Examinations Delivery Manager

The Royal College of Ophthalmologists is a membership organisation and the voice of the profession, with 4,500 members in the UK and overseas. Our role is to champion the specialty, set standards of training and practice, and influence change to make a difference to the lives of patients with eye conditions.

Job purpose

You will lead the operational delivery of the Part 2 FRCOphth Oral and Certificate in Laser and Refractive Surgery examinations in the UK. Working with senior examiners, colleagues and delivery partners, you will provide fair, secure and well-organised examinations and a high standard of service for candidates. You will manage the Examinations Administrator, coordinate resources and improve the systems and processes that support examination delivery.

This is an opportunity to combine practical delivery with people management and service improvement, working closely with clinicians. You will make operational decisions within agreed policies and escalate exceptional matters, significant risks and proposed policy changes to the Director of Examinations.

Key responsibilities

Examination planning and delivery

• Lead delivery from application and scheduling through to examination administration, results preparation and candidate feedback.
• Plan examination timetables, confirm candidate entry and coordinate venues, site visits, equipment, staffing and examiner arrangements.
• Manage travel, accommodation and catering arrangements with colleagues, suppliers and host centres, within agreed budgets and policies.
• Attend and administer examinations at UK and some overseas centres, ensuring delivery follows agreed procedures.

Quality assurance and examination integrity

• Maintain the confidentiality and security of examination materials, candidate information and results, with accurate records and clear audit trails.
• Apply approved standard-setting and quality assurance procedures to prepare results for approval. Document required verification checks, escalating discrepancies before results are released.

Candidates and examiners

• Provide clear, timely information to candidates and examiners, explaining procedures and decisions professionally and sensitively.
• Coordinate examiner recruitment, training and records, working with senior examiners to maintain an effective examiner workforce.
• Implement agreed reasonable adjustments and support fair and accessible examination delivery in line with College policies.
• Collate and provide candidate performance feedback, and support responses to examination queries and appeals within the agreed procedures.
• Coordinate the maintenance and secure use of examination question banks, including the Part 2 Oral and CertLRS structured viva banks, and support training in question bank processes.
• Analyse examination performance and delivery feedback, prepare reports for senior examiners and relevant committees, and recommend improvements.
• Identify delivery risks, maintain contingency arrangements and escalate incidents promptly to the Director of Examinations and relevant senior examiners.

People and partnerships

• Line manage the Examinations Administrator, setting priorities, reviewing performance and supporting development.
• Build effective relationships with senior examiners, sub-committees, host centres, venue teams and external suppliers.
• Provide operational guidance to colleagues on examination policies and procedures, supporting consistent practice across the department.

Finance and service improvement

• Contribute to examination budgets, monitor expenditure and manage supplier costs. Ensure invoices and expense claims are checked, coded and processed with the Finance Team.
• Review and streamline delivery processes, maintain clear procedures and contribute to policy reviews and the development of assessment methods.
• Support improvements to examination systems, maintain equipment records and help colleagues develop the skills needed for effective delivery.

Other

• Undertake any other reasonable duties as required by the Director of Examinations.
• The role includes travel to UK and overseas examination centres, overnight stays and work outside normal office hours, including weekends, in line with the examination schedule. The postholder must be able to meet these delivery requirements.

Person specification

Knowledge, qualifications and experience

• Experience of coordinating or managing examination or assessment delivery, including complex schedules, multiple stakeholders and firm deadlines.
• Experience of supervising staff, setting priorities and supporting performance and development.
• Experience of improving administrative processes and maintaining clear procedures and accurate records.
• Experience of coordinating suppliers and resources, monitoring expenditure and working within agreed budgets.
• Understanding of confidentiality, secure information handling and the importance of consistent examination procedures.

Skills and abilities

• Strong planning and organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise competing demands and maintain accuracy under pressure.
• Clear written and verbal communication, including the ability to explain sensitive procedures and decisions with tact and diplomacy.
• Sound judgement when applying policies, resolving operational problems and recognising when to escalate matters.
• Ability to use spreadsheets and other Microsoft Office applications effectively, interpret data and learn new examination and database systems.
• Ability to build constructive relationships with candidates, examiners, colleagues and external partners.
• A collaborative and accountable approach, with a commitment to examination integrity, inclusive practice, high-quality service and continuing professional development.

Personal qualities (attributes)

• Commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and understanding of how this applies to own area of work
• Commitment to own continuing professional development