Operations Manager – InnovationRCA: Royal College of Art

The Royal College of Art is the UK’s only entirely postgraduate institution of art and design, dedicated to teaching, research and knowledge exchange with industry. The RCA has been ranked the number 1 university for art & design internationally for the seventh consecutive year according to the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021.

The InnovationRCA Operations Manager will:

• Support the Director in planning and delivering the year plan for InnovationRCA ensuring that all programmes are resourced and timetabled.
• Work as part of the InnovationRCA leadership team to develop and implement departmental strategy. 
• Ensure effective management of resources and the smooth operation of all activities and events. 
• Facilitate, coordinate, plan and deploy resource requirements within budget. Act as focal point for liaison with start-ups and central College functions and disseminate information effectively across InnovationRCA. 
• Act as Information Asset Owner for InnovationRCA and AngelClubRCA’s information ensuring it is created or collected, managed and used appropriately in accordance with legislation (GDPR) and best practice.
• Oversee and manage all aspects of start-up tenancies at InnovationRCA to ensure a smooth-running incubator.  
• Manage the administrative/community team and freelance designers and staff.

The Operations Manager will also help InnovationRCA find, attract and recruit the best talent into the accelerator and incubator and facilitate delivery of InnovationRCA’s IP Support programme, 

The ideal candidate will be educated to degree level or equivalent. In addition, it is essential that candidates have:

• Experience working at a relevant level in an administrative/business management capacity
• Proven line management experience with the ability to define roles and responsibilities, conduct regular 1:1s with the team, appraisals and performance management 
• Experience of contributing to the financial planning, including planning resource allocation 
• Proven interpersonal and communication skills with a high degree of tact and diplomacy 
• High level of digital literacy and IT skills including productivity suites (Microsoft Office, Google for work), Web/Internet use and financial management systems 
• Ability to use initiative and work as part of a team 
• Excellent organisational and event management skills 
• Ability to deal positively and constructively with change and to juggle conflicting priorities 

Interviews and assessments scheduled for January 2022