University Centre - Business Manager
Service Area/Centre: University Centre at Blackburn College (UCBC)
Hours: 37 per week / 52 weeks Per Year
Salary: Management spine 44-46
Reference Number: 2734
Responsible to: Dean of Higher Education
The Position
The Business Manager in UCBC will provide outstanding leadership and management in the
commercial and business development, quality and monitoring of the day to day operations
(planning, data, human resources, resources, finance, administration, procedures and
processes) of the University Centre. Blackburn College has 3,000 HE enrolments and delivers
two thirds of HE in East Lancashire. The Centre offers programmes in Humanities, Social
Science, Law, Engineering, Computing, Construction, Management Accounts, Fine Art,
Photography, Textiles, Graphics, Teacher Education and Professional qualifications. The
portfolio is constantly expanding and the Centre delivers qualifications at most levels of
Higher Education: Professional, HNC, HND, Foundation Degree, Degree (Ord and Hons) and
Masters. The role holder will be experienced in managing HR, resources, delivery of targets
ideally within a Higher Education environment with a record of achieving targets.
The post will support the Dean in managing and implementing strategies to ensure the
effective and efficient operations of the centre. Providing support mechanisms to enable the
UCBC team to deliver successful achievements, an outstanding student experience,
curriculum development, partnership work and expansion of Higher Education at the
College.
The post holder will be accountable to the Dean and required to work closely with Heads of
School and the Head of Student Experience. They will be required to work across College
with service areas including Quality, Human Resources and Organisational Development,
Business Development and External Engagement and Information Services. You will provide
strong management and vision and play a significant role in business development and
planning, managing the resources for the Centre and partnership work.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Leadership and Strategy
1. To contribute to the strategic development of UCBC
2. To support the Dean and work closely with Heads of School and the Head of Student
Experience and cross college service areas.
3. To promote the collegial culture, assisting in managing change across the Centre and
developing the performance, morale and motivation of the staff within the Centre.
4. To take an active role in cross college strategic projects as agreed by the Dean.
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5. To represent and advocate for UCBC on relevant internal and external
groups/committees and professional institutions.
Performance, Planning and Resource Management
6. To support the Dean in producing an effective and efficient business plan supporting
new initiatives and developments for the full portfolio of UCBC curriculum. To
develop and oversee risk management plans for the centre.
7. To lead and manage effective and efficient use of resources. To provide rigorous
monitoring, recommendations and interventions of non-compliance, data
monitoring and quality procedures. Contribute to the centre self-evaluation
processes and production of self-evaluation reports.
8. To work closely with central team to ensure that finance and planning information
and data is relevant, accurate, and sufficient to aid decision making processes. To
produce sound business cases that support the development of new activities and
review of existing activities.
9. To provide detailed reports and analysis as required by internal and external bodies,
ensuring full compliance at all times.
10. To ensure that there is appropriate and ongoing mechanisms to monitor and
evaluate activities of UCBC
11. To work with the Dean and Heads of School to provide mechanisms to manage
contracts and student number targets maximising enrolment, retention,
achievement and success. Provide monthly returns on progress and support the
team to develop clear intervention strategies.
12. To ensure data information is correct, available, evaluated and appropriately tracked
on the relevant management information systems, providing updates and
intervention strategies as required.
People
13. When required, line manage and appraise business support staff putting in place
appropriate support for staff who fail to meet acceptable standards and
acknowledge those who are outstanding.
14. In conjunction with the Dean, manage the processes to support the recruitment and
selection, induction, disciplinary and development for UCBC staff.
Curriculum Development
15. To support the Dean in the development and delivery of the Academic Plan
Quality, Policy and Procedures
16. Develop and manage operations within the allocated responsibilities carrying
through the development of the College policies, strategies and procedures.
17. To support the preparation of reports for a range of committees including
Performance Review, Learning, Teaching and Assessment Committee-HE, Academic
Board and Curriculum & Quality committee.
18. To support the centre in the establishment of appropriate procedures for student
recruitment, support and discipline in accordance with College policies. To
contribute to the development of appropriate policy and procedures.
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19. Take responsibility for ensuring the Centre’s curriculum offer is clear and well
documented in order to support marketing and recruitment activities.
20. To ensure that the Centre is always in a state of readiness for external inspections
and audits and act as lead contact for external audit bodies if required.
General
21. To ensure the promotion of equal opportunities, to challenge discrimination and to
promote the development of an inclusive curriculum.
22. Positively contribute to a safe learning and working environment ensuring
compliance with Health and Safety and safeguarding Policy and procedure.
23. Commitment to own continuous professional development.
24. To perform any other duties commensurate with the post.
Please note that this job description is intended as a general guide to the duties attached to
the post and is not an inflexible specification. It may therefore be altered from time to time
to reflect the changing needs of the College, always in consultation with the post holder.
November 2014