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- Tasks: Lead and manage library operations, ensuring sustainability and strategic growth.
- Company: Join King’s Libraries & Collections, a prestigious research library in the UK.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, inclusive culture, and opportunities for professional development.
- Why this job: Shape the future of education and culture while making a real impact.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in operational management and strong analytical skills.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 £ per year.
Department: Business Operations
Grade and Salary: £65,091 - £74,613 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance
Job ID:
About us:
King’s Libraries & Collections is one of the UK’s largest and most distinguished research libraries, housing exceptional library collections and archives. We support students, researchers, clinicians and members of the public through high‑quality services, study environments, and the expertise of our dedicated staff. Libraries & Collections spans seven libraries, including the flagship Maughan Library on Chancery Lane, the Foyle Special Collections Library, which houses King’s remarkable manuscripts and rare books, and King’s Archives, steward to more than five million print items and a wealth of unique archival material.
We are now seeking an individual with strong business or operational management experience to help shape the future of King’s collections. This is an excellent opportunity to bring your skills to an educational and cultural setting and play a central role in delivering King’s 2030—ensuring our collections continue to enrich research, teaching and public engagement for years to come.
About the role:
This is a key leadership role for Libraries & Collections, providing operational oversight for the delivery and long‑term sustainability of library and archive services across King’s. As Associate Director for Planning & Operations you will be responsible for the business management of a large and complex part of the university, enhancing operational resilience and strengthening strategic capability. This role would suit someone with experience of operational leadership who can effectively translate organisational strategy into deliverable plans.
We encourage applications from candidates who have experience from both within and outside of the Higher Education sector where they can demonstrate the skills needed to succeed in this role. This is a full‑time post (35 hours per week), and you will be offered an indefinite contract.
About you:
To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:
- Essential criteria:
- Experience of senior management or leadership in operational management, planning or business management roles.
- An ability to lead, motivate, and develop people, fostering a positive, collaborative, and inclusive culture.
- Experience of leading annual planning cycles, including resource allocation and performance monitoring.
- Proven track record of delivering organisational‑wide projects with demonstrable results.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data, identify trends, and use evidence to inform decision making.
- Financial acumen - able to manage large budgets, provide financial forecasts and provide financial insights to support strategic decision making.
- Clear and effective communication skills that will engage stakeholders and bridge the gap between strategic vision and operational planning for colleagues.
- Strong critical thinking skills - can analyse situations and implement effective solutions; identify patterns and root causes to avoid problems in the future.
- Desirable criteria:
- Experience working in higher education, libraries, cultural institutions, or other knowledge‑based environments.
- Experience of developing or delivering organisational‑wide workforce strategies or people‑focused transformation programmes.
- Experience in supporting career development frameworks or talent‑management initiatives.
- Experience preparing high‑level reports, business cases, or strategic papers for senior governance bodies.
Further information:
At King’s, we believe that the diversity of our community and a culture that is welcoming, open, inclusive and collaborative, are great strengths of the university. The Equality Act of 2010 protects the rights of our students and staff and provides a framework to fulfil our duties to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and in addition, to advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between those who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. At times, this will include balancing rights and beliefs that can feel in tension.
We are committed to free speech and to academic freedom, believing that our foundational purpose as a university, is to create spaces where a wide range of ideas, including ideas that are controversial, can be discussed and debated, and where members of our community can express lawful views without fear of intimidation, harassment or discrimination. When engaging in the robust exchange of ideas, we ask that our community is mindful of our Dignity at King’s guidance.
We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the person specification section of the job description. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.
We reserve the right to close adverts early due to the volume of applications we receive. While the closing date may change, all adverts will close at 23:59 to allow sufficient time for applications to be submitted on that day. We encourage you to apply at the earliest opportunity to avoid disappointment as once we have closed a vacancy you will be unable to submit your application.
To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our ‘How we Recruit’ pages.
Closing Date: 5th March 2026.
Interviews are provisionally scheduled for the 16th and 18th March.
Associate Director (Planning & Operations) in London employer: King's College London
Contact Detail:
King's College London Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Associate Director (Planning & Operations) in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your field, especially those at King’s or similar institutions. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insights that a job description just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching King’s Libraries & Collections. Understand their mission and values, and think about how your experience aligns with their goals. This will help you stand out as a candidate who truly gets what they’re about.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your leadership stories! Be ready to share specific examples of how you've led teams or projects successfully. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers and make them impactful.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at King’s.
We think you need these skills to ace Associate Director (Planning & Operations) in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the role of Associate Director (Planning & Operations). Highlight your operational management experience and any relevant leadership roles you've held. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Supporting Statement: Your supporting statement is your chance to shine! Clearly demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria listed in the job description. Use specific examples from your past experiences to show us what you can bring to the table.
Showcase Your Financial Acumen: Since this role involves managing large budgets, make sure to highlight your financial management skills. Share any experiences where you've successfully provided financial insights or forecasts that supported strategic decisions.
Apply Early!: Don’t wait until the last minute to submit your application. We encourage you to apply through our website as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. Remember, we might close the advert early if we receive a strong pool of candidates!
How to prepare for a job interview at King's College London
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into the job description and understand the key responsibilities. Familiarise yourself with King’s Libraries & Collections, their mission, and how your experience aligns with their goals. This will help you articulate how you can contribute to their vision.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As an Associate Director, you'll need to demonstrate strong leadership capabilities. Prepare examples from your past experiences where you've successfully led teams or projects. Highlight how you motivated others and fostered a collaborative environment, as this is crucial for the role.
✨Be Data Savvy
Given the emphasis on analytical skills in the job description, be ready to discuss how you've used data to inform decision-making in previous roles. Bring specific examples of how your insights led to successful outcomes, especially in operational management or planning.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Effective communication is key in this role. Think about times when you've had to bridge gaps between strategic vision and operational planning. Be prepared to discuss how you engaged stakeholders and ensured everyone was on the same page, as this will show your ability to connect with diverse groups.
