Head of Lottery Operations

StarVale Management & Technologies Ltd; Ellel; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual regional bonus scheme

25 days annual leave + public holidays

Employee Assistance Program

Reward & Recognition programme

Work from almost anywhere for up to 4-

Job summary

StarVale invites a commercially minded operations leader to join the senior team and drive excellence across lottery, raffle and supporter engagement. Based in Galgate, Lancaster, you will shape scalable operating models, lead high-performing teams and embed automation to support growth while ensuring compliance and on-time delivery.

You will partner with IT and development to deliver technology enhancements, monitor KPIs, and steer change initiatives across the business.

Qualifications

• Significant experience operating at Head of Department or senior operations leadership level.
• Proven success delivering operational improvement initiatives and leading through change.
• Strong understanding of process improvement and automation with measurable value.
• Experience in regulated, deadline-driven environments with focus on compliance and data integrity.
• Strong commercial awareness and analytical capability for decision support.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end delivery of lottery and raffle operations with focus on SLAs and quality.
• Develop operational lottery leadership teams and accountability.
• Review structures and workflows to improve efficiency, scalability, resilience.
• Lead organisational change initiatives and embed new ways of working.
• Identify and deliver automation opportunities to reduce manual work and increase capacity.
• Collaborate with IT and development teams to define requirements and deliver tech improvements.
• Use KPIs and data to monitor performance and drive improvement.
• Manage budgets, resources and supplier relationships.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory, legal and internal controls.
• Act as senior escalation point for operational issues and client concerns.
• Build relationships across the business and contribute to strategic planning.

Skills

Head of Operations

Change management

Automation

Data analytics

Regulatory compliance

Stakeholder mgmt

Leadership

Process improvement

Cross-functional leadership

Budget management

Education

Degree in business/ops

Change-management qualification (PROSCI/Lean Six Sigma/PRINCE2/APM)

Operations management degree

Job description

Over the past 30 years, we’ve grown from humble beginnings with a single computer into a diversified, global, technology-enabled lottery and prize draw company (ASX: JIN). Today, Jumbo operates across Australia, the UK, Canada and the US, bringing together technology, creativity and purpose to create premium digital experiences people love.

Based in Galgate, StarVale is dedicated to strengthening the fundraising power of charities, not‑for‑profits, and hospices across the UK. We combine specialist lottery management with a genuine commitment to helping organisations maximise their impact, so more communities receive the support they deserve.

What will you be doing?

This is a newly created leadership role designed to drive operational excellence, embed continuous improvement and support the future growth and scalability of our lottery operations. You will be part of the senior leadership team at StarVale with responsibility for the performance, compliance and continuous improvement of our lottery, raffle and supporter engagement operations.

Whilst ensuring our services continue to run accurately, compliantly and on schedule, you will also lead operational change. You will review how work is delivered, redesign processes, implement automation and technology solutions, and create a scalable operating model that supports future growth.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a commercially minded operational leader who enjoys driving change, improving efficiency and developing high-performing teams in a regulated environment.

What Your Day-to-Day Will Look Like

• Leading the end-to-end delivery of lottery and raffle operations, ensuring service levels, deadlines and quality standards are consistently achieved.
• Managing and developing operational lottery leadership teams, empowering clear accountability and strong performance across the department.
• Reviewing operational structures, processes and workflows to improve efficiency, scalability and resilience.
• Leading organisational change initiatives, including process improvement, supporting teams through change and embedding new ways of working.
• Identifying and delivering automation opportunities that reduce manual effort, improve accuracy and increase operational capacity.
• Working closely with IT and development teams to define requirements and support the delivery of technology improvements.
• Using operational data and KPIs to monitor performance, identify trends and drive continuous improvement.
• Managing operational budgets, resources and supplier relationships.
• Ensuring compliance with all relevant regulatory, legal and internal control requirements.
• Acting as a senior escalation point for operational issues, client concerns and service delivery challenges.
• Building strong relationships across the business and contributing to wider strategic planning and decision-making.

What You’ll Be Able to Bring to the Role

Essential

• Significant experience operating at Head of Department, Head of Operations or senior operations leadership level.
• Proven success delivering operational improvement initiatives, supporting teams through change and embedding new processes, systems and technologies.
• Strong understanding of process improvement and automation, with the ability to identify opportunities that deliver measurable business value.
• Experience working within a regulated, deadline-driven environment where compliance, accuracy and data integrity are critical.
• Strong commercial awareness and analytical capability, with experience using data and financial information to support decision-making.
• Exceptional leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and engage teams through change.
• Experience managing multiple teams and developing leaders to achieve outstanding results.
• Highly organised, resilient and able to balance operational delivery with long-term strategic improvement.
• Demonstrate exemplary behaviour and act as a positive role model, setting high standards of professionalism, accountability and integrity for others to follow.

Preferred

• Experience within lottery operations, fundraising, supporter engagement, gaming, financial services or other regulated sectors.
• Experience working with charities, not-for-profit organisations or fundraising operations.
• Knowledge of Gambling Commission, Bacs and PCI requirements.
• Formal qualifications in change management, continuous improvement or project management (such as PROSCI, Lean Six Sigma, PRINCE2 or APM).
• Experience partnering with software development teams to deliver operational and automation improvements.
• Degree or professional qualification in business, operations management or a related discipline.

Salary Banding: £55,000–£65,000 per annum, depending on experience.

Our Ways of Working

At StarVale, we value balance and flexibility. You will be based in our office in Galgate, Lancaster. This role is primarily based in the office, with 1-2 days per week from home, depending on operational requirements. We prioritise results and collaborate to make sure everyone can contribute effectively, while enjoying flexibility and balance in how they work.

Why Join StarVale?

Find Your Freedom - https://bit.ly/Jumbointeractive

At StarVale, our team thrives because we invest in our people. Here’s what you can expect from us;

• An annual regional bonus scheme that rewards your contributions, dependent on company performance.
• 25 days annual leave + public holidays + your birthday off.
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program, providing counselling and coaching.
• Reward & Recognition programme and length of service benefits.
• The freedom to work from almost* anywhere in the world for up to 4 weeks a year.

Candidates who are offered a position will be required to complete pre-employment checks through our partner, Checkmate, which will include referencing, Right to Work in the UK and DBS checks. We are, unfortunately, unable to offer sponsorship opportunities.

We are a 2026 Circle Back Initiative Gold Employer – we commit to respond to every applicant.