Head of Operations
Ask a hundred companies what their head of operations does and you’ll get a hundred answers. And that’s a clue to what the role entails – it’s a job that’s focused on a specific area with the intention of making it run to the board’s aims, i.e. with maximum productivity, efficiency, compliance and performance.
Often, the operations head will have a slightly different title, such as head of HR operations or head of IT operations, as the generic title would not accurately describe the day to day tasks of the role. Essentially, though, you are overseeing the way a particular process, or a range of interconnected processes, work, and ensuring they operate smoothly within the context of the business.
The head of operations slots into the corporate infrastructure below board level, but there will be crucial managerial responsibilities, and the larger the company, the more vital and pressurised your decisions and management will be.
The skills required
Needless to say, there are a lot of skills that are transferable between head of operations jobs in different companies, such as the ability to manage large and complex teams, to interpret strategic aims and convert them into actionable plans, and to report back to the board accurately, candidly and clearly.
It’s likely that the core functions of the business will rest on your shoulders, so this isn’t a role for the indecisive or the weak-hearted, but nor is it a position that suits risk-takers, as everything you do should be planned and justified. Overseeing operations will naturally require excellent communication skills and an ability to delegate and trust subordinates appropriately.
Head of Operations Jobs in Birkenhead
While Birkenhead has always lived in the shadow of the world-famous port city of Liverpool just across the Mersey, it has a maritime history that is of huge importance to the region and the nation. The town has a history of shipbuilding, and although the industry has had its ups and downs, with particular lows in the 1980s, it seems to be on the up again, with the Cammell Laird shipyard getting back up to speed after collapse and buy-out. The shipyard has an illustrious history, being the birthplace of HMS Prince of Wales, HMS Ark Royal (the 1938 incarnation) and RMS Mauretania to name but a few. The famous Mersey ferry (actually three boats) sails from Birkenhead to Liverpool daily.
Although the town of Birkenhead is home to just over 80,000 people, it forms part of a sprawling conurbation along the east of the Wirral Peninsula that takes in New Brighton, Bebington, Wallasey and, of course, Tranmere. Taken together, the population is well over 300,000, the size of a small city.
Luckily, the ferry isn’t the only way across the Mersey. Two road tunnels and a rail tunnel connect Birkenhead to Liverpool, which in combination with the M53 running up the spine of the Wirral, make it a particularly well connected town. This large population and the re-emerging shipyard make Birkenhead a good place to look for Head of Operations jobs in the North West of England.
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Find heads of operations at Cast UK
Your business depends on finding the absolute best people to head up your operations, so you need to cast your net widely to ensure you’ve explored all options. That’s why partnering with Cast UK as your recruitment consultancy makes perfect sense. We deal with professional level level talent, delivering excellent interview-ready shortlists to businesses of all sizes and types. Call 0333 121 3345 to talk to a cons today.
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