At a Glance
- Tasks: Own and manage operations in a dynamic marketing agency, ensuring everything runs smoothly.
- Company: A small, ambitious marketing agency with a flat structure and high standards.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, 36 days holiday, hybrid working, and flexible hours around your life.
- Other info: 14-month fixed-term contract with potential for permanent position.
- Why this job: Make a real impact while enjoying a genuine work-life balance in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in operations management and a proactive, detail-oriented mindset.
The predicted salary is between 38000 - 48000 £ per year.
You are the person who makes everything run.
Hand you something to own and it gets handled: on time, done properly, no chasing.
You see what needs doing before anyone asks, spot the thing about to slip, and sort it while it is still small.
If that is you, this is a role built around you.
You will own the parts of a small, ambitious marketing agency that keep it running and growing: people, finance, recruitment, platforms and the systems behind the day-to-day work.
You will report to the Director, carry real accountability, and be the reason nothing falls through the gaps.
Here is the part most roles like this cannot offer: this one can genuinely fit around your life.
It is three days a week, but we’re open to candidates who want to spread that over the week to balance work and personal commitments.
This could be three full days, or the same hours spread across four or five shorter ones to fit the school run, whatever works for you.
We will work together to build a pattern that works for both of us.
Is this the role for you?
You will have run operations, or a substantial part of them, in a small or mid-sized business before, and you will be able to point to what you built and what it changed.
You know how to hold a lot of moving parts without dropping any, and you take real pride in the detail.
A broken process bothers you until it is fixed properly.
You are organised by instinct and you follow through without being chased.
If you commit to Friday, it happens by Friday.
You close loops, you flag problems early, and you stay calm with a full plate.
We have a flat structure and we get things done without fuss.
Priorities can shift as we grow, and we are honest about that, but this is a high-standards place, not a long-hours one.
We care a great deal about what gets produced and then we go home.
You will keep standards steady while things change around you, and sort out the parts of the business that need it.
- What you will own
- People operations: Onboarding new team members, our pulse survey, performance review admin, HR policies kept current, and the relationship with our external HR partner.
The things that make people feel looked after and supported in a business.
- Finance hygiene: Weekly payment runs, card approvals, invoice confirmation and finance admin, working closely with our external Finance & Account partner.
- IT operations & platforms: tool access and IT issues resolved quickly with support from our external IT provider and the office running smoothly in an environment that feels welcoming to work from.
- Leadership team support: eeping our internal agency scorecard current for the non-client functions, joining our weekly leadership meeting, drafting internal updates, contracts & agreements.
- Recruitment process: You will be the owner of our recruitment process: briefing our recruiters on roles the team needs, keeping candidates communicated with promptly, handling offers and contracts, and getting the right people to final interview.
- This probably is not the role for you if
- You need a fully built, stable environment before you can perform. Some of our processes are strong and some are still being built, and improving them is the job.
- You are at your best selling the idea and less interested in the follow-through.
This role is judged on what actually gets done and whether it holds up, not on how good the plan sounded.
- You want a pure admin role where the work is handed to you. This role owns and decides, it does not just support.
- You like the comfort of hierarchy, layers of sign-off and someone else to carry the detail. Here, the detail is yours.
What is in it for you?
We are building an agency we all want to work in, and this role is central to that. You will get:
- A great salary, paid pro-rata for three days a week, equivalent to £38,000 to £48,000 full time.
- A genuine three-day week that stays a three-day week, not five days squeezed into three, with hours built around your life.
- 36 days holiday, pro-rata, plus our annual company break.
- Hybrid working. The one fixed point is Wednesdays in our Bristol office, so you are there when the team is. The rest of your hours flex around you.
- Real ownership and real influence, working directly with the founder and the leadership team.
- The details
- 14-month fixed-term contract, with potential to convert to permanent.
- Three days per week, Wednesdays in the Bristol office.
- Reports to the Director.
- Start: ASAP. ideally late August or early September 2026, with full handover from current Chief of Staff.
- Applicants must be UK based. We are unable to sponsor work visas.
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
Operations Manager - Part Time - 31st July Close employer: Create Engage
Join a dynamic and ambitious marketing agency that values your contributions and offers a flexible work-life balance. With a supportive flat structure, you will have the opportunity to take real ownership of operations while enjoying a generous salary, 36 days of holiday, and hybrid working arrangements centred around your life. This role not only allows you to make a significant impact but also fosters personal and professional growth in a high-standards environment where we prioritise quality over quantity.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Operations Manager - Part Time - 31st July Close
✨Tap into Leadership Networks
Join industry-specific groups on platforms like LinkedIn or attend local management meetups. Networking with fellow leaders can open doors to part-time roles and help you get a feel for the corporate culture at companies like Create Engage.
✨Leverage Your Existing Connections
Don’t hesitate to ask your professional contacts if they know of any part-time leadership positions. Sometimes it's all about who you know, and your connections might have the inside scoop on opportunities that aren't publicly advertised.
✨Spotlight Your Leadership Skills
When you show up to interviews or networking events, make sure to highlight your leadership experience and successes. Tailor your discussion points to how you can bring value to Create Engage in a part-time capacity, focusing on your ability to drive team performance.
✨Consider Consulting for Flexibility
If you're keen on part-time leadership roles, think about contracting or consulting. It can provide you with a broader range of experiences and allows you to build a diverse portfolio of projects, showcasing your leadership across different challenges.
We think you need these skills to ace Operations Manager - Part Time - 31st July Close
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Leadership Style:Incorporate examples from your experiences that highlight your leadership style and effectiveness. We want to see how you've managed teams or contributed to strategic initiatives, even if it was in a part-time capacity. Make sure to reflect on your decision-making process and any measurable outcomes you've achieved.
Cater to the Corporate Environment:Tailor your CV to highlight skills that are crucial for corporate leadership, like strategic thinking, problem-solving, and people management. Don’t forget to mention relevant coursework or certifications that align with the part-time role. It's all about showing how you can bring value to Create Engage through your academic and professional background.
Make Your Part-Time Availability Clear:Since this is a part-time role, be upfront about your availability in your cover letter. Let us know how many hours you can dedicate each week and how your schedule fits with the needs of Create Engage. This helps us understand how you can seamlessly integrate into our team while balancing your commitments.
Engage with Our Vision:In your cover letter, express your enthusiasm for Create Engage’s mission and how your values align with our corporate culture. We want to see your passion for leadership and management in action, so don't hold back on conveying what draws you to this specific part-time opportunity!
How to prepare for a job interview at Create Engage
✨Show Off Your Strategic Thinking
In corporate leadership, they’re looking for someone who can think strategically and make tough decisions. Be ready to discuss past leadership experiences where you had to analyse complex situations and come up with solutions. Think of using the STAR method to structure your answers—it's a game changer for giving clear examples!
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
Expect plenty of behavioural questions during your interview with Create Engage. They might ask how you've handled team conflicts or how you’ve inspired others. Brush up on key leadership theories or practices you've applied before, so you can demonstrate your fit for a part-time role without sacrificing experience.
✨Know Your Numbers
Even in part-time corporate roles, you might be asked to discuss key performance indicators or metrics relevant to the position. Brush up on how you’ve used data to drive decisions or track project success. It's a good way to show you understand the business side of leadership and can contribute meaningfully from day one!
✨Demonstrate Flexibility and Commitment
In a part-time role, the ability to adapt to changing priorities is key. Be prepared to talk about how you manage your time and remain committed to your responsibilities. Share a few anecdotes showcasing your dedication and how you maintain high performance even with part-time hours. It's all about showing you can make a difference without being full-time!
