Operations Development Lead

Tarka Talent; Milton Keynes; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Tarka Talent is partnering with a leading asset leasing and fleet solutions provider to recruit an Operations Development Lead. This role bridges central strategy and regional delivery, translating priorities into practical change and embedding initiatives across sites.

You will drive end-to-end improvement, build KPI frameworks, and translate insights into action with senior leaders. The position offers hybrid working, exposure to group-level decisions and a strong benefits package.

Qualifications

• Experience in operational excellence, continuous improvement or transformation roles.
• Confident working with data, performance metrics and operational reporting.
• Ability to influence senior operational stakeholders across multiple locations.
• Demonstrated ability to connect operational improvements to financial outcomes and value creation.

Responsibilities

• Own and drive the end-to-end operational improvement cycle, from data capture through to delivery.
• Develop and enhance KPI frameworks to give clear visibility of performance at site, regional and group level.
• Translate insight into prioritised action plans with regional and site leadership teams.
• Lead engagement through reporting, communications, training sessions and performance forums.
• Challenge existing standards and targets to ensure they remain realistic, relevant and continuously improving.

Skills

Operational excellence

Data-driven

Stakeholder influence

Performance metrics

Job description

Our client is a leading asset leasing and fleet solutions provider that is strengthening its group transformation capability as it continues to scale across multiple sectors and markets. This role has been created to bridge central strategy and operational delivery, ensuring improvement initiatives are not only designed at group level but successfully embedded across regional businesses and operational teams.

You’ll play a pivotal role in translating strategic priorities into practical change — supporting initiatives across areas such as operational performance, asset utilisation, process improvement and commercial optimisation.

The business entered an exciting new phase following the backing of a large global private equity investor, bringing significant backing to accelerate its growth and transformation agenda. With new investment focused on operational excellence, digital capability and international expansion, the organisation is building out its central transformation function to help drive performance improvements across the group.

The Operations Development Lead will…

• Own and drive the end-to-end operational improvement cycle, from data capture through to delivery
• Develop and enhance KPI frameworks to give clear visibility of performance at site, regional and group level
• Translate insight into prioritised action plans with regional and site leadership teams
• Lead engagement through reporting, communications, training sessions and performance forums
• Challenge existing standards and targets to ensure they remain realistic, relevant and continuously improving
• Bring proven experience in operational excellence, continuous improvement or transformation roles
• Be confident working with data, performance metrics and operational reporting
• Have experience influencing senior operational stakeholders across multiple locations
• Demonstrate the ability to connect operational improvements to financial outcomes and value creation

Why You’ll Love It

• High-impact role with visibility across a large network
• Opportunity to shape automation, data maturity and operational standards at scale
• Exposure to senior leadership and group-level decision-making
• Hybrid working model with varied site engagement
• Competitive salary, bonus and strong benefits package

We are committed to promoting equality of opportunity for all employees and job applicants. In line with the Equality Act 2010, all decisions are based on merit, ensuring an inclusive working environment free from discrimination or harassment.