Business Operations Specialist

Hike is representing a client building technology that helps people have natural conversations across languages. They’re a small, well funded team tackling a difficult problem: making live translation work in everyday conversations. This is an opportunity to join early and help build the business behind the technology.

The Role

You’ll work alongside the Chief of Staff as a business generalist, starting with the operations that keep a growing company running: systems, suppliers, the office, onboarding and the processes that haven’t been written down yet. As the company grows, you’ll have the opportunity to take full ownership of operations, with the team and tools to support it. There is room for the role to develop around your strengths and the contribution you make.

Examples of what you’ll do:

• Operations: Manage the office, equipment, suppliers, insurance, tools and subscriptions, alongside onboarding and offboarding. Spot recurring work and build a reliable system around it.
• Processes and registers: Keep contracts, obligations, decisions and policies documented and current, so someone else can confidently pick up a process. Coordinate with external accountants and lawyers, drawing on their expertise.
• Projects: Take responsibility for defined projects from the initial brief through to completion. That could mean establishing a process for a new entity, reviewing benefits or setting up how a new team plans and reviews its work.
• Decision support: Gather the relevant numbers, explain the options in a concise brief and give the Founder and Chief of Staff a considered recommendation.

What we’re looking for:

• Sharp thinking: You can understand an unfamiliar problem quickly, identify what matters and explain it simply. Your reasoning carries more weight than your credentials.
• A builder’s mindset: You’ve created or improved a system, function or product. You notice when something could work better and take responsibility for making it happen.
• Precision: You catch the missing receipt, incorrect date or undocumented step, and follow through so the same problem doesn’t keep returning.
• Low ego: You care about helping the company succeed. You can challenge an idea thoughtfully, explain your reasoning and change your mind when the evidence supports it.
• Structure and ownership: You bring four to six years of experience managing processes from start to finish in consulting, startup operations or a similarly demanding environment. You leave things easier for the next person to understand and run.
• An existing right to work in the UK: This is required when joining. The company is open to visa sponsorship following a successful probation.

What you’ll get:

• Equity: A meaningful stake as an early employee.
• Holidays: 25 days’ annual leave, plus UK bank holidays.
• Benefits: Workplace pension, private medical insurance, and unlimited office snacks and drinks. You’ll also have the opportunity to contribute ideas as the benefits package develops.
• Growth: Responsibility for how the business operates, with scope to grow alongside the company.

Hiring Process

The process typically takes two to four weeks:

• A 30 minute introductory call with the Chief of Staff.
• A 60 minute conversation with the Founder and CEO.
• A short thinking exercise to complete at home.
• A 60 minute working session in person.
• References.
• An offer.

Hike. We see the possibility in people.