Job Description
About the role
This is an exciting opportunity to lead the launch and development of Imprinted, Imperial College Union s brand-new Temp Staff Agency. Designed to provide flexible and meaningful employment opportunities for Imperial students, the agency will serve both internal departments and external clients, enhancing the student experience while supporting the Union s commercial strategy.
As Temp Agency Manager, you will be responsible for building and managing a high-performing student workforce, ensuring operational excellence, and driving business growth. You ll play a pivotal role in shaping the agency s culture, systems, and reputation, working collaboratively across the College and Union to deliver a professional, inclusive, and commercially sustainable service.
This is a self-starting and rewarding role for someone with strong operational, people, and business development skills, who is passionate about student success and service innovation.
What you would be doing
You will lead the day-to-day operations of the Temp Agency, overseeing recruitment, training, placement, and welfare of a large student workforce. You ll manage relationships with internal and external clients, ensuring high-quality service delivery and compliance with employment regulations. You ll also be responsible for financial oversight, performance monitoring, and strategic growth, including expanding the agency s reach during student vacation periods.
Key responsibilities include:
Operational Management
- Lead daily operations and service delivery across internal and external clients
- Develop systems for onboarding, placement, compliance, and reporting
- Ensure efficient workforce deployment and policy compliance
- Collaborate with departments to forecast staffing needs
Workforce Management
- Recruit and manage student staff
- Deliver induction, training, and development programmes
- Foster a positive and inclusive working culture
- Oversee scheduling and resolve staffing issues
Client & Stakeholder Management
- Serve as main contact for clients and partners
- Maintain strong relationships and conduct service reviews
- Negotiate contracts and represent the agency externally
Business Development
- Implement growth strategies and identify new opportunities
- Expand client base during vacation periods
- Collaborate with Marketing to promote the agency
- Monitor market trends and contribute to commercial strategy
Financial & Performance Management
- Manage a £1M annual budget
- Track KPIs and produce reports for senior stakeholders
- Ensure competitive pricing and financial sustainability
Please see Job description for full outline of duties.
What we are looking for
We re seeking a proactive and experienced manager with a passion for student development and operational excellence. You ll be a confident communicator, skilled in managing people, processes, and partnerships, with a strong commercial mindset and commitment to inclusion.
- Relevant qualification or equivalent experience in recruitment, HR, operations, or business management
- Employment law or compliance training/qualification
- Proven experience managing a temp agency or large casual workforce
- Experience handling high-volume placements and multiple clients
- Strong commercial acumen and business development experience
- Financial and performance management expertise
- Knowledge of employment law, safeguarding, and agency best practice
- Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment
- Analytical skills to monitor performance and identify trends
- Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion
Please see Person Specification in Job Description for full outline of duties.
What we can offer you
Please note this role is with the Students Union. We re a registered charity in our right, with our own governance, systems, processes, and objectives. However, we work extremely closely with Imperial College London, so you ll also be joining a wider community of staff working within higher education. If you ve never worked in a students union, or are unsure why it s different, we encourage you to get in contact. It s a brilliant place to work.
As an employee of Imperial College, you will be part of lively community and work in a friendly and relaxed environment. Our aim is to provide to all our employees an encouraging and relaxed working environment with an emphasis on personal development and work-life balance. Based on that we offer:
- flexible working hours
- generous pension scheme
- 25 days holiday (plus 6/7 extra days per year for College Christmas and Easter closures)
- bicycle loan scheme
- season ticket loan
- health benefits
- excellent professional development opportunities and many more.
More information can be found on the Imperial College Benefits page.
Further information
To apply for the role please complete the online application form.
We are running a characteristic anonymised application process for this recruitment as part of the College s commitment to equal opportunities and eliminating discrimination. Applicants will be assigned an application reference number and applicants names will not be visible to recruiting managers until the interview stage. You will not be required to attach a CV. Please also refrain from including your name in your supporting statement.
Should you require any further details on the role please contact the People team inbox listed on the job page.
Closing date: 9 November 2025
Interviews expected to take place week commencing 17 November 2025
We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith, or disability. We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and other racial minority ethnic candidates and disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce. If there are any reasonable adjustments needed through the process, we will accommodate as much as possible.
As part of our commitment to sustainability, every role within Imperial College Union contributes to our environmental and social goals. This includes actively participating in initiatives to reduce waste, conserve energy, and promote eco-friendly practices within every department.
