Head of Operations

AWD online; Bedford; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading service organization in Bedford is seeking a Head of Operations to lead a high-performing team focused on operational excellence and digital transformation. The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership skills and experience implementing effective operational strategies. This role offers a salary between £70,000 and £75,000, along with a hybrid working model and various employee benefits including wellness programs and discounts.

Benefits

Holiday Trading

Life assurance

Wellness programmes

Gym membership discounts

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a senior operational leadership role within a service-focused environment.
• Ability to develop high-performing teams.
• Experience in implementing digital transformation and automation tools.

Responsibilities

• Inspire and support people leaders to achieve excellence.
• Implement best practices in workflows and quality management.
• Introduce tools and automation to enhance service scalability.

Skills

Strong people leadership

Process improvement

Digital transformation

Operational optimisation

Commercial acumen

Education

Formal qualifications in operations management or process improvement

Tools

Power BI

Salesforce

Job description

JOB OVERVIEW

Head of Operations

An exciting opportunity to lead a high-performing team, driving operational excellence, digital transformation, and strategic growth within a fast-paced service-led organisation. If you’ve also worked in the following roles, we’d like to hear from you: Operations Manager, Operations Director, Business Operations Manager, Service Delivery Manager, Process Improvement Manager.

SALARY: £70,000 to £75,000 per annum + Benefits

LOCATION: Hybrid working with time split between home and the office in Bedford (MK44)

JOB TYPE: Full-Time, Permanent

JOB OVERVIEW

We have a fantastic new job opportunity for a Head of Operations who can lead, motivate and develop people leaders to achieve outstanding results.

As the Head of Operations you will plan and optimise resources, streamline workflows, and ensure smooth delivery of services across multiple functions. You will champion continuous improvement, digital innovation, and automation to enhance scalability, efficiency, and customer experience.

The Head of Operations will play a key role in embedding a culture of empowerment, collaboration, and accountability, ensuring teams are aligned with business strategy and regulatory standards while maintaining high-quality service delivery.

If you’re passionate about driving performance, leading change, and building strong relationships, this Head of Operations position could be the ideal next step for you.

DUTIES

• Lead And Develop Teams: Inspire and support people leaders to achieve excellence and foster a collaborative, high-performing culture
• Drive Operational Excellence: Implement best practice in workflows, quality, compliance, and performance management
• Optimise Resources: Plan and allocate resources effectively to ensure operational efficiency and timely delivery
• Champion Digital Transformation: Introduce tools, automation, and emerging technologies to enhance service scalability and user experience
• Ensure Compliance: Maintain strong governance, supplier management, and adherence to industry and data protection standards
• Foster Collaboration: Build strong internal partnerships to align operations with business goals and customer needs
• Promote Continuous Improvement: Lead process optimisation initiatives that drive measurable impact and innovation
• Monitor Performance: Use data insights and metrics to inform strategic decisions and drive accountability across teams

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS

ESSENTIAL

• Proven experience in a senior operational leadership role within a fast-paced, service-focused environment
• Strong people leadership and coaching skills, with the ability to develop high-performing teams
• Expertise in process improvement, capacity planning, and operational optimisation
• Experience implementing digital transformation and automation tools (AI/RPA knowledge advantageous)
• Commercial and financial acumen with a data-driven approach to decision-making
• Demonstrated success leading change and embedding a culture of accountability and performance

DESIRABLE

• Experience in HR tech, compliance, or regulated environments
• Formal qualifications in business, operations management, or process improvement (e.g. MBA, Lean Six Sigma, PRINCE2)
• Knowledge of tools such as Power BI, Salesforce, or workflow platforms to enhance analytics and collaboration

BENEFITS

• Holiday Trading and retail discounts
• Life assurance and access to medical services
• Wellness programmes and fitness classes
• Gym membership discounts and wellbeing support

APPLY

By submitting your job application to us you are hereby giving us your express consent to submit your details to our Client for this purpose.