At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead operations across 300 luxury sites, ensuring high-quality service and operational excellence.
- Company: Join a prestigious organisation committed to sustainable practices and exceptional client experiences.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, leadership development, and the chance to shape company culture.
- Why this job: Drive meaningful change in a dynamic environment while building high-performing teams.
- Qualifications: Senior leadership experience in facilities management or commercial cleaning is essential.
- Other info: Collaborate with diverse teams and enhance client relationships for impactful results.
The predicted salary is between 54000 - 84000 £ per year.
We are seeking an inspiring and forward‑thinking Head of Operations to lead nationwide service delivery across a prestigious portfolio of 300 sites. This is a pivotal role at the heart of our UK leadership team, driving operational excellence, commercial performance, and an exceptional client experience within luxury service environments. Beyond ensuring consistent, high‑quality delivery, you will champion sustainable operational change, embedding practices that align with our B Corp principles, responsible business, and long‑term impact. You will play a key role in shaping and elevating company culture, creating environments where people thrive, innovate, and feel deeply connected to the work they do.
With a passion for continuous improvement, you will bring strong change‑management expertise. You will build and develop high‑performing teams, introduce scalable best practice, and cultivate trusted relationships with clients and internal partners across the organisation. This is an exceptional opportunity for a leader who combines strategic thinking with hands‑on operational capability, and who is energised by the idea of driving meaningful, future‑focused change at scale.
Key Responsibilities- Operational Leadership
- Lead, standardise, and monitor daily operations across all UK sites
- Embed consistent cleaning and service protocols
- Drive collaboration across departments to deliver a premium, brand-aligned service
- People Leadership
- Develop competence within senior ops, area managers, and mobile teams
- Lead structured communication, coaching, and performance management
- Deliver succession planning and talent development programmes
- Client Management
- Maintain and enhance relationships with all clients
- Conduct performance reviews, site visits, and manage escalations
- Support Business Development with bids, tenders, and mobilisation
- Systems & Administration
- Oversee Timegate, CMS, billing, scheduling, and procurement processes
- Ensure administrative accuracy
- Performance & KPIs
- Track performance metrics including audits, efficiency, FTR, attendance, training
- Lead quarterly reviews and drive continuous improvement
- Financial Management
- Partner with Finance on P&L management and productivity improvement
- Manage labour budgets, overtime, and material cost control
- Compliance & Safety
- Ensure compliance with H&S, COSHH, RAMS, audits, and company standards
- Lead investigations and maintain robust risk management
- HR & Workforce
- Work with HR to strengthen recruitment, onboarding, and retention
- Enhance supervisor accountability and operational independence
- Organisational Structure
- Maintain balanced workloads and transparent regional structures
- Lead recruitment of key operational leadership roles
You will work closely with HR, Finance, Marketing, Business Development, Field Operations Teams, and external partners.
Essential Skills & Experience- Senior leadership experience (Head of Ops / Ops Director level) overseeing 100+ sites
- Background in facilities management or commercial cleaning (luxury sector advantageous)
- Strong financial and commercial acumen: labour forecasting, productivity, P&L
- Proficient in operational systems such as Timegate and CMS
- Robust compliance knowledge (IOSH/NEBOSH highly desirable)
- Excellent communication, leadership, and relationship-building skills
- Strong operational structure with reduced escalations
- Improved client satisfaction and compliance performance
- Increased team capability and supervisor independence
- Effective cost control and improved retention
- Consistent audit standards across all regions
If you are an operational leader with a passion for high standards and team excellence, we’d love to hear from you. Apply now to join a growing organisation delivering best-in-class service across the UK.
Head of Operations - UK in London employer: Distinct Group
Contact Detail:
Distinct Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Operations - UK 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 lookout for opportunities. A personal recommendation can go a long way in landing that dream role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company inside out. Understand their values, recent projects, and challenges they face. This will help you tailor your responses and show you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or mentors to refine your answers and boost your confidence. The more comfortable you are, the better you'll perform when it counts.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Operations - UK in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for operational excellence shine through. We want to see how your passion aligns with our commitment to high standards and client satisfaction.
Tailor Your Experience: Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in facilities management or commercial cleaning, especially in luxury environments. We’re looking for leaders who can demonstrate their ability to drive change and improve performance across multiple sites.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to describe your achievements and how they relate to the key responsibilities of the Head of Operations role. We appreciate clarity!
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 to join our team.
How to prepare for a job interview at Distinct Group
✨Know Your Operations Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into the company's operations and understand their service delivery model. Familiarise yourself with their portfolio of sites and think about how you can drive operational excellence across them.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Be ready to discuss your leadership approach and how you've developed high-performing teams in the past. Prepare examples that highlight your coaching, communication, and performance management skills, especially in a luxury service environment.
✨Demonstrate Financial Acumen
Brush up on your financial management skills, particularly around P&L management and productivity improvement. Be prepared to discuss how you've successfully managed budgets and driven cost control in previous roles.
✨Emphasise Compliance and Safety Knowledge
Since compliance is crucial in this role, make sure you can speak confidently about your knowledge of health and safety regulations. Highlight any relevant certifications like IOSH or NEBOSH and share experiences where you've ensured compliance and risk management.