Business Operations Officer
WORLD CHANGERS TOGETHER
Job purpose
Working with the Business Manager, you will be responsible for delivering a highly effective operational service playing a pivotal role in supporting the delivery of strategic objectives aligned with the MVLS Shared Research Facilities (SRF). The role will involve overseeing and coordinating multiple projects at various stages, while driving communication and marketing efforts to effectively convey the research technologies, training opportunities and impact of the SRF.
The role will involve collaboration with key stakeholders (both internal and external) and provide professional expertise and proposals to enhance operational efficiency and drive successful outcomes.
Main duties & responsibilities
- To lead on the coordination of key operational activities aligned with projects delivered across several specialised facility units within SRF. Providing project management support and monitoring progress.
- To propose and implement service solutions to enhance the service delivery, working in collaboration with Technical Leads in the SRF to ensure continuous improvements are made. This will involve regular assessments and stakeholder feedback to then evaluate and take action to deliver solutions as required.
- To routinely monitor and oversee all budget and financial costs associated with active grants, requiring professional advice and guidance to deal with financial management queries as well as reviewing and analysing financial reports for discrepancies. This will involve working closely with stakeholders to inform decisions on underspend and overspend whilst ensuring full compliance with funders’ guidelines.
- To lead on the development and implementation of a comprehensive marketing and communications strategy that effectively showcases the research, training and impact of the SRF. This includes crafting engaging content, managing the SRF website to enhance visibility and ensuring consistent messaging that resonates with both internal and external stakeholders.
- Contribute to the delivery and analysis of key performance indicators (KPIs) and using other management information and systems to provide senior colleagues in the College with insightful data to inform on impact and contribution of the SRF towards the Research Excellence Framework (REF).
- To facilitate and proactively network with industrial collaborations in conjunction with the Technical Leads and University contracts and legal team, and to actively look for new and existing opportunities to enhance the University and College’s profile and reputation. This will include attending internal and external (UK) events.
- To lead on the organisation, coordination and arrangements of scheduling networking events to attract internal and external stakeholders associated with SRF.
- To coordinate the internal assessment panels on behalf of the College for the shortlisting of strategic equipment grants, to ensure all relevant paperwork and proposals are submitted and communicate any outcomes to applicants as appropriate.
- To play a leading role in organising and preparing meetings as required, this will involve circulating papers, agendas and clerking.
- To contribute towards the induction and orientation plans for new staff and students ensuring they are equipment with the relevant tools to work in SRF and provide appropriate support as and when required for colleagues leaving.
- To engage in continuing professional development activities as appropriate.
- To undertake any other reasonable duties as required by this role.
Knowledge and qualifications
- A1 Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 9, (Ordinary/Honours Degree, Scottish Vocational Qualification level 4) or equivalent experience and personal development in a similar related role(s).
- A2 Knowledge and understanding of relevant policy, practices and procedures within research environments and complex organisations.
Skills
Essential
- Highly effective oral and written communication skills with an ability to write concise and comprehensive reports and present to a variety of audiences.
- Demonstrated ability to set priorities and work with efficiency in a changing environment.
- Ability to work flexibly and independently, assess and adapt to changing priorities, and manage own workload effectively.
- Ability to use initiative, multi-task, problem solve and pay attention using excellent organisational skills to detail successfully in a busy role with competing demands.
- Excellent IT skills including use of Microsoft Office e.g. Word, Excel and databases.
- Proven analytical, organisational, planning and problem solving skills.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to act positively with staff, students and a wide range of external contacts at all levels.
- Track record of managing budgets and preparing financial reports.
Desirable
- Knowledge of operational procedures from one or more SRF technology platforms.
- Project management skills.
Experience
Essential
- Proven experience of delivering and working at a professional level providing expert advice and guidance to people across a diverse range of research backgrounds.
- Experience of processing, analysing and presenting performance metrics.
- Experience of service delivery and building customer relationships.
- Experience in creating social media content, marketing flyers, newsletters, e-bulletins, or similar materials.
Desirable
- Experience of managing and preparing papers for senior committees.
- Experience in maintaining website content.
- Experience of working in a scientific technical facility and/or research environment.
World-Changing Campus
We have delivered one of the most significant expansions of a UK university city campus for over a century.
Over the last decade, the University of Glasgow has invested in its estate to expand its world-class campus and facilities.
An area covering 14 acres of land next to our magnificent Gilmorehill campus has been redeveloped to build a mix of modern research, teaching and public spaces.
Our new buildings will mean the University remains a centre for world-changing research, as well as a vibrant community hub and centre for public engagement.
The development will transform our teaching, learning and research spaces. It will allow us to bring together the best minds of today and tomorrow within world-class interdisciplinary research spaces that offer flexibility and stimulate collaboration, and modern study spaces that will combine study and social learning space with technology enabled teaching.
- The Mazumdar-Shaw Advanced Research Centre (ARC) is changing the way research is conducted at Glasgow. The ARC is the creative and collaborative heart of research at the University of Glasgow, bridging the boundaries between research, cross-subject collaboration and true societal impact . The ARC brings more than 500 world-leading researchers from a range of disciplines together in a building specifically designed to break down organisational structure and facilitate collaboration and interdisciplinary work.
- The James McCune Smith Learning Hub is an inspirational and diverse learning space. The flagship building was the first to be completed as part of our campus development, and provides a creative environment, combining flexible study and social learning space with multi-styled and technology-enabled teaching. It can accommodate more than 2,500 students, and includes a lecture theatre with capacity for 500 students. State-of-the-art teaching facilities, with flexible study spaces and interactive teaching for students, help to create a more immersive learning experience.
Find out more
Living in Glasgow
A UNESCO City of Music, a vibrant arts and culture scene, a food-lover’s delight, and a shopper’s paradise. Just some of the highlights of the ‘friendliest city in the world’. As well as that accolade by the Rough Guides poll, Glasgow has also been named a must visit destination by publications including the New York Times, The Guardian, and Wanderlust.
Music
The city hosts an average of 130 music events a week catering for every taste; from rock to rap, and classical to country. Glasgow also has a world class club scene playing host to some of the world’s top DJs.
Shopping
Outside of London’s West End, Glasgow is frequently voted the best place for shopping in the UK. A must-visit destination for any shop-a-holic, it houses high street chains, international designers, and independent retailers. The West End, home to the University of Glasgow, is bustling with vintage fashion, vinyl stores, and second-hand bookshops.
Arts and Culture
Glasgow’s arts scene has gone from strength to strength, and is the base for five internationally renowned performing arts companies including the National Theatre of Scotland and Scottish Ballet. The city has several world-class museums, which are free to the public, and the city’s architecture is a work of art in itself.
Food and drink
You can be in Glasgow and taste the world with its many diverse restaurants, cafes, and bars. And if you’ve yet to sample the delights of haggis and whisky, Glasgow is the place to be.
The City and Beyond
Glasgow has all the opportunities and excitement of a big city but its compact size means you can quickly travel from one vibrant district to the next. You could be relaxing in one of its many parks, before shopping in the quirky West End, and then dancing until the wee small hours in the Merchant City.
And when you fancy getting out of the city you can reach the stunning Loch Lomond in just 30 minutes, climb one of our many breath-taking Munros, play golf at one of Scotland’s many world-class courses, visit one of our ancient castles, or go further North and search for Nessie! Scotland has also just been named the world’s most beautiful country by Rough Guides.
Relocating to Glasgow
Choosing to relocate to Glasgow is a big decision. There are numerous things to be considered, such as the costs of moving, the cost of living, and where exactly to relocate to. We have created a guide to aide you in the decision making process.
Find out more on relocating to Glasgow at the below link:
WORLD CHANGERS TOGETHER
WORLD CHANGING GLASGOW 2025
Our outstanding disciplinary breadth and expertise has enabled us to make world-changing advances in fields as diverse as medicine, physics, linguistics, public policy and global development.
The key to our success is our talented staff and students pushing back at the boundaries of knowledge and understanding together.
Our World Changers Together strategy recognises the fundamental importance of a culture of open cooperation: not just as colleagues and mentors or students and teachers, but as a community of discovery that reaches beyond its walls and draws inspiration and strength from its connections and partnerships worldwide: excellence that's part of something bigger. The strategy is articulated across three themes:
COMMUNITY
- People centred, globally engaged
CONNECTIVITY
- Collaboratively minded, digitally enhanced
CHALLENGES
- Solution focused, impact oriented
Find out more
How to apply
Full details of the role and how to apply can be found by visiting our website:
The closing date for applications is 23:45 on Monday 7th July 2025
Terms & Conditions
Salary will be Grade 7, £40,497 - £45,413 per annum.
This post is full time and open ended. Relocation assistance will be provided where appropriate.
The University of Glasgow has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK. If you require a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK, you will be required to meet the eligibility requirements of the visa route to be assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship.
Please note that this post may be eligible to be sponsored under the Skilled Worker visa route if tradeable points can be used under the Skilled Worker visa rules. For more information please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.
As a valued member of our team, you can expect:
A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.
An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension - pensions handbook https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/payandpensions/pensions/, benefits and discount packages.
A flexible approach to working.
A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/healthwellbeing/.
We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/.
We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.
We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information.
It is the University of Glasgow’s mission to foster an inclusive climate, which ensures equality in our working, learning, research and teaching environment. We strongly endorse the principles of Athena SWAN, including a supportive and flexible working environment, with commitment from all levels of the organisation in promoting gender equity.
Our values
The future holds innumerable challenges for our sector, our society, and our world. We will have to adapt and change what we do and what we offer if we are to navigate these successfully. Our strategy and approach may evolve as the landscape changes, but our values will remain constant: a fixed point of certainty in uncertain times.
We have identified our values in consultation and partnership with our staff and student community. Living and upholding these values will ensure that we remain true to the spirit of our community and ourselves:
Ambition and Excellence
- We strive for excellence through our work
- We defend academic freedom globally
- We recognise and celebrate shared success
- We have an unrelenting focus on development
Curiosity and Discovery
- We innovate and solve problems together
- We lead by influence and example
- We engage with lifelong learning and personal development
- We learn from our mistakes
Integrity and Truth
- We uphold honesty, integrity and fairness
- We share our work widely and generously
- We do the right thing, not the easy thing - or we don’t do it
- We take responsibility
An Inclusive Community
- We are one Glasgow team, and we care for and respect one another
- We advocate for diversity and believe in variety as a vital part of a healthy university
- We champion education as an engine for social progress
- We practise and advance sustainability