Academy operations manager jobs

About the role

The Academy runs some of the most valued grant schemes and development programmes in UK biomedical and health research. Springboard Awards help researchers establish their independence. Starter Grants keep talented clinicians in research alongside their clinical work. Leadership programmes like FLIER develop people who can work across academia, healthcare and industry to tackle real-world challenges, and alongside these sit opportunities to spend time working in industry, the NHS or government. Moving between sectors should be a normal part of a medical research career (it is not yet), and much of our work is built with that belief: a more connected and mobile workforce is better able to turn discovery into benefit. Between them, these schemes change the course of people's careers, and the research they enable reaches patients across the UK and beyond.

This role leads that portfolio. The heart of the job is excellent delivery: schemes that are well designed and well run, and that make a real difference to the people they reach. You will work closely with the Fellowship, whose expertise and generosity run through the whole portfolio, and you will make sure the schemes serve the whole of the medical sciences community (across the devolved nations and the regions, in industry as much as academia), not just those already inside the most established institutions. And science is global, so this work is too: the portfolio draws on evidence and partnerships from around the world, and the mentoring and networks around the people we support reach well beyond the UK.

Today much of the portfolio's focus is research talent and careers. That will always be a substantial part of the portfolio, but over time we plan to expand it further. That expansion could go in several directions, and what matters is that we are taking an evidence-based approach to ensure that our efforts are responding to what the medical sciences sector needs. Whatever we launch next, the same principles apply; good design, sound funding, proper governance and solid evaluation, with our effort concentrated where it delivers the most impact. So, the job is twofold: run today's portfolio brilliantly and build the future portfolio. It is a role where you can see your work land in people's lives, with real scope to shape what comes next. And none of it stands alone: what we learn from the people we fund sharpens our policy voice, the community our programmes build strengthens our engagement and public trust work, and insight flows back the other way to shape what we design next.

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will share in the leadership of the Academy as a whole, working closely with the other directors: the Chief Operating Officer and the Directors of Policy, Communications and Engagement, and Translation and Enterprise. The relationship with Translation and Enterprise matters especially. That team will shape new partnerships and initiatives that your team is best placed to deliver, so the two of you will work in very close partnership.

What we are looking for

These are the six areas we will explore with candidates. They match the six parts of the role above, so you can read straight across — and your supporting statement can follow the same structure if that helps. We do not expect anyone to arrive with every part fully formed, but the strongest candidates will be convincing across most of them.

1. Excellent delivery

A strong track record of running grant schemes or of significant programmatic delivery. Much of this is operational: holding an annual cycle to time and budget, catching problems early and getting stuck things moving again. It is also about making sure the portfolio adds up to a coherent whole rather than a collection of separate schemes, with the governance discipline — sound contracts, clean compliance, rigorous oversight — that sits behind delivery done well.

2. Building partnerships and negotiating well

A track record of building and sustaining partnerships with funders, delivery organisations and industry, and the skill and pace to turn them into agreements where appropriate. We will want to hear how you have handled a complex negotiation and brought it to a close. The Chief Operating Officer leads the Academy’s income strategy, so we will also explore how you develop partners in concert with colleagues.

3. Range and credibility across the community

This role runs from Fellows (some of the most eminent scientists in the country) to researchers at the very start of their careers, and from government and funders to industry partners. We are looking for someone with the range to work well across all of them, and the credibility to be taken seriously at every level. We will also explore how you have widened access and drawn talent in from beyond the usual places.

4. A focus on impact

A commitment to looking at what difference the portfolio you lead makes. We are looking for someone who treats evaluation as a source of learning and uses what it shows to decide what the Academy should do next, keeping sight of the people and patients the work is for.

5. Leading and empowering people

A brilliant leader of people: someone who gets the best from a talented team by giving them space and ownership, backing them with real support and coaching, and building a culture where people thrive and develop.

6. Collective leadership

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, you would share responsibility for the Academy as a whole, not only your own directorate. We want someone who takes that seriously, brings challenge where it is needed, backs colleagues when it counts, and helps make the Academy a brilliant place to work.

Benefits

We offer a competitive and evolving benefits package designed to support your wellbeing, development and work–life balance, including:

• Competitive salary and pension
• 26 days’ annual leave, plus bank holidays
• Option to buy or sell annual leave 
• Additional paid closure between Christmas and New Year
• Hybrid and flexible working
• Health, wellbeing and employee support programmes
• Cycle-to-work scheme and everyday benefits
• Structured learning and development
• Enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity leave
• Enhanced occupational sick pay

For further information and to apply, please visit our website via the apply button.

Closing date for completed applications: Midday on Monday 17 August 2026.

First interviews will be held 25-26 August 2026 with the CEO, Roz Campion, and the COO, James Lawrence, and focused on two competencies – leadership and delivery.

Second interviews will be held on 1 September 2026 with an external panel.

About Spear

Spear is a national youth employment charity. The award-winning Spear Programme was launched over 20 years ago, and is now running in 18 Spear Centres across the country, equipping unemployed 16–24-year-olds facing barriers to employment with the skills and mindset they need to secure work and thrive in work and life. 

Please see the 'Work with us’ pack for more information. 

About the role

We're looking for an ambitious, proactive and relationship-driven individual who excels at securing strategic, long-term corporate partnerships that drive the growth and impact of Spear. Joining our dynamic and growing Corporate Partnerships team, you will play a key role in developing and stewarding high-value partnerships that generate significant income and enable Spear to reach more young people facing barriers to employment.

This role is ideal for someone with strong business development and relationship management skills, who enjoys working both strategically and hands-on to generate income, develop compelling partnership opportunities and build lasting relationships with corporate supporters.

Key Information

• Salary: from £43,000 depending on experience
• Full-Time, One Year Fixed Term Contract
• Annual leave: 28 days annual leave (including Christmas gift days) plus bank holidays
• Closing Date: We interview on a rolling basis and will close the role early if we find the right candidate

For more information please read through our Job Specification.

If you require any reasonable adjustments as part of the recruitment process, please let us know.

Person Specification

• A practising Christian, passionate about Spear's values and mission, with a desire to engage and inspire corporate partners to support young people facing barriers to employment into sustainable work.
• Significant senior-level experience in corporate fundraising, corporate social responsibility, business development or strategic partnerships.
• Proven ability to raise funds, develop business partnerships or drive sales. Excellent client management using CRM tools such as Salesforce are desirable.
• An excellent communicator with strong relational skills and the confidence and ability to develop a rapport with and positively influence a variety of people from diverse backgrounds in the corporate space.
• Excellent writing skills, attention to detail and accuracy, including the ability to produce compelling proposals for a professional, corporate audience.
• Demonstration of leadership capabilities; proactive, responsive and a self-starter. Ability to manage multiple priorities to meet targets and deadlines.
• Strong numerical, reporting and organizational skills, including the ability to establish appropriate and effective processes and structures​.
• Line Management experience desirable but not essential.

Faith Expressions

Spear is a Christian charity, working in a range of settings, in partnership with people from all faiths and none. Although the Spear programme itself has no faith element, Our Christian faith underpins everything we do; it motivates and sustains us and is core to our mission. Prayer and worship are embedded into our daily working practises, and all staff are required to lead a team prayer meeting from time to time. As such, there is a Genuine Occupational Requirement for our team to be practising Christians – our team share a belief in a triune God and we welcome applications from people of all denominations and expressions of Christianity.

Job Title: Director of Examinations 

Reports to: Chief Executive

Line reports: Examinations Manager (x2) 

The Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCOphth) is a membership organisation and the voice of the profession, with over 4,750 members in the UK and overseas. Our role is to champion the specialty, set standards of training and practice, and influence change to make a difference to the lives of patients with eye conditions.

Job Purpose 

The Director of Examinations plays an important role within the College, providing strategic leadership, oversight and delivery of our exam function in the UK and overseas, at the same time as ensuring alignment with best practice and GMC standards.

This role has responsibility for a budget of £2M+ and for the delivery of exams to around 3,000 candidates each year. The postholder is also responsible for leading a team of six members of staff and forms a key part of our Senior Leadership Team, taking corporate responsibility for the overall direction and operational management of the College.

Main responsibilities 

1. To oversee the strategic direction and delivery of exams 

• Provide strategic leadership for the College's examination function, ensuring all examinations are designed, delivered and continuously improved in accordance with the College's strategic objectives, regulatory requirements, obligations and recognised best practice 

• Develop and implement the long-term exams strategy, anticipating future developments in medical education, assessment, AI technology and regulation to identify opportunities, manage risks and ensure the continued relevance and sustainability of the College's examinations 

• Ensure the College's examinations meet the standards required by the General Medical Council (GMC) and other relevant regulatory bodies, maintaining robust governance, quality assurance and standard-setting processes that demonstrate examinations are valid, reliable and fit for purpose 

• Lead the strategic planning, financial management and performance of the examinations function, ensuring delivery within agreed budgets while maintaining high-quality services and identifying opportunities for innovation and operational efficiency 

• Champion an outstanding candidate and stakeholder experience by ensuring examinations are delivered to consistently high standards of customer service, accessibility, fairness and professionalism, with particular regard to equity, diversity and inclusion, confidentiality and information security 

• Provide executive leadership for the development, implementation and continuous improvement of policies, assessment methodologies and quality assurance frameworks, ensuring alignment with developments in medical assessment and educational best practice. 

• Oversee governance arrangements for examination appeals, reasonable adjustments, examination security and risk management, ensuring robust, transparent and legally compliant decision-making processes 

• Ensure comprehensive monitoring and analysis of examination performance, assessment outcomes and equality data, using evidence and statistical analysis to inform continuous improvement, maintain standards and provide assurance to the College's governance structures and external regulators 

• Drive the development and implementation of digital solutions, leading business change to improve resilience, efficiency, data quality and the candidate experience 

• Lead the strategic development and expansion of the College's international examination portfolio, identifying opportunities for growth while ensuring consistent quality, governance and candidate experience across the UK and overseas in a financially sustainable way 

• Ensure appropriate governance, oversight and maintenance of systems, policies, guidance and digital resources, including candidate communications and public-facing information 

• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, innovation and evidence-based practice across the examinations function, ensuring emerging risks, operational issues and opportunities are identified and addressed proactively. 

2. To foster close and constructive relationships with key stakeholders 

• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with examiners, psychometricians, clinical leaders, regulators and international delivery partners, fostering collaboration to ensure the consistent delivery, quality and integrity of the College's examinations across the UK and internationally 

• Provide strategic oversight of the recruitment, development and performance of the College's volunteer examiner workforce, ensuring examiners are appropriately trained, supported and calibrated to deliver assessments in accordance with regulatory requirements and recognised best practice 

• Serve as the executive lead for the College's Examinations Committee and its subcommittee structure, providing strategic advice, governance support and assurance to enable effective oversight of the examination function and its ongoing development 

• Lead the College's relationship with the GMC, acting as the principal point of engagement on examination matters. Ensure timely and robust regulatory reporting, represent the College in formal discussions, and provide assurance that examinations continue to meet all applicable regulatory standards 

• Build and maintain productive relationships with key UK stakeholders, including the Postgraduate Dean for Ophthalmology, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC), NHS partners and other professional bodies, influencing developments in postgraduate medical assessment and promoting collaboration across the sector 

• Lead the College's engagement with international partners, including examination delivery organisations, host institutions and the College of Ophthalmology of Eastern, Central and Southern Africa (COESCA), supporting the strategic growth, quality assurance and sustainable development of the College's international examination portfolio 

• Represent the College externally on matters relating to examinations and assessment, acting as a trusted advisor to senior clinical leaders, regulators and partner organisations, and enhancing the College's reputation as a leader in postgraduate medical assessment. 

3. To lead the directorate 

• Provide executive leadership of the team, creating a high-performing, collaborative and customer-focused culture that enables colleagues to deliver excellent outcomes 

• Lead, develop and empower the team through effective coaching, succession planning and identification of professional development opportunities, building capacity and resilience

• Establish clear individual and team objectives aligned to the College's strategic priorities, monitoring performance, fostering accountability and supporting the successful delivery of agreed outcomes

• Promote effective communication and collaboration across the team, ensuring colleagues are informed, motivated and connected to the College's strategic direction, while championing the team's achievements across the organisation 

• Ensure robust financial stewardship, including strategic financial planning, budget management and long-term forecasting, contributing to the College's sustainability and value for money 

• Provide strategic advice, analysis and assurance to the Board of Trustees and Finance Committee, reporting on performance, risks, financial position and progress against objectives 

• Establish effective governance and programme management arrangements to deliver strategic initiatives, foster cross-College collaboration and drive continuous improvement. 

4. To contribute as a member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) 

• Play a full and active role as a member of the SLT, contributing to the development and delivery of the College's strategy and organisational priorities 

• Provide visible organisational leadership, promoting collaboration across teams and embedding a one-College approach that delivers consistently high standards of service and performance 

• Contribute to the development, implementation and review of College-wide policies, governance arrangements and organisational processes, ensuring effective and consistent application across the organisation 

• Share collective corporate responsibility for decisions taken by the SLT and Board of Trustees, supporting their successful implementation and promoting a culture of accountability and continuous improvement 

• Lead and contribute to cross-organisational change programmes and strategic projects, ensuring effective engagement with colleagues and stakeholders to deliver sustainable improvement 

• Champion and role model the College's values, behaviours and leadership expectations, fostering an inclusive, respectful and high-performing organisational culture. 

5. To undertake other duties as required:  

• Undertake any other reasonable duties as required by the Chief Executive

• Extensive travel in the UK and overseas is required, alongside working outside normal hours from time to time during exam sittings. 

Person Specification 

Knowledge, Qualifications and Experience 

• Degree or equivalent professional qualification 

• Significant senior leadership experience in examinations, education, assessment or a professional membership organisation 

• Experience of leading high-stakes assessment or examination services, including quality assurance and regulatory compliance 

• Experience of strategic planning, budget management and organisational performance 

• Experience of leading, developing and motivating high-performing teams 

• Experience of working with Boards, committees, regulators and senior stakeholders 

• Experience of leading organisational or digital change programmes 

Skills and Abilities 

• Strategic leadership with strong planning, analytical and decision-making skills 

• Excellent communication, influencing and relationship management skills 

• Financial and commercial awareness with the ability to manage resources effectively 

• Ability to lead change, manage risk and deliver continuous improvement 

• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver results 

Personal Qualities (Attributes) 

• Collaborative, inclusive and values-driven leader who demonstrates integrity, professionalism and sound judgement 

• Resilient, adaptable and committed to innovation, continuous improvement and customer excellence 

• Commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and to continuing professional development 

Other requirements

Willingness to travel within the UK and internationally and work occasional evenings or weekends during examination periods

Financial Controller - Multi Academy Trust 

Location: Thrapston, Northamptonshire
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: £51,000 -£58,000 per annum

· Lead and develop a Finance Operations team within education

· Partner directly with the CFO on strategic financial planning

· Hands-on financial accounting role managing a team

· Develop your career within a Trust committed to professional growth

Our client, a well-established Multi-Academy Trust with schools across Corby, Kettering and Wisbech, is seeking an experienced Financial Controller to join their central finance team – in the Thrapston Head Office. This is an excellent opportunity for a finance professional looking to make a meaningful impact within the education sector while advancing their career in a supportive and values-driven organisation.

Company Overview 

This Multi-Academy Trust of 12 primary & secondary schools is committed to enhancing strategic financial insight across its schools and leadership teams. They focus on the efficient allocation of resources, integrating finance with curriculum planning, and ensuring compliance with ESFA and academy handbook requirements. The Trust values continuous improvement and invests in the ongoing professional and personal development of every employee. With a strong emphasis on collaboration, high standards, and courteous service, they create an environment where finance professionals can grow while making a real difference to students and staff across their schools.

Position Overview

As Financial Controller, you'll play a key role in ensuring financial sustainability across the Trust. Working closely with the CFO, you'll manage capital and revenue budgets, produce financial reports and statements, and lead the Finance Operations team of 4 staff. This position is central to maintaining robust financial controls, managing risk, and ensuring compliance with financial and legal obligations. You'll also build strong relationships with external stakeholders including banks, the DfE, and auditors, while identifying opportunities for cost savings and improved efficiency across the Trust.

Responsibilities 

· Manage and monitor capital and revenue budgets effectively

· Support the CFO in producing regular finance reports and budget packs

· Prepare financial statements including cash flow, income and balance sheets

· Perform monthly balance sheet reconciliations and fixed asset reporting

· Maintain the Key Financial Controls Framework across the Trust

· Conduct fixed asset verifications and stock takes

· Manage financial risk and ensure compliance with regulations

· Build and maintain relationships with banks, DfE, auditors and stakeholders

· Organise and follow up on internal and external audits

· Lead, develop and manage the Finance Operations team (4 staff)

· Monitor cost-effectiveness of services and identify savings opportunities

· Oversee transactional processes including banking, purchase ledger and sales ledger

· Manage working capital and cash flow forecasting

· Partner with the CEO, Regional Executive Principals and School Business Managers

Requirements 

· Proven experience managing budgets and financial controls in a similar role

· Ideally fully-qualified ACCA, CIMA, ACA or CIPA accountant

· Strong technical accounting skills including balance sheet reconciliations and financial statements

· Experience leading and developing finance teams

· Knowledge of compliance requirements, ideally within education or public sector

· Ability to build effective relationships with senior stakeholders

· Experience managing audits and working with external bodies

· Strong analytical skills to identify cost savings and efficiency improvements

· Understanding of working capital management and cash flow forecasting

· Commitment to continuous improvement and professional development

Benefits

· Competitive salary of £51-58k

· Leading public sector pension contributions

· The role is office based but there is flexibility to work from home during quieter periods

· Commitment to ongoing professional and personal development

· Supportive leadership and clear career progression opportunities

You'll join a Trust that genuinely values its people and invests in their growth. Working alongside committed professionals, you'll be part of an organisation focused on continuous improvement, high standards, and making a positive impact on education.

How to Apply 

If you have the skills and experience to succeed in this Financial Controller role and are looking to advance your career within the education sector, please submit your CV and a cover letter outlining your relevant experience. We look forward to hearing from you.

Closing date: Ongoing/ASAP