Operations Manager - Wset School London

WSET's purpose is to empower people through inspiring learning experiences all over the world. We offer a comprehensive suite of globally recognised qualifications covering wines, spirits and sake.

We are the world’s leading provider of qualifications in wines, spirits, beer and sake, delivering over 140,000 exams each year to candidates in over 70 countries via our network of Approved Programme Providers (APPs).

The successful applicant will contribute to a culture of integrity, empowerment, dynamism, and inclusivity within WSET.
WSET School London is the flagship provider of WSET courses across wines, spirits, sake and beer.

Based in our newly refurbished building on vibrant Bermondsey Street, we welcome around 6,500 students a year across the full suite of WSET qualifications.

In addition to WSET courses, we have an engaging events programme with over 100 consumer tastings a year as well as qualification-specific revision and enrichment events. We also work with partners in the drinks industry who use our flexible spaces for their own events and tastings.

As a team, we are passionate about drinks education and committed to giving students a fantastic experience through high quality courses and events. We play an important part in the industry, upskilling drinks professionals and inspiring enthusiastic consumers to learn more about their chosen drinks category. We are proud to count many of the world’s most respected drinks professionals amongst our alumni.

We are open Monday – Saturday and operate daytime, evening, Saturday and online courses.

Any offer of employment or your ongoing employment is conditional upon the successful completion of a thorough background check by an independent third party. NB - If you currently work for one of WSET's APPs (Approved Programme Provider), you may not be eligible to apply for this role subject to your future career plans and the nature of that role. If you work for an APP either in a self-employed or employed capacity and would like to discuss your eligibility, please contact the hiring manager.

The Operations Manager runs WSET School London’s Operations Team ensuring the efficient day-to-day running of courses, events, and examinations. You will also manage purchasing, storage, and preparation of samples, the setting up of classrooms for courses, events and exams and ensuring our educators and students have access to the required materials. There are physical aspects to this role as well as the management of the Operation Assistants and Buyer. The Operations Manager is an office-based role working from our WSET School London on Bermondsey Street.

Operational Management

• Manage delivery schedule to ensure the smooth operational delivery of all WSET School London activities.
  
• Provide a world-class learning environment by ensuring that students have the resources required to learn and the classrooms are set up to WSET School London’s high standards.
• Prepare samples for the relevant courses, events, or exams.
• Manage set up of exams, both on and off site.
• Manage external event space hire at the school ensuring rooms meet clients needs.
• Manage glasses to ensure all students have access to new glassware upon course start.
• Ensure Educators are sent sample lists ahead of sessions.

Sample Management and Stock Control

• Responsible for sample budget for all WSET School courses and events.
• Manage stock across Wine, Spirits, Sake and Beer. Control stock levels, manage regular stock counts and work closely with WSET’s external auditors.
• Work with educators to ensure samples are showing appropriately on courses and events. Make changes to samples, in conjunction with Wine Buyer as/when required.
• Work closely with Finance and manage buying strategy to ensure that WSET gets value for money as well as continues to offer a diverse range in support of the classroom courses.
• Proficient in use of inventory management modules in finance/ERP systems (experience of Netsuite an advantage)
• Management of cellar, storage, and preparation areas.
• Ensure any food is purchased, stored, and presented correctly.
• Management of exam wines across all levels, including offsite Level 4 exams.
• Work with WSET School London and WSET Global to provide samples for custom courses and events.
• Manage distribution of sample packs to students as well as any samples for offsite delivery
• Ensure Educators are sent sample lists ahead of sessions.

Management

• Manage the Operations Team to deliver on day to day and long-term objectives.
• Ensure team is fully staffed and there is cover at evening and weekends.
• Complete 1-1 and the annual review process with staff.
• Develop staff to fully understand all aspects of the Operations Team functions.

General

• Member of WSET School London’s Management Team
• Attend WSET School Team meetings as and when required.
• Participate in the school quality review cycle for both events and qualifications
• Support School courses and initiatives as required.
• Promote the WSET School London as a flagship provider of WSET qualification.
• Contribute to 1-1’s and appraisal process in line with WSET procedure.
• Build network of contacts within the industry and improve own knowledge by attending tastings and events.
• Help at wider WSET events as requested.
• Complete relevant CPD
• Complete all work in line with WSET policies and procedures.
• Contribute to the successful overall operation of the Trust by undertaking such other tasks as may from time to time be requested.

The Person

The successful candidate will have a have passion for education, specifically WSET, and a commitment to providing a world class experience to our students. You will have a positive can-do attitude with the ability to manage multiple competing priorities to make things happen and experience of inventory management and buying, ideally in the drinks industry with good knowledge and contacts in the industry.

In this fast-paced environment you will need to be highly organised with the ability to react and problem solve to deliver on multiple objectives.

Personal Attributes

• Positive can-do attitude with the ability to make things happen.
• Strong leader with management experience
• Highly organised with the ability to manage multiple competing priorities with the ability to react to problems as they arise
• Resilient and able to work in a fast-paced environment
• Great attention for detail
• Strong inter-personal and communication skills
• Self-motivated with the ability to motivate and inspire those about them
• Skilled negotiator with the ability to build good working relationships with key stakeholders.

Essential Attributes:

• Knowledge of WSET Qualifications and course specifications
• Knowledge of wines, Spirits, Sake and Beer
• Skilled negotiator with experience of buying in the drinks industry
• Experienced in Stock control and proficient using inventory management systems (Netsuite desirable)
• Management experience in a relevant field
• Skilled using IT programmes including MS Dynamics

Qualifications

• WSET Level 3 Award in Wines/ Spirits/ sake
• WSET Diploma in Wines (preferred)

Or other related qualification within the drinks industry

Definitions:

Fully remote - Can be performed entirely remotely from any location.

Hybrid remote - Performed as a mixture of in-office and remote work.

Temporarily remote - Performed in a single location, such as an office or at a job site, but which is temporarily remote during special circumstances).

UK Benefits

Annual Leave - 27 days pa + public holidays, increases with service; ability to buy/sell 5 days

Pension (Generous options available after three months)

Health insurance (after three months):

Vitality scheme - post probation - Access to virtual GP appointments, Rewards include Caffe Nero drinks, Cinema Tickets, Apple Watch, Cash Back on Waitrose shopping, 75% off at Champneys, 6 month subscription with HeadSpace, Discounted Weight Watchers membership and gyms, Smoking Cessation day worth £300 and half price health screens

Eye voucher scheme

Food and drink in the office

Nespresso coffee makers and a range of other drinks, fruit, cereals, soups

Season ticket & gym membership loan scheme

Group income protection scheme

EAP

24/7 confidential help and support from trained counsellors and advisors

Death in service

4x annual salary paid to nominees with associated bereavement support for family

Enhanced family friendly leave and pay

Celebration vouchers

Cycle2Work scheme

Discretionary bonus

Development - WSET's in-house training and qualifications in Wines, Spirits, Sake and Beer as well as other professional development opportunities