Head of Operations

Operational

Full-time, permanent

£54,893 to £63,606 plus £1,730 Oxford weighting

35 hours per week

Deadline: Tuesday 30 June 2026

We’re looking for an exceptional operational leader and people manager to join St Antony’s College as Head of Operations.

This is a full-time role (35 hours per week) with a salary of £54,893 to £63,606 gross per year plus an annual Oxford weighting allowance of £1,730.

About the role

Reporting to the Bursar (COO), the Head of Operations is responsible for the leadership and management of the College’s accommodation, catering and events services. You will directly manage the Accommodation Manager, Head Chef, Steward (front of house) and Events Coordinators, supporting them to deliver efficient, professional and customer-focused services.

As a member of the College’s senior management team, you will work closely with senior colleagues, operational departments and the student body to ensure services meet the needs of our diverse international community. You will lead operational delivery, people management and continuous improvement, optimising how we work, ensuring we meet our compliance requirements and the expectations of our community and ensuring services remain financially sustainable.

This role requires an experienced operational manager with strong leadership skills, sound judgement and the ability to build trust and positive working relationships across the College community. You will lead proactively, through collaboration, visibility and engagement, supporting teams to respond effectively to the needs of staff, students, Fellows and visitors.

Your work will include:

• Leading and developing high-performing operational teams, with a visible and engaged management style
• Providing hands-on, practical support for operational teams during periods of peak demand, staff absence or complex activity
• Improving operational processes, systems and staffing arrangements to enhance efficiency, service quality and performance
• Ensuring compliance with licensing, health and safety, safeguarding and environmental requirements
• Monitoring budgets and analysing profitability, working with operational managers to ensure financial sustainability

Some evening and weekend work will be required to support operational activities and events.

What we’re looking for

Essential

• Excellent people management skills, with experience leading customer-facing service teams and directly managing operational delivery
• Senior management experience, with the ability to operate at both strategic and operational levels within a small organisation
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to make clear, well-informed decisions
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with a diplomatic and collaborative approach
• Strong customer focus and commitment to delivering an excellent experience for all stakeholders
• Ability to analyse operational and financial data to improve efficiency, service quality and financial performance
• Financially literate, with experience managing budgets and resources effectively
• Experience of using and optimising operational IT systems, with an interest in technology and digital experiences
• Experience of working under pressure, adapting to changing priorities, and willingness to work outside core hours when required
• Holding, or being willing to obtain, a Personal Licence

Desirable

• Knowledge of licensing and regulatory requirements
• Experience within hospitality, catering, accommodation or events operations
• Sympathy with the values and ethos of a collegiate academic environment

Please read the attached job description and person specification for more information.

About St Antony’s College

St Antony’s is a vibrant, international graduate-only college of the University of Oxford. Founded in 1950, we are proudly modern and inclusive, with a diverse global community representing more than 70 countries.

The Head of Operations helps to ensure the College provides a welcoming, well-managed and efficient environment that supports academic life, student experience and the wider activities of the College.

We offer excellent employee benefits, including:

• 41 days full-time equivalent annual leave including bank/public holidays
• Membership of the University of Oxford’s Staff Pension Scheme
• Generous family friendly benefits
• Free staff meals in the Dining Hall when the hall is open and you are on shift immediately before and after lunch service
• Staff social events, including a summer party and winter children’s party, plus informal activities run by the Staff Social Committee
• Bus travel scheme, cycle to work scheme, and access to a car parking space in the College’s grounds if one is available

How to apply

Please send your completed application form to recruitment@sant.ox.ac.uk by

9.00am on Tuesday 30 June 2026. Interviews are expected to take place in the week beginning 6 July 2026.

We will shortlist candidates based solely on how closely they meet the essential and desirable criteria in the person specification. Please note that we cannot consider late or incomplete applications.

Any offer of employment will depend on satisfactory references and confirmation of your right to work in the UK. Standard factual references verifying dates and job titles may not be considered sufficient. We require referees to comment on the candidate’s core competencies, relevant experience, and suitability for the role.

St Antony’s College is an equal opportunities employer. All applicants will be invited to complete a confidential and anonymous monitoring survey, which is not shared with the selection panel.

A privacy notice for applicants and information about how we use your data can be found at https://www.sant.ox.ac.uk/about-st-antonys/how-we-use-your-data

Published date: June 4, 2026

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