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 Guildford
Located 26 miles (46 km) south west of the centre of London , Surrey's county town Guildford is a historic setting in England's South. For a time, between the 10th and the 13th centuries the Royal Mint was located here, and that's not the town's only association with precious things – the “Guild” part of its name relates to gold. Guildford's castle was built during this time, too.
Guildford was one of the first towns to have a canal dug through it, in the mid-1600s, about 100 years before the national boom in canals. Named the Wey Navigation, it linked directly to the River Thames to allow the fast transportation of heavy goods to and from the capital. Although the town has never been the location of heavy industry, it has always been a good place to do business, and that is certainly true today, with several international companies having offices or head offices there. The list includes Philips Electronics, Colgate-Palmolive, Ericsson, Allianz, Electronic Arts and Sanofi. Since EA is not the only major video game producer in town, Guildford has something of a reputation of being an entertainment software capital.
Guildford is a reasonably affluent town and is a firm favourite among London's commuters who still want to live in a thriving town with plenty going on. Its population is around 70,000, and there are places such as the Surrey Research Park with plenty of exciting innovations being developed. Despite the lack of heavy industry, Head of Operations positions do come up in Guildford, and we're best placed to locate them when they arise.
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.
Candidates: we could be recruiting your next head of operations job right now. If you’ve got what it takes, register with us by following the link below – it could be a life-changing click.
Contact us