Operations Officer

Operations Officer

Posted on: 17 February 2026
Contract type:
Fixed term

Working hours:

36 hours per week

Location:

Woodhatch Place, 11 Cockshot Hill, Reigate, RH2 8EF

Salary: £41,585 per annum (36‑hour week). Fixed term contract until 31 March 2027, with the possibility of extension subject to ongoing programme funding in 2027/28 and beyond.

This unique opportunity will help shape the future of the South East's manufacturing economy. Join our dedicated Economy and Growth Team and play a pivotal role in delivering the Made Smarter Adoption programme across the region. We seek an organised, relationship‑driven professional with experience in programme delivery, business engagement or operational coordination, and who is passionate about supporting SMEs, students and universities to collaborate and innovate.

Hybrid working with regular travel across Surrey and the South East, and weekly anchor days at Woodhatch Place, Reigate.

• 26 days holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years service and 31 days after 5 years service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• Generous local government salary‑related pension
• Up to 5 days carer’s leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependent leave
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Learning and development hub with a wealth of resources
• Well‑being and lifestyle discounts (gym, travel, shopping)
• A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents

The Economy and Growth team drives sustainable economic development across Surrey, working collaboratively as "One Council" to support strategic priorities that benefit the county’s 1.2 million residents. The team provides key services in business support, innovation, skills and infrastructure, and works with major employers and local partners to strengthen the regional economy, home to 110 000 businesses contributing £50 billion annually to the UK economy.

This role sits within the Made Smarter South East Programme Delivery Team, working alongside Technology Adoption Specialists, Workforce Development Advisors, the Programme Support Officer and the Strategic Programme Manager. The programme supports SME manufacturers to adopt digital technologies, boost productivity and develop future talent.

We are seeking a proactive and detail‑oriented Operations Officer to lead the operational delivery of the Made Smarter South East internship programme and support the wider Made Smarter staff with process improvement, grant support and project management. The role works outwardly with Workforce Development advisors, SME manufacturers, universities and students to build a strong internship pipeline, scope meaningful projects and ensure high‑quality placements that support digital adoption and innovation.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with SMEs, universities, students and partners
• Lead the full internship lifecycle within the Made Smarter parameters
• Maintain accurate operational records and ensure CRM data is consistently updated
• Track internship KPIs and provide data for reporting to the Programme Manager and Steering Group
• Manage job postings on university platforms and coordinate shortlisting, interviews and scheduling
• Support delivery of events, workshops and wider engagement activities
• Identify and implement improvements to operational processes across the programme
• Support marketing and awareness raising, including social media and event coordination
• Collaborate across Surrey County Council’s Economy & Growth team to connect SMEs with wider support offers (skills, innovation, leadership development, NEET pathways)
• Maintain documentation standards and contribute to knowledge sharing across the programme

• Experience in programme delivery, business engagement, education partnerships, working with young people or operational coordination
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and maintain accurate records
• Experience using CRM systems or similar tools to manage pipelines and track KPIs
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with businesses,…