Head of Business Transformation and Operational Excellence in Lancing

Company Description

As the UK's leading parking and technology-enabled management group, we support more than 9,000 locations across housing, healthcare, education and commercial estates. We're proud to be Carbon Neutral Britain certified and committed to creating positive outcomes for our clients, communities and colleagues alike. We're growing quickly, investing heavily in technology and expanding into new sectors, creating exciting opportunities for people who want to make an impact and be part of something ambitious. Why not join us?

Company Description

As the UK's leading parking and technology-enabled management group, we support more than 9,000 locations across housing, healthcare, education and commercial estates. We're proud to be Carbon Neutral Britain certified and committed to creating positive outcomes for our clients, communities and colleagues alike. We're growing quickly, investing heavily in technology and expanding into new sectors, creating exciting opportunities for people who want to make an impact and be part of something ambitious. Why not join us?

Position

The Head of Business Transformation (Operational Excellence) is a leader responsible for identifying, evidencing and shaping the Group's operational transformation opportunities. This role will establish where addressable value exists, why current performance differs from the required outcome and how people, process, data, controls and technology must change.

The postholder owns enterprise diagnostic reviews, end-to-end process assessment, operational baselining, root-cause analysis, future-state process design and the continuous-improvement opportunity pipeline. The role determines whether an opportunity is primarily process-led, technology-led or mixed before it moves into product, technology or programme delivery.

Working in priorities areas agreed with the Chief Transformation Officer, the role will focus effort on opportunities connected to Agena's Value Creation Plan commitments, avoidable growth cost, service performance, operating risk and scalable growth. It will provide a robust operational fact base that prevents the organisation automating poorly understood or broken processes.

As well as building an operational excellence capability, the successful candidate will operate as a player-manager, personally leading complex diagnostic and process-design work while coaching business leaders and teams to use evidence, structured problem-solving and continuous improvement in day-to-day management.

Responsibilities And Duties

Operational Excellence & Transformation

• Lead the operational excellence and transformation agenda, aligning improvement activity to strategic priorities and business objectives.
• Identify and prioritise high-value opportunities that improve performance, reduce costs, mitigate risk and enhance scalability.
• Ensure transformation initiatives are supported by clear business cases, measurable outcomes and robust operational evidence.
• Oversee the development of future-state processes and ensure solutions deliver sustainable business value.

Continuous Improvement

• Build and maintain a transparent pipeline of continuous improvement and transformation opportunities.
• Embed structured problem-solving methodologies, standards and tools across the organisation.
• Coach and support leaders and teams to identify, implement and sustain improvements within day-to-day operations.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, accountability and operational excellence.

Leadership & Capability Development

• Lead, develop and inspire a high-performing operational excellence and transformation team.
• Establish best-practice standards for process design, analysis, value measurement and opportunity assessment.
• Transfer knowledge and capability into operational teams to enable long-term ownership and sustainable improvement.
• Promote a data-driven culture of curiosity, collaboration and constructive challenge.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Partner with senior leaders to identify performance improvement opportunities and drive strategic change.
• Present clear, evidence-based recommendations to executive stakeholders.
• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration to resolve complex operational challenges and drive business-wide improvements.
• Build commitment to change through effective stakeholder engagement and communication.

Who You Are

You are an experienced transformation and operational excellence leader who thrives on solving complex business challenges. You bring a strategic mindset, strong analytical capability and a practical, hands-on approach to delivering sustainable change. You have the credibility to influence senior stakeholders, the leadership skills to build high-performing teams and the passion to create lasting improvements that drive business performance.

Proven experience leading Operational Excellence, Continuous Improvement, Business Transformation or Performance Improvement functions.

• Strong track record of identifying operational inefficiencies and converting insights into measurable business outcomes.
• Experienced in process improvement, root-cause analysis, process mapping and structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Commercially astute, with the ability to link operational performance to profitability, growth, customer experience and risk management.
• Skilled at influencing and engaging stakeholders at all levels, from frontline teams to executive leadership.
• Comfortable operating as a hands-on leader, balancing strategic oversight with direct involvement in key initiatives.
• Strong analytical and data interpretation skills with experience measuring benefits, value realisation and performance outcomes.
• Passionate about developing people, building capability and embedding a culture of continuous improvement.
• Organised, pragmatic and able to manage multiple priorities while maintaining quality and momentum.

Full role details, required skills and competencies are available on the job description and person specification.

Agena Values

We believe that the way we do business is as important as the business that we do. Operating with integrity and high ethical standards is the Agena Group way. Our values reinforce our behaviours and what is important to us. Living these values is essential to our success.

Ambitious: we aim for world class service

Disruptive: we're here to change the industry

Ethical: we do things for the right reasons

Insightful: we use research to guide our decisions

Collaborative: We're better when we work together

Innovative: we help people see things differently

Other Information About The Role

Salary

£80,000 per annum

Hours

40 per week; Monday - Friday 9am - 5.30pm

Location

Lancing or Stafford with hybrid flexibility

• Our selection process is as follows: Application - Competency Based Interview - 2nd Interview with task
• You must be able to legally live and work in the UK without sponsorship
• The postholder may be required to travel to external meetings on occasion by the most effective means available
• This role is subject to the approval of our motor insurance provider, and continued employment is dependent on maintaining eligibility to drive under the company's insurance policy

Benefits

We know there's more to life than work - that's why when you join Agena, you'll get your pick of our amazing benefits through our Enjoy Benefits platform. That includes discounts on gym memberships, travel bookings, high street vouchers and days out. You can also benefit from Technology benefits, Wellness benefits, Health Care plans and Car Lease benefits and much more.

• Incremental holiday increases to recognise long service
• 2 volunteering days a year
• Unlock your potential with our training, learning & development, and apprenticeship options throughout your career
• Employee Assistance Programme 24/7 confidential, independent and professional counselling
• Cycle to work scheme
• EV Charging points at office locations
• Regular team/company socials
• Team events from breakfasts for charity, social drinks in your local office location to book clubs, environmental initiatives, and lunch and learns.

We are proud to be certified Carbon Neutral and hold ISO Accreditations for Quality Management, Environmental Management and Information Security Management.

We are a Mindful Employer and are committed to supporting your mental health at work.

The Agena Group are proud to be part of the Disability Confident scheme. We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neurodiverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment, if you need this job advert in an alternative format, or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact recruitment@agenagroup.com

(No agency speculative contact - thank you)

#J-18808-Ljbffr