Head of School Operations

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Glasgow Caledonian – the largest and leading modern university in Scotland - is a vibrant, values-led university with campuses in the heart of Glasgow and London. We are a university where everyone belongs, and where students are encouraged to grow, contribute and make a positive difference.

We are proud to be recognised as the top‑ranked UK modern university in the Times and Sunday Times Guide 2026, and named UK Modern University of the Year for Graduate Jobs in the latest Daily Mail University Guide.

With a wide range of professionally accredited courses and links with over 300 industry partners, 90% of our graduates are in employment and/or further study within 15 months, outperforming the sector average - with 76% of graduates in highly skilled occupations (HESA 2026). We are Scotland’s leading provider of Graduate Apprenticeships.

We are one of Scotland’s leading universities for supporting learners from the country’s most underrepresented communities, and work closely with graduates and supporters to keep our global alumni community connected. Our modern campuses support over 22,000 students from 105 countries, and we are ranked first in Scotland for sustainability in the most recent People and Planet league table (2025).

Our research is addressing many of today’s biggest global challenges. We are unsurpassed by any other Scottish modern university for the level of research (72%) considered to be world leading or internationally excellent, and our health research is surpassed only by King’s College London for outstanding impact (REF2021).

Guided by our values – integrity, responsibility, creativity and confidence - we transform the lives of the people and communities we serve.

The Teams

We are seeking an experienced and forward‑thinking Head of School Operations to provide strategic and operational leadership across all administrative and technical services within our academic schools. As a senior member of the Academic Registrar and Future Students leadership team, you will work closely with Deans, academic leaders, and central professional services to ensure cohesive, high‑performing support for teaching, research, and academic engagement.

The Role

The Head of School Operations will lead the development and delivery of an integrated, high‑quality service model that ensures a seamless experience for students, academic colleagues, and partners. You will:

• Provide strategic leadership for school‑based administrative and technical services, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities.
• Lead and develop School Associate Academic Registrars, Technical Services Managers, and wider professional services based in schools.
• Ensure robust compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements, including health and safety, data protection, and risk management.
• Drive continuous improvement, embedding sector best practice and fostering a culture of service excellence across all aspects of student administration.
• Manage budgets, staffing resources, and physical infrastructure effectively and transparently.
• Build strong relationships with academic and professional services colleagues to ensure cohesive, coordinated support across schools.
• Deputise for the Academic Registrar and Director of Future Students when required.

 

Skills and Experience

The successful candidate will:

• Be educated to degree level or have equivalent professional experience. Bring substantial senior operational leadership experience within Higher Education, ideally within school‑based or registry/professional services environments.
• Have a strong track record of leading large, diverse teams and fostering positive, high‑performing cultures.
• Demonstrate deep knowledge of student administration, academic processes, and technical service delivery.
• Possess excellent interpersonal, communication, and influencing skills, with the credibility to engage senior academic and professional colleagues.
• Have significant experience of financial and resource management, including budgeting and forecasting.
• Be confident using data and management information to inform decision‑making and drive service improvement.
• Have experience leading organisational change, including restructures, digital transformation, or service redesign.
• Demonstrate resilience, sound judgement, and the ability to act decisively in complex or unexpected situations.
• Embody GCU’s values and promote an inclusive, collaborative working environment. Join Us

This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of school operations at one of the UK’s most dynamic and values‑driven universities. If you are motivated by strategic leadership, service excellence, and driving meaningful institutional change, we would be delighted to hear from you.