Senior Operations Manager

BIG Partnership; Manchester; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

BIG Partnership is seeking an experienced Senior Operations Manager to shape how the agency operates, plans and delivers work from either Glasgow or Manchester. The role covers Business Operations, management information, systems and processes, with a focus on strong operational and commercial disciplines across delivery teams.

The role offers continuity during maternity leave and a permanent remit to improve planning, resources and commercially delivered work, with direct ownership within

Qualifications

• Experience in operations, reporting and process improvement across a project-based business.
• Strong resource and capacity planning and management information capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Oversee core Business Operations, reporting systems and processes across BIG.
• Own resource planning, capacity management and delivery controls within Studio.
• Drive continuous improvement of operational discipline and commercial delivery.

Job description

We are looking for an experienced Senior Operations Manager to play a central role in how BIG operates, plans and delivers work who would be based in either our Glasgow or Manchester offices.

This is a broad, hands-on operational role spanning core business operations, management information, systems and processes, with particular responsibility for ensuring strong operational and commercial disciplines are applied consistently across our integrated delivery teams.

The role has two important purposes.

In the immediate term, it will provide continuity across the critical Business Operations responsibilities currently held by our Business Operations Manager during maternity leave - maintaining operational rhythm, reporting, systems, coordination, controls and follow-through across the business.

Alongside that, it has a permanent remit to strengthen how BIG plans, resources and commercially delivers work, with direct operational ownership within Studio around resource and capacity management, workflow, delivery controls, management information, utilisation, recoverability and continuous improvement.

This is not simply a maternity-cover appointment. It is an opportunity to provide important operational continuity now while helping BIG build a stronger, more consistent and commercially disciplined operating model for the future.

The role

You will work across the business, partnering closely with leadership, Finance, client-facing teams, project managers and specialist delivery teams.

You will ensure that critical operational activity continues to run smoothly, that BIG-wide processes and controls are clear and consistent, and that those disciplines are actively adopted and managed within Studio.

You will need to be equally comfortable coordinating the detail, improving systems and processes, interpreting operational and financial information, making sound resource decisions and constructively challenging where activity is not translating into effective commercial delivery.

The role requires someone who can both keep the operational machine running and make it better.

The person

You're the sort of person who keeps several plates spinning without dropping any: highly organised, calm when things move quickly, and comfortable holding a few teams' priorities at once. You're commercially minded, so you understand how people, time, scope, resource and cost add up to margin, and you're confident enough with spreadsheets, systems and reporting tools to turn information into practical action.

You like clarity, good data and effective controls, but you've no appetite for bureaucracy. You spot what needs doing and follow it through, and you'll happily chase an action, challenge an assumption or raise an issue when it matters. You're also good at bringing people with you when something needs to change.

You've most likely built up this extensive experience in an agency, consultancy, professional services or another busy project-based business, in work spanning operations, resource and capacity planning, workflow and delivery, utilisation and recoverability, management information, systems and reporting, or process improvement.

You'll be used to coordinating across teams and disciplines and working closely with Finance and senior leadership. You don't need to have held this exact title before. What matters is that you understand how a project-based business really works, and that you're as comfortable in the practical detail as you are with the systems, the data and the wider commercial picture.

Full details on the role and who we're looking for can be found in the Job Description. – https://bigshort.link/Snr_Ops_Mgr_JD

What success looks like;

Within the first 6-12 months we would expect to see:

• Smooth continuity of BIG's critical Business Operations responsibilities during maternity leave.
• Reliable operational reporting, systems, coordination and follow-through across BIG.
• Clearer visibility of Studio capacity and resource requirements.
• Better forward planning and earlier identification of delivery risk.
• Stronger and more consistently applied project and delivery controls.
• Improved management of utilisation, recoverability, overservicing and external resource cost.
• Stronger connection between Finance, operational information and management action.
• Clearer roles, accountabilities and escalation.
• Practical processes and controls applied consistently across BIG and embedded in everyday Studio working.
• Measurable improvement in the predictability and commercial performance of delivery.

About BIG

Established over two decades ago, BIG Partnership has grown to become one of the UK’s largest and most successful independent marketing agencies, with more than 65 people working on over 300 clients across offices in Glasgow, Aberdeen and Manchester. BIG is an integrated communications agency bringing together specialists across PR, creative, strategy, digital and related disciplines.

We are evolving how we operate to create greater integration, accountability and commercial effectiveness while preserving the creativity, collaboration and entrepreneurialism that are important to our culture.

We specialise in offering a fully integrated service to our clients, with core services that cover PR, design, digital and marketing. We work with businesses ranging from start-ups to some of the world’s biggest brands. Household brands, including Aldi, BP, Deloitte, Asda, Loch Lomond Whisky and Loganair, have entrusted their marketing and communication needs to us. This trust is reflected in our recent ranking for client satisfaction, where specialist consultancy, Relationship Matters, placed BIG among the top 20% of agencies globally for client satisfaction.

We are BIG on our people and culture. You’ll be working alongside colleagues who will happily go the extra mile for you, because they know you would do the same for them. Independently conducted staff surveys show BIG boasts a supportive and positive work environment, with more than 90% of its staff viewing BIG as an employer of choice. This is probably why The Herald newspaper named BIG as having the Best Employee Culture in Scotland.

At BIG our values aren’t just words, they’re how we work every day:

• Refuse to settle: You spot opportunities, solve problems, and make results happen.
• Own the impact: You lead by example, take pride in your work, and make every client feel the value of your expertise.
• Bring the magic: You energise colleagues, inspire clients, and bring positivity to every project.

We’re truly a values-driven organisation. A hallmark of our ethos is our focus on staff development and an open, supportive culture.

BIG Partnership is committed to being an equal opportunities employer, and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds.

(First round interviews planned for 9 & 10 September)

*The position may close earlier depending on applicant volume.

Note: This advert is listed twice for a role based in our offices located in Glasgow or Manchester; however, there is only 1 role available.