Management services specialist

Management services specialists promote, develop and practise a range of methods and techniques to improve productivity and quality in organisations. Management services include the disciplines of industrial engineering, work study, productivity analysis, business improvement and a wide range of management information and control techniques.

Also known as:

Organisation and methods officer
Process improvement consultant
Productivity analyst
Work study officer

Work activities

Management services specialists help organisations to become more efficient and productive. They use a number of business-improvement techniques to identify problems, study work activities and come up with solutions. There is a range of job titles that could be used under the broad management services area, including productivity analyst, work study engineer, continuous improvement specialist, business (or process) improvement consultant and lean business analyst. Management services specialists work in all sectors, for example, the Civil Service, retail, manufacturing, the public sector, health and transport. They look very carefully at the way organisations manage their resources. These can be human resources (people), or physical resources, such as buildings, raw materials, equipment and information technology systems. They also look at the flow of materials, products and information through the organisation.

Management services specialists select, record and examine priority or critical tasks in the organisation. First, they agree what the project will cover, for example, what will be measured, targets for improvement and how long it will take. Then they use a structured method to gather information. For example, they might use computer software to draw up a flow chart that follows the way procedures such as invoicing, purchasing or customer service are carried out. They observe employees in the workplace and interview them to find out how they carry out each of their tasks. They analyse the information they have collected. Then they think about and question whether tasks could be done by different people, in a different way, or in a different place, or even if they need to be done at all. They often apply statistical methods to the data and they might run computer models to test possible improvements. By doing this, they can see where the organisation could, for example, combine two tasks to save time, where the introduction of a new way of working could improve efficiency, or where information gets lost or confused as it travels between departments. They might even find out that a particular task is unnecessary.

Management services specialists sometimes use a very detailed method of study. This involves breaking a task down into elements and then observing and timing each one in order to calculate the standard time the employee takes to complete each task. This can help the organisation to set standards and reduce bottlenecks in production, for example. Management services specialists usually produce a report to summarise their findings and to suggest improvements. For example, they might advise the organisation to set up new systems, such as an electronic document management system to improve the flow of information between departments.

They might also identify the costs and benefits to the organisation, the training needed for staff and the time needed to make the changes. They might be involved in putting the new systems into practice and they often monitor the new procedure to make sure that it is really better than the old one.

Being able to read, write and speak Welsh may be an advantage when you’re looking for work in Wales.

Personal qualities and skills

As a management services specialist, you’ll need to:

Enjoy solving problems.
Pay close attention to detail.
Prioritise areas for review.
Be diplomatic and sensitive to the feelings of the people you work with and study. Employees might be self-conscious and uncomfortable because you are studying their work so closely. They could also feel insecure about the implications of the study.
Keep up to date with management services and productivity improvement techniques and issues.

You should have:

A logical, methodical and analytical approach, combined with creativity and imagination.
Good number and IT skills, including the ability to work with, and analyse, statistics.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills to win people’s co-operation and to explain the potential benefits of your work.
Good presentation, negotiation and persuasive skills to help you to argue the case for the solutions you propose.
Good writing skills to produce clear, concise reports.

Pay and opportunities

The pay rates given are approximate. According to job site Glassdoor, management services specialists earn in the range of £20,000 to £28,000 (68,000 salaries, December 2023). You could earn significantly more with some employers, particularly if you progress in your career. Benefits might include performance-related bonuses. Some employees might be offered “golden hellos” when joining particular employers.

Management services specialists usually work 9am - 5.30pm, but might be required to work shifts, nights and weekends.

Where could I work?

Employers are sizeable organisations in industry and business, including large retail chains, as well as local authorities, the NHS and the Civil Service. Opportunities for management services specialists occur in cities and some towns around the UK. However, this is a relatively small, specialist career area.

Self-employment opportunities occur for experienced management services specialists to work independently on a self-employed basis.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised on job boards and employers’ websites, in local/ national newspapers, and on the Government’s Find a Job service. Temporary work on short-term contracts is available through employment agencies.

Entry routes and training

Many employers prefer graduates. Larger organisations might operate graduate training schemes. Employers might prefer entrants to have a degree/HND in business studies, engineering, computer studies or economics, for example.

The Institute of Management Services (IMS) is the professional body representing management services specialists. The IMS accredits the Management Services Certificate and Diploma.

Management services specialists can progress to team leader and project manager posts in their organisation. Some experienced management services specialists become self-employed management consultants.

Qualifications

For entry to a degree course in a related subject, the usual minimum requirement is:

Two to three A-levels.
GCSEs at grades 9-4 in two to three other subjects
GCSEs in English and maths at grades 9-4.

For some degree courses, you might need maths at A-level.

Alternatives to A-levels include:

Edexcel (BTEC) level 3 National qualifications.
International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma.

However, course requirements vary so check prospectuses carefully.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Entrants are often people with skills in relevant areas, such as business, industry and public services.

Access courses: If you don’t have the qualifications needed to enter your chosen degree or HND course, a college or university Access course could be the way in. These courses are designed for people who have not followed the usual routes into higher education. No formal qualifications are usually needed, but you should check this with individual colleges.

Distance learning: Relevant distance learning courses are available. Details of courses and providers are available on the Institute of Management Services website.

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