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 West Sussex
A scenic county in southern England and, according to the Met Office, the sunniest county in the UK, West Sussex shares borders with Surrey, East Sussex and Hampshire, as well as Brighton and Hove. It also has an expansive coastline on the English Channel.
The county town of West Sussex is Chichester, while other major settlements in the area include Crawley, Bognor Regis, Horsham, Burgess Hill, Littlehampton and Haywards Heath. Indeed, the region offers a variety of options for anyone seeking Head of Operations positions.
Various large companies are based in West Sussex or have operations in the region. These include Rolls Royce, Roche Diagnostics, Network Technology, BOC Edwards, Novartis and RSA Insurance Group. The Body Shop was founded here in 1976, and is now part of the L'Oreal group.
The local economy also relies on tourism, with visitors coming to enjoy the sunshine and sea air, while the service sector and retail are important as well.
What's more, Gatwick Airport is located in West Sussex. Situated less than 30 miles from central London, it's the capital's second largest international airport and the country's second busiest in terms of passenger traffic. It serves a variety of airlines, including BA, Aer Lingus, EasyJet, Virgin Atlantic and Thomas Cook and processes a significant amount of cargo as well.
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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.
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.
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