Head of Sales & Operations

Core 3 Ltd; England; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An established recruitment consultancy in East London is seeking a Head of Sales & Operations to drive growth and manage operations while leading the business towards succession. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in recruitment and leadership, with a focus on achieving sales targets and developing high-performing teams. This role offers a competitive salary and the unique opportunity for progression to Managing Director within 3 to 5 years.

Benefits

Performance related bonus

Equity/shares upon exit

Clearly defined progression route to MD

Qualifications

• Proven track record in leading and developing high performing recruitment teams.
• Experience in managing sales and operations in a recruitment context.
• Ability to get buy-in from the sales team and lead from the front.

Responsibilities

• Set office-wide KPIs focusing on sales performance and accountability.
• Own the day-to-day operations of the business including compliance and systems.
• Collaborate on business planning, forecasting, and performance tracking.

Skills

Leadership

Sales Performance Management

Data Analysis

Team Development

Strategic Planning

Job description

Head of Sales & Operations

(Development pathway to Managing Director in 3-5 years)

Core3 are exclusively retained to recruit a Head of Sales and Operations on behalf of a circa £10mill t/o recruitment consultancy located in East London (easy access on the Elizabeth Line).

This is a high impact hire, reporting directly to the Founder/Owner, helping to drive growth and profit with the rare opportunity to lead the business as the MD prior to Exit (in 3-5 years).

Why join this business?

My client is a successful agency that has grown from £0 to £9mill+ in revenue in just over 5 years. They have a stable base of trusted clients/customers and high client retention, allowing them at their peak to have 350 interim workers onsite, managed by a sales and operations team of 15-20 heads (including a handful offshore).

Whilst the business/brand is very well known in their existing market, there is a big opportunity (and already access via their existing client contracts) to diversify into affiliated markets as well as accelerate growth in the markets they are currently operating in.

This is a people-first business. The Founder is incredibly passionate (and down to earth) and protective of the team and their ability, resulting in a loyal, stable and values-led organisation with heaps of potential.

How you'll make an impact

The opportunity here is to step into the business as a strategic No2 to the Founder, and work hand in hand to drive performance and growth, with a very clear vision to sell the business in the next 3-5 years.

You will be given the autonomy from day one to own both the sales and operations teams, becoming the go-to person 'in-office' for the entire business, allowing the Founder more time to focus on new business generation and strategy.

The role will require you to:

• Set office-wide KPIs focusing on sales performance and driving accountability.
• Own the day-to-day operations of the business including sales support/administration functions, compliance, systems/CRM etc.
• Work incredibly closely with members of the sales and delivery teams to provide structure and clarity, including introducing training frameworks that lift their capability and engagement.
• Partner with the Founder on business planning, forecasting and performance tracking, ensuring strategic decisions are backed by robust data.
• Support expansion into new markets and revenue streams, including building operational readiness for diversification.
• Collaborate on recruitment, onboarding and retention of top sales talent to drive future pipeline and profitability.
• Play a leading role in succession planning and exit-readiness, with equity and profit-share potential tied to delivery.

Why is this role right for you

The Head of Sales and Operations will be an experienced Operator with a proven track record leading and developing high performing recruitment teams.

You must have the natural ability to get buy-in from the sales team, which will require leading from the front at times, so it's imperative that you have excellent leadership skills and are comfortable in a hands-on managerial role. Setting and maintaining the standard.

In my opinion this is the perfect role for someone who wants to be responsible for owning and running a £15-20mill t/o Recruitment business in the medium-term, without the risk and capital involved in starting your own consultancy from scratch. Someone who perhaps cannot see a clear pathway in their current consultancy but has the track record, drive and tenacity to treat this business as their own.

The experience I would expect:

• You're an experienced Head of Sales (or equivalent) from the recruitment sector, ideally with exposure to interim/contract markets.
• You've led teams through change, turnaround or transformation. And know how to implement a fit-for-purpose team structure without losing pace on delivery.
• You bring a well-rounded commercial skill set; part operator, part analyst, part people leader.
• You have a strong awareness of the support functions that make a sales team successful and can get the entire team, including operational support functions, pulling in the same direction.
• You thrive on ownership and want to play a long game. Stepping into a high-trust relationship with the Founder and driving value over the next 3-5 years.
• You want to be part of something that balances ambition with purpose and integrity. Leaving the business better than you found it.

What you'll get in return

• Basic salary £70,000-£80,000 +/- DOE
• Performance related Bonus
• Equity/Shares (released on Exit)
• Clearly defined progression route to MD
• A grounded, entrepreneurial culture built on trust, transparency and shared success

If this Head of Sales & Operations opportunity speaks to you, we'd love to hear from you. Apply now or reach out to // 0117 213 0300.

We invite applications from all qualified candidates who believe they meet the requirements of the role, whilst supporting and promoting equality and diversity to create an inclusive working environment for all.