At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead operations across multiple creative agencies, enhancing delivery and visibility.
- Company: Dynamic group of independent digital and creative agencies.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, and influence in shaping agency operations.
- Why this job: Make a real impact while enjoying variety and complexity in your role.
- Qualifications: Senior operations leadership experience in digital agencies or professional services.
- Other info: Opportunity to work closely with founders and senior leaders.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
A growing group of independent digital and creative agencies is hiring a Group Head of Operations to bring clarity, structure and operational maturity across multiple businesses, without forcing them into a single rigid operating model. This is a senior, group-level role for someone who understands how to operate across multiple agencies with different cultures, services and delivery styles, and who enjoys balancing standardisation with flexibility. You will work closely with founders and agency leaders to improve delivery, resourcing and operational visibility, while respecting that each agency runs in its own way.
Role: Group Head of Operations
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience
Location: London, hybrid working
What you will be doing:
- Providing group-level operational leadership across several independent digital agencies
- Working across different operating models, adapting your approach to each business rather than forcing uniformity
- Designing light-touch operational frameworks that improve delivery and visibility while allowing agency autonomy
- Improving delivery governance, resourcing, utilisation and capacity planning across the group
- Building clear operational KPIs and dashboards to give leadership visibility across all agencies
- Partnering closely with agency leaders to improve delivery quality, predictability and efficiency
- Supporting the operational onboarding of new agency acquisitions, assessing maturity and aligning where appropriate
- Identifying operational risks, bottlenecks and inefficiencies across different businesses
- Reducing friction and complexity as the group continues to scale
What you will need:
- Senior operations leadership experience across multiple agencies, brands or business units
- Strong background in digital agencies, professional services, consulting or technology services
- Proven ability to multitask across different businesses with different ways of working
- Experience integrating or supporting growth through acquisition is highly desirable
- Deep understanding of delivery operations, resourcing and utilisation
- Comfortable working alongside finance teams without owning finance directly
- Confident partnering with founders, CEOs and senior leadership teams
What's on offer:
- A senior group-level role with real influence across multiple businesses
- Opportunity to shape how a growing agency group operates without removing individual identities
- Hybrid working based in London
- Exposure to acquisition integration and long-term group scale
- A role suited to someone who enjoys complexity, variety and building structure where it adds value
If you are an operations leader who thrives in multi-agency environments, enjoys adapting to different cultures, and knows how to bring order without over-engineering, this is a standout opportunity.
Head of Operations in London employer: Digital Waffle
Contact Detail:
Digital Waffle Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Operations in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry and let them know you're on the hunt for a Group Head of Operations role. Personal recommendations can make all the difference, so don’t be shy about asking for introductions.
✨Tip Number 2
Tailor your approach! When you’re chatting with agency leaders or founders, make sure to highlight your experience in balancing standardisation with flexibility. Show them how you can adapt your operational strategies to fit their unique cultures and delivery styles.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! Don’t just wait for job openings to pop up. Reach out directly to agencies you admire and express your interest in potential opportunities. Sometimes, the best roles aren’t even advertised!
✨Tip Number 4
Utilise our website! We’ve got loads of resources and tips to help you nail that interview. Check out our guides on operational leadership and prepare to impress with your knowledge of delivery governance and capacity planning.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Operations in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Head of Operations role. Highlight your experience in managing operations across multiple agencies and how you've adapted to different cultures and working styles.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: We want to see your senior operations leadership experience shine through. Share specific examples of how you've improved delivery, resourcing, and operational visibility in previous roles.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward. Use clear language to explain your achievements and how they relate to the responsibilities outlined in the job description.
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensure you’re considered for this exciting opportunity.
How to prepare for a job interview at Digital Waffle
✨Understand the Agency Landscape
Before your interview, take some time to research the different agencies within the group. Understand their unique cultures, services, and delivery styles. This will help you demonstrate your ability to adapt your operational strategies to fit each agency's needs.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Experience
Be prepared to discuss specific examples from your past roles where you've successfully led operations across multiple teams or agencies. Highlight how you balanced standardisation with flexibility, as this is crucial for the role.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that ask how you would handle specific operational challenges or bottlenecks. Think about real-life scenarios you've faced and how you resolved them, focusing on your problem-solving skills and ability to improve delivery and efficiency.
✨Emphasise Collaboration Skills
Since you'll be partnering closely with agency leaders, it's important to convey your collaborative approach. Share examples of how you've worked with senior leadership teams in the past to enhance operational visibility and governance while respecting individual agency identities.