Ada P.

The Bavarian School Project is a long-running statewide initiative enabling students across Bavaria to take internationally recognised Cambridge English qualifications, either at their school or at a partner institution. Each year, several thousand students across dozens of schools participate during tightly defined exam windows.

As freelance Project Coordinator, I manage the operational coordination and delivery of the project during the yearly exam cycle. The role is highly execution-focused and sits at the intersection of operations, communication and stakeholder coordination in a time-critical environment.

This work includes:

- Coordination of exam-related processes and timelines

- Operational support for participating schools throughout preparation and delivery phases

- Stakeholder communication and issue resolution during peak phases

- Identifying and reducing operational friction points

- Review and improvement of workflows, handovers and recurring processes

- Contributing to process standardisation and automation where appropriate

The work is project-based and highly operational, with a strong focus on practical execution, reliability and clear communication across a large, distributed network is schools and stakeholders.

As the Head of Business Operations Germany, I was responsible for the operational backbone of the Wellcome Trust subsidiary and German legal entity (Wellcome Trust gGmbH). My role entailed overseeing and managing key relationships with external outsourced service providers across various domains, including payroll and team member benefits, HR policies and processes, finance and tax, legal, contracts, and IT.

My role involved the establishment, streamlining and continuous improvement of operational processes, aligning with best practices, as well as adapting to address evolving business challenges and optimising operations. I established and maintain governance processes in accordance with German regulatory requirements, collaborating closely with the board of directors.

Furthermore, I managed the grant relationship with Wellcome UK, overseeing the team's operational budget, and building effective networks with relevant functions within the Wellcome UK office, such as HR, Finance, and IT. I actively contributed to the development of a diverse and inclusive culture across the broader Wellcome environment, collaborating with different departments and ensuring adherence to Wellcome Trust's compliance policies.

My role encompassed a wide array of responsibilities that contributed to the efficient and effective functioning of the organisation.

Responsible for championing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. This role involved developing and implementing strategies, policies, and initiatives that promoted a diverse and inclusive environment. I was also an active member of various EDI working groups, including the Global Disability working group, aimed at championing disability inclusion across the organisation. Overall, my goal was to create and contribute to a culture where everyone feels valued and respected, regardless of their background or identity.