Interim Operations Director

M&C Saatchi; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global communications firm in the UK is seeking an Operations Director to oversee operational excellence and manage global projects for its specialist division. This senior leadership role involves partnering with the COO, ensuring alignment across multiple international offices, and driving compliance with operational standards. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree, extensive operational experience, and lead teams in a fast-paced environment. The position offers a competitive salary and numerous benefits, including generous leave options and a commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Benefits

27 days holiday per year

Pension contributions

Private healthcare

Cultural stimulation allowance – £250 per person per year

Emergency care days for dependants

Up to 5 days volunteering leave

Payroll Giving Scheme

An annual Summer and Christmas party

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing teams across multiple levels and regions.
• Meticulous attention to detail with a structured approach to delivery.
• Fluent English, written and spoken.

Responsibilities

• Oversee complex, global operational projects.
• Partner with the COO to lead operational initiatives.
• Manage and maintain global operational policies.

Skills

Strong previous experience in an Operations role

Excellent organisational and interpersonal skills

Agile and solutions-focused mindset

Confidence leading teams in a global environment

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or related field

Job description

We’re looking for a globally minded, detail‑driven Operations Director to help lead our operational excellence across M+C Saatchi Group’s specialist division, M+C Saatchi World Services.

We provide a fully integrated, end‑to‑end service, combining multidisciplinary communications teams with subject‑matter experts across the world. Our work is both domestic and global, often impacting the most vulnerable in society, with international activity focused on conflict‑affected or developing countries.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Maternity Cover

Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer, this role works day‑to‑day with the wider Operations team in the UK and across our international regions. This is a senior, hands‑on leadership role working closely with the COO to shape, deliver and embed the operations function’s strategic priorities, while also owning the day‑to‑day operational management of the business.

What you’ll do:

You will oversee complex, global operational projects and ensure alignment, consistency and cohesion across all offices and entities, including the USA, Australia, Singapore, Europe and Dubai. A key focus will be ensuring that processes, policies and communications are clear, consistent and scalable across regions.

• Partner with the COO to lead and deliver major operational initiatives
• Ensure global alignment of operational processes across all regions
• Lead and manage the UK Operations team
• Drive ISO27001 certification in collaboration with IT and Compliance
• Own GDPR compliance from an operational perspective
• Support technical innovation and transformation through Project PIVOT
• Oversee operations across multiple offices in the UK, Dubai and Kenya
• Manage and maintain global operational policies and frameworks

ABOUT YOU

What you’ll bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Operations Management or a related field
• Strong previous experience in an Operations role and strong understanding of operational best practices
• Proven experience managing teams across multiple levels and regions
• Excellent organisational and interpersonal skills
• A proactive, agile and solutions‑focused mindset
• Meticulous attention to detail with a structured approach to delivery
• Adaptability and openness to new ideas, processes and ways of working
• Confidence leading teams and projects in a fast‑paced, global environment
• Fluent English, written and spoken

Applications close: January 23, 2026. No Recruiters.

WHAT WE OFFER

A competitive salary and benefits package that includes 27 days holiday per year, pension contributions, private healthcare, discounted dental insurance, enhanced maternity/parental leave, plus a whole host of others including:

• Cultural stimulation allowance – £250 per person per year
• Half days off before bank holidays
• Emergency care days for dependants
• Up to 5 days volunteering leave per year to work for a registered charity
• Up to 10 days special emergency leave per year
• Season Ticket loan
• Payroll Giving Scheme
• Thursday drinks to unwind and socialize
• An annual Summer and Christmas party
• Our commitment to Diversity and Inclusion sees us offer inclusive bank holidays

We also offer learning opportunities around D&I, targeted mentoring programmes and the opportunity to participate in several active Employee Led Networks and associated events. Finally, this role will be supported with all the necessary personal development required to set someone up for success.

M+C SAATCHI GROUP has pledged its commitment to create a company that values difference, with an inclusive culture. As part of this, M+C Saatchi Group continues to be an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not and shall not discriminate, celebrates diversity and bases all hiring and promotion decisions solely on merit, without regard for any personal characteristics.

All employee and candidate information is kept confidential according to General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

#LI-JM1 #WS