UHI North, West and Hebrides is one of ten academic partners and research centres that make up UHI. This unique partnership allows us to deliver further and higher education programmes at our 19 campuses and centres across the North and West Highlands, Skye and the Outer Hebrides. To support our work, we are recruiting for the following role:
To support our work we are recruiting to the following role:
Operations Manager - NU-Horizon Training
| Reference no. | NU OPM 01 |
|---|---|
| Salary range | £56,461 per annum, pro-rata |
| Duration | Permanent |
| Working hours | 37.5 hours per week |
| Location | Port of Nigg |
| Closing Date | 12pm, Monday 12th October 2026 |
The Role:
NU – Horizon Training Ltd is seeking an experienced and motivated Operations Manager to lead and oversee the day-to-day operations of our training facility at the Port of Nigg.
The successful candidate will provide both operational and practical leadership across our Engineering training provision, ensuring the effective delivery of high-quality training to students and apprentices while supporting the continued development and growth of the business.
This is a hands-on role and will suit an experienced engineering professional with a strong fabrication and welding trade background who is also passionate about developing the skills and capabilities of the next generation of tradespeople.
The role will also retain an element of practical teaching and assessment commitment, with the successful candidate expected to have some involvement in the workshop and maintain a visible presence across the training provision.
Key Responsibilities:
- Responsible for leading the effective delivery of NU-Horizon training at the Port of Nigg
- Ensure effective delivery of the curriculum to meet student needs, enhancing the quality of learning and teaching (delivery of fabrication, welding and wider engineering).
- Contribute to operational planning and project management
- Plan, define targets for improvement, resources and for the development of staff
- Plan curriculum requirements to meet student needs, including student guidance, employability, essential skills and work placement
- Monitor materials spend for areas of responsibility, ensuring operations are delivered within agreed budgets
- Lead and coordinate a team
- Provide support for staff in their development, including guiding/mentoring
- Responsible for the organisation of quality assurance, internal verification and self-evaluation processes
- Monitor curriculum and service performance indicators against targets and initiates actions for improvement
- Monitor and take appropriate action on student related KPI’s, including recruitment, retention, attainment, progression, equalities, credit achievement, income generation, student satisfaction and end of course destination data.
Qualifications, Experience and Skills:
The successful candidate will ideally have:
- A recognised fabrication and welding trade qualification or equivalent industry recognised qualification
- Appropriate welding qualifications/certifications relevant to the areas being taught and assessed.
- Qualifications or experience in leadership and management
- Significant practical experience within the fabrication and welding industry, with a strong understanding of engineering workshop practices and standards
- Experience of leading, supervising or managing staff within an engineering, fabrication, training or similar operational environment
- Experience of working with apprentices, trainees or learners, including providing practical instruction, coaching, mentoring or assessment.
Appropriate assessor/verifier qualifications would be advantageous or willing to work towards.
What We Are Looking For:
We are looking for an individual who can combine strong engineering and trade expertise with effective operational leadership.
You will be comfortable working in a practical workshop environment, engaging directly with apprentices and students, while also having the organisational and leadership skills required to coordinate people, resources and training activities.
This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in the continued development of NU – Horizon Training Ltd and to help shape the future skills of the engineering and fabrication workforce.
To Apply: For a full job description and an application form, download the pack below or email recruitment.nwh@uhi.ac.uk.
If you have any queries about the application process please contact recruitment.nwh@uhi.ac.uk.