Central Operations Lead

We''re on a mission to give our colleagues an amazing work/life balance!

We are really proud to say that in 2024, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the fifth year running.

JOB TITLE: Central Operations Lead (1 x Acorn; 1 x Options)

LOCATION: Bolton (Hybrid)

RESPONSIBLE TO: Head of Central Operations

SALARY: up to £29,000

CONTRACT: Fixed Term Contract (12 months)

HOURS: 9:00am to 5:00pm, Monday - Friday

JOB PURPOSE:

The role of the Central Operations Team is to act as the funnel between central services and operational sites across the Acorn and Options divisions. Working with your allocated division you will have four main areas of focus:

Business Support

Managing the flow of information and requests between central services and operations sites, through management of:

• School/site liaison: Attend Teams meeting with all site leaders on a quarterly basis to discuss ongoing development plan and understand barriers to growth/development. Working with Head of Central Operations to identify trends and central depts. to resolve.
• Visiting sites monthly (as agreed with the Head of Central Operations) to develop relationships and widen understanding of site/issues/barriers.
• Operational Planner: ensuring central services information/data requests are channelled through the planner in a coordinated and well managed way to ensure efficiency and timeliness of requests.
• Weekly Bulletin: ensuring central service ops actions/data requests and information sharing is channelled through the weekly ops bulletin, copy editing as required and publishing the bulletin each week (Monday). Managing bulletin deadlines and pushing back where required.
• Central Directory: working with the other Central Operations Lead, ensure the central directory is kept up to date, updating and publishing monthly.

Operational Compliance

Managing the distribution and/or return of operational compliance information to ensure sites are compliant with key areas of day-to-day activity, and performance reporting, including:

• Agency Tracker: ensuring that ops sites receive reminders to submit their monthly tracker return and chasing-up submissions when required, and identifying sites that may need further support/training on the process.
• Reporting performance on the above to the Head of Central Operations through monthly compliance dashboards, including assisting in the scope and design of the dashboards.

Operational Support Projects

Assisting operational sites with specific support projects, including systems and processes, as directed by the Head of Central Operations. Coordinating with the central services/systems owners to ensure operational sites receive assistance and support to improve performance. This may involve site visits. Reporting progress/outcomes to the Head of Central Operations.

Central Operations Team Support

Assisting the wider central operations team with support, and other ad-hoc/specific tasks, as directed by the Head of Central Operations.

Key Accountabilities

• To achieve the above, you will be required to develop and manage relationships with key site and central service leaders and managers to ensure timely receipt, understanding, and update of information/requests.
• Ensure that you work proactively with central service leaders/managers and ops sites leaders/managers.
• Required to develop relationships with key operational site leaders to ensure receipt of inbound information/data as required and respond to queries or issues in a timely manner.
• Ensure clear communication around expectations and deliverables is delivered to both central functions and operational site leaders/managers and staff.
• Identify and report back trends, issues, and potential areas of improvement across all areas of responsibility to the Head of Central Operations.
• Contribute to the team strategy and ongoing performance by attending regular team meetings, and 1-1 development meetings.
• The role includes flexible working across the week – specified as two days in the office; maximum two days working from home (WFH); and one 4 Day Working Week (4DWW) wellbeing day. (NB: 4DWW day subject to eligibility and WFH days subject change by Head of Central Operations where required i.e. to meet individual/team workload objectives and KPIs).

Requirements

• Deliver excellent customer service –ensure all tasks are dealt with in line with agreed central service/operational/team KPIs/SLAs.
• Strong written communication skills – excellent attention to detail.
• Ownership and initiative –take full ownership of your allocated division and use initiative to find effective solutions where required.
• Performance reporting – ensure all reporting on performance is delivered to your line manager per deadlines/KPIs.
• Continuous improvement – feedback regularly (team meetings/1-1s) on the effectiveness / issues of service delivery and potential areas of improvement.
• Strong time management / organisational skills – have ability to be flexible and prioritise tasks to meet deadlines.
• Knowledge of key systems: Microsoft Office, Reach, Cascade, Focal Point etc

Standard responsibilities

There are several standard duties and responsibilities that all employees, irrespective of their role and level of seniority within OFG, are expected to be familiar with and adhere to:

• Participate in our induction programme.
• Undertake regular training.
• Participate in an annual performance review programme.
• Works, always, in accordance with the policies and procedures of the OFG Group and statutory regulations applicable to the Group.
• Observes, always, strict rules of confidentiality appropriate to the post.
• To always comply with the requirements of Health and Safety Regulations, ensuring their own wellbeing and that of their colleagues.
• OFG Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all employees to work in accordance with this.
• Undertakes other duties as assigned.

Why join Outcomes First Group?

About the Group

Outcomes First Group is the leading provider of specialist education in the UK. We exist to give neurodivergent children and young people access to a great education that caters to their specific needs, abilities and aspirations.

There are three brands in our Outcomes First family: Acorn Education, Options Autism and Momenta Connect. Together, we educate, care for and support children, young people, and adults across the UK, empowering them to be happy and make their way in the world.

We are really proud to say that in 2024, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the fifth year running.

Our Vision
We believe that with a great education, every neurodivergent pupil can thrive and make their way in the world.

Our Mission
Every day we improve the lives of our pupils, their families, and local communities through a relentless focus on wellbeing and learning.

Our Promise
We are kind to ourselves and each other...We work together... and we make things happen.
Our Promise sits alongside our Vision and Mission. It describes the sort of people we are and our commitment to how we treat each other, work together, and behave.

Benefits

Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including:

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks

And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that’s right for you, including:

• A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
• 100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
• Cycle to Work Schemes
• Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover

And that’s not all, we place the outcomes of the pupils and vulnerable young adults in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you’ll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others.

We are committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

We''re on a mission to give our colleagues an amazing work/life balance!

We are an Equal Opportunities Employer.