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 Gloucestershire
A county in the south-west of England, Gloucestershire shares borders with a number of counties - including Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Oxfordshire and Somerset - as well as Wales.
Various towns and cities are located here, such as Gloucester, Cheltenham, Stroud, Tewkesbury and Cirencester, and it offers a wealth of choice for those seeking Head of Operations vacancies.
For much of its past, this region has been agricultural, with market towns trading wool and dairy products. During the Industrial Revolution, textile making and cloth production became important to the local economy, and the canal network helped to make transport around the area easier.
These days, the service sector and tourism are both important for the area. Gloucestershire serves as a financial centre, home to companies like Cheltenham & Gloucester and Ecclesiastical Insurance, and it also has a number of aerospace companies like the Gloster Aircraft Company and GE-Aviation.
There's a large amount of light industry, with products being manufactured in Gloucestershire including foods and electronics.
The Government Communications Headquarters, also known as GCHQ, is located in Cheltenham, while a number of colleges and universities are also based within Gloucestershire.
Popular locations
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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