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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and transform post-sale trade operations, driving performance and efficiency.
- Company: Join Checkatrade, the UK's top platform for finding trusted tradespeople.
- Benefits: Enjoy a hybrid work model and be part of a fast-growing team with big plans.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic environment where your contributions matter.
- Qualifications: 7-10 years in operational leadership with experience in managing teams and driving transformation.
- Other info: This role is perfect for those who thrive in complexity and want to leave a legacy.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 100000 £ per year.
Head of Operations – Trade Lifecycle
Location: Hybrid (4 days per week split across our London HQ and Portsmouth office)
Ready to shape the engine room of a high-growth platform?
We’re looking for a strategic operator; someone who can stabilise and lead critical trade lifecycle functions today, while continuously evolving how we operate for scale and margin tomorrow. This isn’t a role for passengers – it’s for someone who thrives in complexity, drives results, and wants to leave a legacy.
You’ll lead and scale the full post-sale trade lifecycle at Checkatrade. That means owning performance across Credit Operations, Retention, and adjacent revenue-critical workflows with a mandate to improve what works, redesign what doesn’t, and evolve the operating model as we grow.
What you’ll do
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Own the end-to-end transformation of post-sale trade ops; fix what’s not working, scale what is, and design what’s next.
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Own performance across Credit Control, Retention, and other post-sale trade workflows. You’ll drive revenue recovery, reduce churn, and keep payments on track with relentless focus on performance and impact.
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Redesign key processes: saves, collections, renewals, recovery, for speed, accuracy, and automation. You’ll partner with Product, Data, and Ops to get it done.
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Build and lead a high-performing team. Directly manage our UK leads. Indirectly lead 20–30+ offshore FTEs across our BPO partners.
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Own the numbers. You’ll run daily, weekly, and strategic reporting using Sheets, SQL, and Looker – no waiting on analysts here.
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Continuously assess and evolve our post-sale operating model: identifying gaps, unlocking efficiencies, and standing up new capabilities where needed to support scale, margin, and revenue protection.
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Embed a culture of ownership and high performance. Scorecards, QA, progression paths,all driven by you.
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Be a go-to for lifecycle ops. You’ll represent this function in forums across Commercial, Sales, Product, and Exec.
What you’ll bring
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7–10 years in operational leadership across CX, RevOps, lifecycle or collections. You’ve managed UK and offshore teams, including BPOs.
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A track record of transformation. You’ve scaled or turned around teams, processes, or full functions.
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Data confidence. You’re fluent in SQL, Sheets, and Looker and use them to drive performance, not just measure it.
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Commercial edge. You’ve worked with revenue levers like churn, recovery, or payment compliance and you’ve moved the dial.
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Systems thinking. You get scalable design, love automation, and ask: “Can this run without us?”
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People-first leadership. You’re hands-on, build trust fast, and know how to bring clarity in chaos.
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Grit and pace. You’re comfortable in the messy middle where decisions are fast, problems are complex, and the path isn’t always clear.
Why this role, why now?
We’re not here to maintain the status quo. We’re building a smarter, faster, more resilient platform and the way we operate has to keep up. If you’re looking for a role where your work genuinely moves the needle and where there’s real headroom to shape what comes next – you’ve just found it.
About us
We’re Checkatrade – the UK’s leading platform for finding a tradesperson. With more than 50,000 trades listed and over 6 million reviews, we help homeowners get jobs done right and help tradespeople grow their business.
We’re growing fast, with big plans to become the go-to brand for home improvements. If you care about great work, take pride in the details, and want to make an impact, you’ll fit right in.
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Head of Operations (Trade Lifecycle) (London) employer: Checkatrade
Contact Detail:
Checkatrade Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Operations (Trade Lifecycle) (London)
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the trade lifecycle and operational challenges specific to Checkatrade. Understanding the nuances of post-sale operations, especially in credit control and retention, will help you speak confidently about how you can drive improvements.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the industry, particularly those who have experience in operational leadership roles. Engaging with others who have faced similar challenges can provide insights and potentially valuable connections that may help you stand out.
✨Tip Number 3
Demonstrate your data fluency by preparing examples of how you've used SQL, Sheets, or Looker to drive performance in previous roles. Being able to discuss specific metrics and outcomes will showcase your ability to own the numbers effectively.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss your approach to building high-performing teams. Highlight your people-first leadership style and share examples of how you've fostered a culture of ownership and accountability in past positions.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Operations (Trade Lifecycle) (London)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in operational leadership, particularly in trade lifecycle or collections. Use specific examples that demonstrate your ability to drive transformation and manage teams effectively.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for the role and the company. Discuss how your skills align with the job requirements, especially your experience with data tools like SQL and your track record of improving operational processes.
Showcase Leadership Skills: Emphasise your people-first leadership style in your application. Provide examples of how you've built high-performing teams and fostered a culture of ownership and performance in previous roles.
Highlight Data Proficiency: Since the role requires data confidence, mention your experience with data analysis tools such as Sheets and Looker. Illustrate how you've used data to drive performance improvements in past positions.
How to prepare for a job interview at Checkatrade
✨Demonstrate Your Strategic Thinking
As a Head of Operations, you'll need to showcase your ability to think strategically. Prepare examples of how you've transformed operations in previous roles, focusing on the impact of your decisions on performance and efficiency.
✨Showcase Data Proficiency
Since the role requires fluency in SQL, Sheets, and Looker, be ready to discuss how you've used these tools to drive performance. Bring specific examples of reports or analyses you've created that led to significant operational improvements.
✨Highlight People-First Leadership
This position demands strong leadership skills. Be prepared to share your experiences in building and leading high-performing teams, especially in managing both UK and offshore teams. Discuss how you foster trust and clarity in complex situations.
✨Prepare for Complex Problem-Solving
Expect questions that assess your ability to navigate complexity and make quick decisions. Think of scenarios where you've successfully tackled challenging problems and how you approached them, demonstrating your grit and pace.
