Operations Manager

Location Exeter
Discipline: Senior Management, Project Management
Job type: Permanent: Full Time
Salary: £50,000 - £55,000 + bonus
Contact name: Sarah Knight

Contact email: careers@sarahwest.co.uk
Job ref: VR/3578
Published: about 4 years ago
Startdate: ASAP

​We’ve been working with this market-leading organisation for a number of years and have enjoyed watching them, and supporting them, as they’ve gone from strength to strength. 2020 is still on track to be an impressive year and there are really impressive plans on the horizon for 2021 – so this role will very much be contributing to their future success (so are keen to get their new Operations Manager on board to support this).

Background-wise you have to be able to show recent experience of working for a business that handles (manages) large-scale, complicated, multi-site network infrastructure implementations – and their ongoing management. You’ll be from a networking or infrastructure type business who’s used to being the chosen supplier/partner to sizeable brands. This isn’t going to suit someone who has only worked at a local level or with smaller/single site customers. Ideally, we’re looking for an experienced Operations Managers but this role could suit a Senior IT Project Manager looking to transition to Operations Management too.

From your recent experience, you’ll be able to show that you’re someone who can ensure the overall delivery of complex/important clients projects, through your teams, and who can keep their eyes on everything to make sure they’re on schedule and within budget. You like problem solving, you’ll thrive on detail, are ambitious and keen to make a difference both inhouse and to your end customer.

Over and above your Operations Management capabilities we’re looking for a people-person. They’re looking for someone who’s a natural leader who can get the balance right between getting things done and being ‘warm’ and approachable too. As you’ll be working with people at all different stages of their career, from a variety of disciplines, you’ll have a knack of knowing how to adapt your leadership and communication style to a diverse set of personalities – you’ll need to inspire each of them – so they’re the best they can be. You’ll need to show you genuinely care.

While the company’s in a good place – with no problems for you to come in and resolve – they’ll be looking to you to come in with a fresh pair of eyes and take a look at the current culture/how things are managed and make changes for the better, where you can, so things are as slick and efficient as they can be. This might involve looking at communication, ways of upskilling the team, together with how they’re structured, co-ordinated and work day-to-day. Continuing to drive efficiencies and increasing automation, where possible, is a real focus right now – and you’ll be expected to play a key part in this. Experience of managing growth, though acquisition, would be a bonus too.

Person-wise this is going to suit someone who’s looking to take on their next challenge, who’s able to take on the role and ‘do’ from day one. You’ll be excited by the organisation’s growth plans and the contribution you’re going to be able to make long term.

You’ll be working for an ambitious, yet considered, business owner who has exciting plans for the future. This person cares greatly for the business, its reputation and the team. Growth is very much on the agenda for future years. The company are based on the outskirts of Exeter and have a great benefits package on top the basic salary and company bonus scheme.

If this sounds like you or you’d like to know more – get in touch with Sarah!