Wales, which ceased to exist in 2015.

Since 2014 the project has had a devolved administrative structure and operates from Cardiff and Bangor Universities.  Financial support is currently provided by HEI partners in Wales, three Welsh regional education consortia: Central South Consortium (CSC), Education Achievement Service (EAS) (South East Wales), GwE (North Wales) plus the British Council Wales. This funding will allow the project to operate for the next 12 – 18 months.

Our audience is the education sector and we deliver a learner-focussed programme of activities to primary and secondary schools and FE colleges across Wales. Within the next 12-18 months, Routes Cymru will deliver bespoke training for primary and secondary learners and university students to become Language Ambassadors. After training, the ambassadors will be tasked with raising the profile of languages within local schools and the community.  Student Language Ambassadors (university students) will support outreach events and offer a variety of activities including school  talks, language taster sessions and support careers fairs/open days.  Pupil Language Ambassadors will promote languages within their school through, for example, school clubs and language themed events. The project also arranges an array of other events to support language learning in schools in Wales such as the AS/A Level Masterclasses and the Modern Languages event in collaboration with the Welsh Government’s Seren Foundation programme. To align with the new Curriculum for Wales, the project has also introduced a teacher toolkit for developing international languages in the primary  sector. Further information about Routes Cymru’s mission and activities can be found on the website .

Job Category

Management & Executive