At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead operations in a fast-paced environment, ensuring projects stay on track and teams are aligned.
- Company: A growing medical equipment manufacturer with a focus on innovation and development.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, benefits package, and opportunities for career growth.
- Other info: This role offers genuine long-term potential and close collaboration with senior leadership.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team and shape the future of product development in a key leadership role.
- Qualifications: Experience in operations, project leadership, or startup environments is preferred.
The predicted salary is between 72500 - 72500 € per year.
Have you helped scale a startup or growing SME, bringing structure and operational clarity as the business evolved? Do you thrive in fast-paced environments where priorities shift quickly, projects move at speed, and leadership relies on you to keep everything aligned and on track?
A growing medical equipment manufacturer is looking for an Operations Lead to work directly with the R&D Director, helping bring structure, visibility, and operational clarity to a scaling product development function. This newly created position is ideal for someone who thrives on creating structure, improving delivery, keeping teams aligned, and ensuring momentum is maintained as priorities shift and the business continues to grow.
You’ll operate as a key partner to the R&D Director, supporting the day-to-day running of the function and helping ensure projects, actions, and operational priorities stay on track.
The Role
This is a hands-on operational leadership role within a fast-paced engineering and product development environment. You’ll help create visibility across projects, improve coordination, drive accountability, and ensure important work doesn’t get lost in a busy and constantly evolving landscape. The role requires someone highly organised, proactive, commercially aware, and comfortable operating in an environment where priorities can change quickly.
Responsibilities
- Establish and manage the operating rhythm across the R&D function
- Run weekly and monthly planning, delivery, and coordination meetings
- Improve visibility across projects, priorities, risks, and delivery timelines
- Track actions, commitments, and key deliverables across the team
- Support leadership with planning, coordination, and operational execution
- Identify bottlenecks, risks, or gaps early and help drive resolution
- Help improve processes, communication, and operational structure as the team grows
- Support onboarding, team coordination, and cross-functional alignment
- Ensure follow-through on critical activities within a high-volume environment
- Translate discussions and ideas into clear actions and next steps
Background & Experience
- Manufacturing, Programme or Project leadership
- Business operations
- Startup or scale-up environments
- Engineering or manufacturing businesses
- Consulting or transformation roles
Exposure to technical, engineering, manufacturing, hardware, or regulated environments would be beneficial but not essential.
The Successful Person
- Highly organised and operationally strong
- Comfortable managing multiple moving priorities
- Calm and reliable under pressure
- Strong communicator with good stakeholder management skills
- Proactive and solutions-focused
- Able to bring structure into evolving environments
- Commercially aware with strong judgement
- Comfortable working closely with senior leadership
- Confident driving accountability and follow-through
Why Apply?
This is a rare opportunity to join a growing product development and engineering business in a newly created position with genuine long-term potential. You’ll work closely with senior leadership, play a key role in shaping how the R&D function operates, and have the opportunity to grow into a broader operational or strategic leadership role over time.
Operations Lead in Cambridge employer: Coates Recruitment
Join a dynamic and innovative medical equipment manufacturer in Cambridge, where you will play a pivotal role as an Operations Lead in a fast-paced environment. The company fosters a collaborative work culture that values structure and operational clarity, offering excellent benefits and opportunities for professional growth. With a focus on employee development and a commitment to maintaining momentum in a rapidly evolving landscape, this is an ideal place for those looking to make a meaningful impact while advancing their careers.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Operations Lead in Cambridge
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry on LinkedIn or at local events. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their products and challenges, especially in the medical equipment space. This will help you tailor your answers and show you're genuinely interested.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience aligns with the Operations Lead role. Highlight your skills in managing priorities and driving accountability, as these are key for the position.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step to connect with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Operations Lead in Cambridge
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the Operations Lead role. Highlight your experience in scaling startups or SMEs, and showcase how you've brought structure and clarity to operations in fast-paced environments.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us about your passion for operational leadership and how your skills align with our needs. Be specific about your achievements and how they relate to the responsibilities outlined in the job description.
Showcase Your Organisational Skills:Since this role requires someone highly organised, make sure to demonstrate your organisational prowess in your application. Use bullet points to clearly outline your past experiences and how you managed multiple priorities effectively.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Coates Recruitment
✨Know Your Operations Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you understand the key responsibilities of the Operations Lead role. Familiarise yourself with operational structures, project management techniques, and how to improve visibility across projects. This will help you speak confidently about your experience and how it aligns with the company's needs.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Be prepared to discuss specific examples where you've identified bottlenecks or risks in previous roles. Highlight how you proactively resolved these issues and improved processes. This will demonstrate your ability to thrive in fast-paced environments and keep everything aligned.
✨Communicate Clearly and Effectively
Strong communication is key for this role. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly, especially when discussing complex ideas. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses, ensuring you convey your points effectively and keep the interviewer engaged.
✨Demonstrate Your Leadership Style
Since you'll be working closely with senior leadership, it's important to convey your leadership style. Share examples of how you've supported teams in the past, maintained momentum during changes, and driven accountability. This will show that you're not just a doer but also a leader who can inspire and guide others.
