Manager for Office of the Vice-Chancellor

Full Time (37hrs per week) – Permanent

Location: High Wycombe (Hybrid working)

Salary: £38,784 to £43,482

The Opportunity

Join the engine room of the University’s leadership team where you’ll orchestrate the Vice‑Chief’s diary, communications and operations that enable strategic decision‑making at the highest level. You’ll brief the VC for meetings with key stakeholders, coordinate flagship events, smooth the path to important contract signings, and design the systems that give the Office of the Vice‑Chancellor its rhythm. You’ll lead a small team, be the trusted gatekeeper who knows what matters, when it matters and who needs to see it, and thrive on complexity, discretion and making things happen behind the scenes so the front‑stage runs flawlessly.

What We Offer

• Generous holiday entitlement (30 days per annum, plus bank holidays & closure days over Christmas and New Year)
• Hybrid working (dependent on business needs)
• Training & development support opportunities
• Contributory pension scheme
• Free gym membership for our on‑site gym
• A range of staff discounts with major retailers

Job Description

Job Title: Manager for Office of the Vice‑ChancellorFunction: Vice‑Chancellor’s OfficeGrade: GLocation: High WycombeHours: 37Responsible to: Chief Impact OfficerResponsible for: 3x Executive Assistants, 1 x Administrative Assistant

Main Duties & Responsibilities Of The Role

• Diary & information flow – Proactively manage the VC’s diary, inbox, and daily briefing packs; carve protected time for strategic work, staff/student engagement and USG decision‑making; exercise sound judgement in prioritising competing demands.
• Managing and drafting correspondence – Draft, triage and dispatch high‑stakes communications on the VC’s behalf; ensure urgent external correspondence receives immediate action and appropriate visibility.
• Meeting & governance architecture – Design agendas, commission and quality‑assure papers, produce action‑oriented notes and maintain governance registers (interests, gifts, hospitality) for the VC and USG.
• Approval workflows – Manage the VC’s sign‑off process, verifying consultation, approvals and compliance before documents reach signature.
• Events & strategic campaigns – Lead delivery of VC‑led events and campaigns (civic, ceremonial, stakeholder‑facing) in partnership with Brand, Communications & Marketing; Events and Estates, and with external partners.
• Team leadership & operations – Line‑manage the Office team: recruitment, performance, development, wellbeing, rota planning and absence management; embed consistent protocols for USG support; design and implement process enhancements that elevate effectiveness and resilience.
• Senior leadership support – Organise one‑to‑ones for VC’s direct reports, manage leave/sickness and maintain the senior management team rota.
• Financial stewardship – Administer the VC’s expenses, purchasing, subscriptions and travel in line with University financial regulations.
• Support for Chief Impact Officer – Provide dedicated administrative coordination for the Chief Impact Officer and their teams, aligning with wider Office priorities.
• Line management responsibilities – Recruitment and selection, performance management, professional development, motivation, health & safety and wellbeing; agile approach to change.
• Compliance – Comply with Data Protection Act 2018, GDPR, Health and Safety, UKVI and Equality and Diversity requirements in all work practices.
• Other duties – temporarily or on a continuing basis, as may reasonably be required.

Person Specification

Education, Qualifications & Training

• A‑Levels or equivalent, or vocational professional qualification

Knowledge & Experience

• Delivering an excellent customer experience.
• Successfully providing EA services at a senior level and managing a team.
• Drafting reports, briefing materials and presentations for a range of audiences.
• Servicing/minuting committee and board meetings.
• A clear communicator, highly organised, detail‑oriented and able to coordinate and deliver multiple projects simultaneously.
• Direct and multitask effectively under pressure with tenacity to deliver results to deadlines.
• Track record of delivering excellent customer / stakeholder service.
• Build strong rapport with key stakeholders quickly and effectively.

Skills

• Digitally able and proficient in Microsoft tools.
• Excellent communication skills, written and verbal, including presentation skills.
• Positive can‑do attitude and willingness to support wherever is needed.
• Collegial and collaborative approach and commitment to delivering excellent customer service; able to work effectively in partnerships to provide seamless support for the Vice‑Chancellor.
• Proven organisational skills, including prioritising own workload and delivering to agreed deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills and the ability to engage effectively with colleagues and stakeholders at all levels.
• High standard of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and proactively with a creative and innovative approach to problem solving.
• Deal with confidential and sensitive information with tact and discretion.
• Emotional resilience and ability to adapt to change.

Special Requirements

• Willingness and ability to travel to off‑site locations.

Behavioural Indicators

Delivering excellent service

Provide the best quality service to external and internal customers/students/stakeholders. Build genuine and open long‑term relationships to drive up customer service standards.

Finding solutions

Take a holistic view and work enthusiastically to analyse problems and develop workable solutions. Identify opportunities for innovation.

Engaging with the wider context

Enhance your contribution to the University through an understanding of University values, its students, customers and stakeholders.

Diversity, equity and inclusion

BNU is proud of a diverse community and a strong track record of diversity, equity and inclusion. We encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be under‑represented in BNU’s workforce, including people from global majority backgrounds, people with disabilities, and LGBTQI+ people, particularly in more senior roles. Please let us know if you require adjustments or support during the recruitment process; we are happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments to enable you to perform to the best of your abilities. BNU is a Disability Confident employer and you may declare a disability as part of the application process.

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