Head of Operations

Head of Operations

Full-Time 72000 - 168000 Β£ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead operations and drive commercial growth in a dynamic education company.
  • Company: Candela Education is revolutionising private education with premium support for families and students worldwide.
  • Benefits: Enjoy geographic flexibility, travel opportunities, and a performance-based compensation model.
  • Why this job: Join a fast-paced environment where you can make a real impact and grow alongside the business.
  • Qualifications: Fluent English, strong academic background, and experience in commercial operations are essential.
  • Other info: This role offers significant autonomy and direct access to company founders.

The predicted salary is between 72000 - 168000 Β£ per year.

This range is provided by Candela Education. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience β€” talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

About the role: Candela is building a new standard in private education – delivering premium support to families and students across the globe. As Head of Operations, you\’ll own end-to-end commercial growth, manage global service delivery, and build the operating system that allows us to scale. This is a high-autonomy, high-accountability role with significant responsibility but tremendous upside.
This is a key leadership position with significant responsibility, rapid exposure, and direct access to the founders. It\’s an opportunity to grow with the business, share in the upside, and leave your mark on a fast-moving company.
Key Responsibilities:

  • Partner Acquisition & Account Management
  • Own the full commercial pipeline: lead generation β†’ pitch β†’ close β†’ onboard
  • Negotiate partnership agreements and activate partner channels
  • Manage all partnerships (with white-glove service); upsell and expand accounts
  • Lead discovery & scoping calls with prospective clients
  • Operational Excellence & Automation
    • Build and optimise workflows, iterate SOPs
    • Deploy CRM, BI, and AI tooling to automate operations and measure KPIs
    • Run weekly operations reviews and deliver margin, utilisation, and service metrics
    • Own all invoicing and financial reconciliation
  • Tutor / Mentor / Advisor Management
    • Lead end-to-end recruitment, onboarding and performance tracking of tutors
    • Coordinate capacity planning in collaboration with Education Manager
  • Client Escalation & Quality
    • Lead dispute resolution and ensure rapid service recovery
    • Analyse root causes, extract insights, and feed into process improvements

    Requirements
    Required Skills & Experience:
    Non-negotiables:

    • Fluent, polished English. Native-level speaking and writing; proven rapport-builder with C-suite, partners and clients.
    • Academic Excellence. Candidates must hold a good degree from a leading UK or US university, with preference given to those from top-ranked institutions
    • Executional ownership. You must be able to take full ownership of commercial and operational delivery from Day 1 (We will provide full training and onboarding on the education side)
    • Experience in commercial operations / consultative B2B sales
    • Proven track record of owning and closing 6-figure commercial deals
    • Mastery of workflow design, SOP implementation and SaaS tooling (HubSpot, Notion, BI tools)
    • Financial & commercial fluency: margin management, pricing strategy, P&L, and budget control

    Ideal Candidate Profile:

    • Ownership Mindset: You thrive in high-growth environments and take full ownership of your domain. You want to build something.
    • Commercial Operator: You are revenue-driven, data-literate, and naturally persuasive. You win and grow commercial partnerships with rigour
    • Structured & Strategic: You bring structure to ambiguity – designing processes, dashboards, and systems that scale global operations efficiently
    • Globally Adaptable: You\’re comfortable working across time zones and cultures, and naturally adapt to different stakeholders
    • Calm & Reliable: You manage complexity with composure, follow through without fail, and value clarity, consistency and excellence

    Benefits
    Why Candela

    • Lead a core function at an ambitious, global education company
    • Geographic flexibility and travel opportunities
    • Build on a strong foundation and shape our commercial engine
    • Operate with real autonomy, velocity and ownership
    • Share in the company\’s success. You\’ll be compensated in proportion to the results you deliver – not just your time. This role suits someone who wants meaningful performance upside and direct accountability

    Compensation
    Competitive base salary supplemented by a substantial performance bonus.
    The compensation model is weighted heavily toward results – ideal for candidates confident in delivering strong outcomes and client satisfaction.
    Total earnings up to Β£120,000+, based on delivery and results.

    Seniority level

    • Seniority level

      Mid-Senior level

    Employment type

    • Employment type

      Full-time

    Job function

    • Job function

      Management

    • Industries

      IT Services and IT Consulting

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    Head of Operations employer: Candela Education

    Candela Education is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to lead operations in a fast-paced, global education company. With a strong focus on autonomy and accountability, employees can shape the commercial engine while enjoying geographic flexibility and substantial performance-based compensation. The work culture fosters growth and innovation, making it an ideal environment for those looking to make a meaningful impact in the education sector.
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    Contact Detail:

    Candela Education Recruiting Team

    StudySmarter Expert Advice 🀫

    We think this is how you could land Head of Operations

    ✨Tip Number 1

    Network with professionals in the education and operations sectors. Attend industry events or webinars where you can meet potential colleagues or mentors who can provide insights into the role and company culture at Candela.

    ✨Tip Number 2

    Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in commercial operations and SaaS tools. Being knowledgeable about platforms like HubSpot and Notion will not only help you in interviews but also demonstrate your commitment to operational excellence.

    ✨Tip Number 3

    Prepare to discuss your previous experiences in managing partnerships and closing significant deals. Use specific examples that highlight your executional ownership and ability to drive results, as these are crucial for the Head of Operations role.

    ✨Tip Number 4

    Showcase your adaptability by discussing experiences where you've successfully navigated different cultures or time zones. This will resonate well with Candela's global approach and their need for a candidate who can thrive in diverse environments.

    We think you need these skills to ace Head of Operations

    Fluent English communication
    Commercial operations expertise
    B2B sales experience
    Negotiation skills
    Partnership management
    Workflow design and optimisation
    SOP implementation
    Proficiency in SaaS tools (e.g., HubSpot, Notion)
    Financial acumen (P&L, budget control)
    Data literacy
    Performance tracking and analysis
    Client relationship management
    Dispute resolution
    Capacity planning
    Adaptability to global environments
    Leadership and mentoring skills

    Some tips for your application 🫑

    Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in commercial operations and consultative B2B sales. Emphasise any previous roles where you took ownership of projects or led teams, as this aligns with the responsibilities of the Head of Operations.

    Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, demonstrate your understanding of Candela Education's mission and how your skills can contribute to their goals. Use specific examples from your past experiences that showcase your ability to manage partnerships and drive operational excellence.

    Showcase Your Academic Background: Since academic excellence is a requirement, ensure you mention your degree and any relevant achievements from your time at university. If you graduated from a top-ranked institution, highlight this to strengthen your application.

    Highlight Financial Acumen: Given the importance of financial fluency in this role, include any experience you have with margin management, pricing strategy, or budget control. This will demonstrate your capability to handle the financial aspects of the position effectively.

    How to prepare for a job interview at Candela Education

    ✨Showcase Your Ownership Mindset

    As the Head of Operations, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to take full ownership of projects. Prepare examples from your past experiences where you successfully led initiatives, showcasing your proactive approach and results-driven mindset.

    ✨Highlight Your Commercial Acumen

    This role requires a strong understanding of commercial operations. Be ready to discuss your experience in closing significant deals and managing partnerships. Use specific metrics to illustrate your success in driving revenue and optimising workflows.

    ✨Demonstrate Strategic Thinking

    Candela is looking for someone who can bring structure to ambiguity. Prepare to discuss how you've designed processes or systems that improved operational efficiency. Think about examples where your strategic insights led to measurable improvements.

    ✨Prepare for Cultural Adaptability

    Given the global nature of the role, it's essential to show your adaptability across different cultures and time zones. Share experiences where you've successfully navigated diverse environments or worked with international teams, highlighting your communication skills.

    Head of Operations
    Candela Education
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