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 Worcester
History runs like a river through the city of Worcester, which is situated on the River Severn 23 miles (38 km) south east of Birmingham. It was a thriving town in Roman times and although it fell out of favour when the empire started to recede, its population had exploded by the middles ages, reaching around 10,000, a huge number in those days. Many of its medieval buildings survive to this day, but there would have been many more had they not been demolished in the rebuilding fervour of the 1950s and 1960s. It was also at Worcester that Oliver Cromwell’s army defeated Charles II’s, leading to England and Wales becoming a republic for a decade.
In more modern times Worcester was famous for is porcelain and glove making, both of which industries have all but disappeared now. Kays, of catalogue fame, was also founded in the city, but the company was bought out by rival Grattan’s owners. Today, the best known product from Worcester is Worcestershire sauce, a fish-based condiment made by Lee and Perrins (two chemists) in Worcester in the early 1800s.
Worcester does have a history of manufacturing, and some of this remains, but today it is a centre for retail and tourism, with many visitors flocking to the city to see its cathedral and its other medieval buildings. It is by far the largest town for 20 miles in any direction, so brings in plenty of visitors from the villages and towns in the surrounding area to do their shopping. The city lies just to the west of the M5, which links Birmingham, and the South East, and has good rail links. Worcester is therefore a good place to look for Head of Operations positions, and Cast UK do have such jobs available in the city and its surrounding area.
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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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