Job details
£70,000 - £75,000 per annum, working 35 hours per week.
Darwin is a welcoming community of postgraduate students and academics. Our beautiful riverside location provides a home in central Cambridge for students from over 80 different countries, studying for the full range of postgraduate degrees.
Founded in 1964, we were the first exclusively postgraduate College in Cambridge, and from its foundation the College has admitted both women and men as students and Fellows. For over 60 years Darwin has offered an egalitarian, inclusive space within which research and study can flourish. Our members and alumni are at the forefront of innovative responses to global challenges, from the climate crisis to emerging viruses.
The role of Head of Operations reports to the Bursar and is responsible for the operational management, including budgeting and forward planning, of the College Departments of Catering, Accommodation, Housekeeping, Porters and IT (the “domestic departments”).
The role is to maintain and develop the key domestic functions supporting the College’s students and wider College community, and to ensure an efficient service is delivered sustainably (financially and environmentally) across all these areas of operation. The role will include a close interface with areas managed by the Bursar including the College's Estate, Gardens, and Building Projects.
You will be working with various departments that face different challenges. You will need to demonstrate the ability to cope well with a varied workload and to change priorities in response to demand. It is essential that you build strong working relationships and have a flexible approach to people management to achieve best outcomes.
You will have experience of working at management level at a college or within a similar working environment, with a strong understanding of and commitment to a customer-focused culture. As Head of Operations, you will be confident liaising with academic staff, professional services teams and students, while demonstrating the ability to build organisational capability, improve processes and drive operational excellence.
The role requires you to work at the Darwin College site in the centre of Cambridge.
The job description outlines the full requirements of the post.
Benefits
- Free meals during working hours and college kitchen opening hours.
- 33 days’ annual leave a year (inclusive of bank holidays) (pro rata for part-time workers). After 5 years’ service your annual holiday entitlement will be increased by one day.
- Non-contractual annual bonus.
- Defined contribution Pension scheme.
- Free access to the College gym.
- Training and Professional Development.
- On site parking is available.
- Access to the Cambridge University Library.
To apply, please submit a CV and a covering letter to [email protected]
In your application you are required to include:
- Your current salary & salary expectations;
- Your earliest availability;
Your Home location; - How many years have you worked in a managerial position at a similar level to this role;
- In no more than 250 words, explain why your experience and achievements make you suitable for the Head of Operations/Domestic Bursar role. Please refer to specific examples from your career that demonstrate how you have successfully managed operational challenges, resources, people, or competing priorities.
Closing Date: Friday 9th October 2026