At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead engineering operations, driving strategy and optimising workflows for a high-growth SaaS company.
- Company: Join a dynamic SaaS organisation with a strong culture of innovation and collaboration.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible work, comprehensive health benefits, generous time off, and global service days.
- Other info: Hybrid work model with opportunities for career growth and exposure to executive decision-making.
- Why this job: Be the strategic partner to the CTO and shape the future of engineering operations.
- Qualifications: 8-10 years in engineering operations or related fields, with strong analytical and leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
We are seeking a strategic operator to serve as the force multiplier for our CTO and Engineering Leadership Team. Our 800-person SaaS organization has reached a pivotal scale, product‑market fit is strong, velocity is high, and our next stage of growth depends on maturing our internal engine. This role sits at the intersection of strategy, data, delivery, and culture, ensuring that Engineering operates with clarity, efficiency, and alignment.
The Director of Engineering Operations will architect the operational rhythm of the Engineering organization, elevate decision quality through data, drive cross‑functional initiatives, and build the systems that enable predictable, high‑quality delivery at scale. This is a highly visible, career‑accelerating role for a leader who thrives at the point where people, process, and technology meet.
Key Responsibilities- Architect and own the Engineering operating cadence, including QBRs, Monthly Business Reviews, strategic planning sessions, and org‑wide communications.
- Drive fiscal and resource governance, partnering with Finance and HR on budgeting, headcount planning, workforce strategy, and cloud cost optimization (FinOps).
- Act as the communication conduit for the CTO—drafting strategic memos, board‑facing narratives, and alignment messages for 400+ engineers.
- Define Engineering “success” metrics, moving beyond vanity KPIs to track velocity, quality, efficiency, and people health (e.g. capital allocation, retention, eNPS).
- Own the Engineering Performance Dashboard, synthesizing complex data sets into clear, actionable insights for senior leadership.
- Lead data‑driven interventions, proactively identifying bottlenecks, risks, or delivery challenges and recommending solutions.
- Maintain a portfolio‑level view of all major engineering initiatives, serving as the CTO’s early warning system for slippage, dependency risks, and scope creep.
- Standardize delivery frameworks—create lightweight yet high‑compliance definitions of "Ready" and "Done" to drive consistent execution across teams.
- Oversee major cross‑functional programs, ensuring alignment on scope, priorities, and timelines.
- Optimize engineering tooling, workflows, and automation, driving adoption of systems (Jira, Confluence, GitHub, CI/CD) that increase velocity and output quality.
- Partner with Engineering and Product to evaluate and implement AI‑driven tools and practices that improve productivity, automation, and decision‑making.
- Establish training, communication, and safe‑use guidelines for responsible and effective AI integration.
- Serve as the cross‑functional glue between Engineering, Product, Design, QA, Customer Success, and other partners.
- Lead complex, horizontal initiatives such as GRC framework implementations, cloud migrations, or GenAI adoption programs.
- Act as a change agent, driving organizational adoption of new processes, structures, and operating models.
- Manage operational budgets, vendor relationships, and resource planning.
- Partner with Finance, Talent Acquisition, and HR on hiring priorities, onboarding, and retention efforts.
- Prepare operational dashboards and reporting for executive leadership and the Board.
- Mentor and develop Engineering Operations and Program Management staff.
- Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, operational rigor, and data‑driven decision making.
- Strengthen clarity, communication, and alignment across the Engineering org.
- Demonstrate diplomatic authority, the ability to influence without formal power, hold senior leaders (including VPs of Engineering) accountable to commitments, and preserve strong, trust‑based relationship.
- 8–10+ years in Engineering Operations, Technical Program Management, Strategy/Business Operations, or Software Engineering leadership within a high‑growth SaaS environment.
- Strong understanding of SDLC, agile methodologies, CI/CD, DevOps, and microservices architecture.
- Advanced analytical skills with expertise in Excel, Looker, Tableau, or similar tools—able to convert data into executive‑ready narratives.
- Demonstrated experience driving AI‑related innovation across engineering teams, including evaluating AI opportunities, implementing tools, and influencing change at scale.
- Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills; ability to influence without authority and build trust across all levels.
- Demonstrated success improving engineering processes, delivery predictability, and cross‑functional alignment at scale.
- Experience defining operational frameworks, delivery standards, and KPI systems within a Global Organization.
- Preferred: experience with OKR frameworks, people leadership, or certifications (PMP, Agile, Lean).
This is a rare opportunity to operate at the right hand of the CTO and influence how a large‑scale technology organization is steered. You'll gain exposure to executive decision‑making, board‑level communication, and enterprise‑wide strategic architecture.
Benefits- Creativity is ingrained in our culture. We are innovative collaborators by nature. We thrive in exploring how things can be differently both in our internal processes and to help our clients.
- We care about our people. Diligent offers a flexible work environment, global days of service, comprehensive health benefits, meeting free days, generous time off policy and wellness programs to name a few.
- We have teams all over the world. We may be headquartered in New York City, but we have office hubs in Washington D.C., Vancouver, London, Galway, Budapest, Munich, Bengaluru, Singapore, and Sydney.
- Diversity is important to us. Growing, maintaining and promoting a diverse team is a top priority for us. We foster and encourage diversity through our Employee Resource Groups and provide access to resources and education to support the education of our team, facilitate dialogue, and foster understanding.
To foster strong collaboration and connection, this role will follow a hybrid work model. If you are within a commuting distance to one of our Diligent office locations, you will be expected to work onsite at least 50% of the time. We believe that in‑person engagement helps drive innovation, teamwork, and a strong sense of community.
We are a drug free workplace. Diligent is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religious creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, pregnancy, childbirth, physical disability, mental disability, age, military status, protected veteran status, marital status, registered domestic partner or civil union status, gender (including sex stereotyping and gender identity or expression), medical condition (including, but not limited to, cancer related or HIV/AIDS related), genetic information, or sexual orientation in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.
Director Engineering Operations (Chief of Staff) in London employer: Diligent Corporation
Diligent is an exceptional employer that fosters a culture of creativity and collaboration, making it an ideal place for the Director of Engineering Operations to thrive. With a flexible work environment, comprehensive health benefits, and a commitment to diversity, employees are empowered to grow and innovate while enjoying generous time off and wellness programs. This role offers unique exposure to executive decision-making and the opportunity to influence a large-scale technology organisation, all within a supportive and dynamic global team.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director Engineering Operations (Chief of Staff) in London
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We think you need these skills to ace Director Engineering Operations (Chief of Staff) in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Us Your Leadership Skills:In the corporate leadership and management field, it's essential to highlight your leadership experience. Use your CV to flesh out examples of how you've led teams to success or managed significant projects. We want to see specific instances where your actions made a tangible difference in your previous roles!
Quantify Your Achievements:Numbers talk, especially in management! When detailing your achievements in your CV or cover letter, don’t just say you improved team performance. Instead, say you boosted productivity by 30% over six months through effective strategy implementation. This makes your application pop and shows us what you can bring to Diligent Corporation.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to narrate your professional journey. We’re looking for motivation and a clear understanding of what corporate leadership means to you. Dive into your aspirations and how they align with the values and vision of Diligent Corporation. Make it personal – we want to get to know you!
Tailor Your CV for Management Roles:Ensure your CV reflects the management skills that are essential for this role. Focus on competencies like strategic planning, team building, and problem-solving. Use a clean layout, and don’t forget to align your experiences with those keywords mentioned in the job listing. This will help you stand out from the crowd!
How to prepare for a job interview at Diligent Corporation
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
You’ll want to thoroughly convey your unique approach to leadership. During the interview with Diligent Corporation, be ready to share real-life examples of how you've inspired and motivated teams in the past. Think about specific achievements that illustrate your strategic thinking and your ability to drive results.
✨Brush Up on Management Theories
Expect some technical questions related to management theories and practices. Brush up on concepts like transformational leadership, servant leadership, or situational leadership. Be prepared to discuss how you would apply these theories to the role at Diligent Corporation, especially in the specific context of the challenges they’re currently facing.
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Since this is a full-time leadership role, spending time thinking about your vision for Diligent Corporation could really set you apart. Consider potential strategies for growth and how you would lead teams towards achieving them. This shows not just enthusiasm, but also strategic foresight that they’ll likely be looking for in a candidate.
✨Emphasise Team Dynamics and Culture
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