Head of Business Operations

White Bay; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

White Bay is seeking a senior operations leader to mature the internal operating infrastructure for a growing Australian SaaS business. You will own the Operations function, reporting to the COO, and will not be a pure BAU or RevOps role.

Your focus is simplifying complexity, building systems and operating rhythms, improving security controls, supplier management and process automation across the business, while coaching the Operations Manager to create clear accountability.

Qualifications

• Experience leading an Operations function in a tech/SaaS business.
• Strong background across business systems, internal operations, suppliers, workplace, assets, process improvement and operational services.
• Experience establishing operational rhythm, visibility, controls and accountability.
• Working knowledge of security, compliance or audit frameworks such as ISO27001 or SOC 2.
• Ability to influence senior leaders without relying only on direct authority.

Responsibilities

• Own and evolve the Operations function across internal IT, security, workplace, assets, suppliers and core business systems.
• Improve operational processes so the business can scale without increasing complexity or reliance on individuals.
• Build operating rhythm, visibility and accountability across key operational services.
• Support security, compliance, business continuity and operational risk controls, including audit readiness across ISO27001 and SOC 2.
• Review suppliers, systems and operational investments to ensure they remain fit for purpose as the business grows.
• Identify opportunities for automation, simplification and AI-enabled process improvement.
• Work cross-functionally with senior leaders to understand dependencies and priorities.
• Coach and develop the Operations Manager, creating clear accountability and capability within the function.
• Make practical build, buy or outsource decisions where external capability is more effective than building internally.

Skills

SaaS operations

Security awareness

Process improvement

Automation

Stakeholder leadership

Cross-functional

Tools

ISO27001

SOC 2

Job description

This is a senior operations role inside a growing Australian SaaS business that has reached the point where its internal operating infrastructure needs to mature.

The business has scaled quickly, and while the foundations are strong, the next stage requires more structure across internal operations, systems, suppliers, security, workplace, assets and core business processes.

This is not a BAU operations role, and it is not a pure delivery, RevOps or workplace administration position.

It is a role for someone who can look across the business, understand where operational complexity is building, simplify how things work and create the systems, processes and operating rhythm required for the company to keep scaling without adding unnecessary friction.

You will report directly to the COO and take ownership of the Operations function, including leading and developing the existing Operations Manager.

The role

You will be accountable for how internal operations run day-to-day and how operational capability evolves as the business grows.

The focus is on making the business simpler, more efficient and easier to operate. That includes improving systems, processes, suppliers, operational services, security controls, workplace operations and internal ways of working.

You will work closely with senior leaders across the business to translate company priorities into practical operational capability, balancing capacity, risk, investment and business impact.

Key responsibilities include:

• Owning and evolving the Operations function across internal IT, security, workplace, assets, suppliers and core business systems
• Improving operational processes so the business can scale without increasing complexity or reliance on individuals
• Building operating rhythm, visibility and accountability across key operational services
• Supporting security, compliance, business continuity and operational risk controls, including audit readiness across areas such as ISO27001 and SOC 2
• Reviewing suppliers, systems and operational investments to ensure they remain fit for purpose as the business grows
• Identifying opportunities for automation, simplification and AI-enabled process improvement
• Working cross-functionally with senior leaders to understand dependencies, constraints and priorities
• Coaching and developing the Operations Manager, creating clear accountability and capability within the function
• Making practical build, buy or outsource decisions where external capability is more effective than building internally

What they’re looking for

You will likely come from a SaaS, technology, tech-enabled services or scaling business environment where operations has had to mature quickly.

You do not need to be a deep technical compliance specialist, but you should be comfortable operating around security, audit readiness, ISO27001, SOC 2 or similar control environments.

The right person will be hands-on when required, but senior enough to influence leaders, make trade-offs and guide the business toward better ways of working.

Ideal experience includes:

• Experience leading or owning an Operations function within a technology, SaaS or scaling business
• Strong background across business systems, internal operations, suppliers, workplace, assets, process improvement and operational services
• Experience establishing operational rhythm, visibility, controls and accountability
• Working knowledge of security, compliance or audit frameworks such as ISO27001 or SOC 2
• Ability to influence senior leaders without relying only on direct authority
• Commercial judgement around capacity, investment, risk and operational priorities
• Experience improving processes through automation, simplification or better use of systems
• Ability to lead in a lean environment, balancing strategic thinking with direct operational ownership
• People leadership experience, ideally with experience coaching an operations manager or small operational team

Why this role

This is an opportunity to step into a business that genuinely needs the role and is ready for the value it can create.

You will have direct access to the COO, visibility across the leadership team and the opportunity to shape how the company operates through its next stage of growth.

The environment will suit someone who likes autonomy, but not isolation. You will be expected to take ownership, make recommendations and drive change, while still working closely with a senior leadership team that wants operations to become a stronger capability within the business.

If you enjoy turning complexity into clarity, building practical operating structure and improving how a growing business actually works, this role should be a strong fit.

Location

Sydney CBD office

Hybrid working, with 3 days per week in the office

Operations, SaaS, ISO27001, SOC2, systems, suppliers, workplace, security, automation, process, Sydney