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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead operations, optimise processes, and ensure compliance in a dynamic creative agency.
- Company: Join Ear to the Ground, a global leader in sport, gaming, and entertainment.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, private medical insurance, and personal development coaching.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced environment while working with top brands.
- Qualifications: 4+ years in agency operations, strong project management, and technical skills required.
- Other info: Be part of a vibrant culture that values growth and creativity.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
THE DETAILS:
- Department: Operations
- Reports to: Director of Operations
- Responsible for: No direct reports
- Hours: Full time, 12 month fixed-term contract, with potential to become permanent
- Location: Manchester, Northern Quarter. We operate a Hybrid working policy of ideally minimum 3 days in Manchester HQ per week.
THE ROLE:
We are looking for a highly organised and proactive Operations Manager to lead across core processes, policies, infrastructure and compliance in our agency. The role is designed for someone who takes pride in the smooth running of a creative business and enjoys the challenge of turning strategic goals into tangible results. You won’t just be overseeing processes; you will support in the design of them, rolling them out, and ensuring they stick. You will be a guardian of best practice processes within the agency, helping to constantly evolve our process to suit the ever changing needs of the business and championing these within. You will be a key figure in our Manchester office, a relentless problem solver who thrives in a fast paced environment.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Agency Project Execution & Change Rollout
- Implementation Lead: Own the end-to-end rollout of agency wide initiatives, new software or software optimisation initiatives. You will take strategic concepts from the Board and turn them into functional reality across the business, collaborating with other experts as required.
- Annual Agency-wide Compliance Training Track: Own annual improvements to, implementation of and training on agency compliance and policies e.g. Life of a Job, Supplier best practices, ESG, ISO 9001, GDPR, Cybersecurity and others as required. This will extend to reporting on training uptake on core tracks agency-wide.
- Cybersecurity, Data Mapping & IP Protection: Execute the agency’s cybersecurity, AI, data and IP protection strategy. You are responsible for the hands‑on realisation of data security protocols and the ongoing status of actions to protect our Intellectual Property.
- Annual Policy Audits: Conduct an annual review and update of key operational policies, ensuring completeness and traction across the agency.
- Technical Infrastructure & Partner Ownership
- IT Infrastructure: Directly manage our IT partners and infrastructure. You are the point of contact for ensuring all hardware and software are performant and secure.
- UAC Control: Hands‑on management of User Access Controls; you will be the in‑house gatekeeper for permissions and security across all agency platforms.
- Partner Management: Oversee and / or where relevant lead rigorous reviews of IT, Travel, Software solutions and more, switching and onboarding new providers to ensure maximum ROI, agency profit protection and service levels.
- Client Compliance
- Compliance Delivery: Act as the lead for Client Compliance, ensuring the agency meets the specific operational and security requirements of our global partners (e.g., Sony, NBA). And, ensuring agency-wide training on these matters.
- Resource Support
- Be fully trained and able to step in to provide resource admin cover to ensure no project stalls during peak periods or annual leave for our Senior Resource Manager.
- Office Management & Environment
- Facility Lead: Lead the operation of the Manchester HQ. You ensure the physical space is optimised for high-performance creative work, HSE standards and office refurb projects are executed to time and budget.
KEY REQUIREMENTS:
Our ideal successful candidate will have:
- 4+ years’ experience in a high-pressure agency operations role with a demonstrated track record of execution.
- Exceptional Project Management: A proven PM who has personally led the rollout of software or change initiatives.
- Technical Literacy: Hands‑on experience with IT infrastructure, Cybersecurity.
- Operational Agility: The ability to move from highly detailed and high stakes compliance to agency engagement initiatives with ease.
- Commercial Sharpness: Proven experience in negotiating with suppliers and managing budgets to maximize agency profitability.
- Passion for ‘How’: You love the mechanics of how an agency runs and take pride in a perfectly executed process.
- Culture Fit: A passion for sport, gaming, and entertainment is essential.
THE AGENCY
Ear to the Ground is a global sport, gaming, and entertainment creative agency with a unique model that sets us apart. We are driven by Fan Intelligence®, our global network of 12,000 influential tastemakers and fans. Our real time insight into what fans truly want, enables us to create compelling work that consistently pushes the boundaries of culture. We pride ourselves on being the agency that listens better than anyone to solve our clients' challenges, maximise their sport, gaming and entertainment partnerships, and ultimately build brands that lead culture. We’ve helped clients including Nike, PlayStation, JD, NBA, Coca-Cola and 2K turn fans into consumers by delivering culturally relevant, fan‑first campaigns that inspire emotional connection and measurable business impact.
OUR CULTURE
We are dedicated to making Ear to the Ground an amazing place to work where people grow, develop and thrive. We pride ourselves on our dynamic and exciting culture, excellent support of staff and fantastic benefits package. We have made it our mission to lead the way in being an inspiring, future‑thinking, creative agency and are invested in our people because they are the ones that will make that happen.
Some of our benefits include:
- Flexible & hybrid working
- Birthday off
- Workplace nursery benefit
- Enhanced maternity, paternity and shared parental leave
- Private medical insurance and health cash plan
- Enhanced sick leave
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Dog friendly office
- EV salary sacrifice scheme
- Personal development coaching + more
Operations Manager in Manchester employer: Ear to the Ground
Contact Detail:
Ear to the Ground Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Operations Manager in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, or even hit up LinkedIn. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that Operations Manager role.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, be ready to discuss specific projects you've managed. Highlight your experience in rolling out software or change initiatives – that's what they want to hear!
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! If you see a company you're keen on, don’t wait for them to post a job. Reach out directly and express your interest in working with them. You never know, they might have something perfect for you!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We love seeing applications come through directly. It shows you're genuinely interested in joining our team and helps us keep track of all the amazing talent out there.
We think you need these skills to ace Operations Manager in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Operations Manager role. Highlight your experience in project management and compliance, as these are key for us. Use specific examples that showcase your skills in leading initiatives and managing processes.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Share your passion for operations and how you can contribute to our agency's success. Mention your love for sports, gaming, or entertainment to show you fit our culture.
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills: In your application, don’t forget to highlight your problem-solving abilities. We’re looking for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, so share examples of how you've tackled challenges in previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of applications and ensures you get all the updates directly from us. Plus, it shows you're keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Ear to the Ground
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into the agency's operations and recent projects. Familiarise yourself with their compliance standards, especially around cybersecurity and data protection. This will show that you’re not just interested in the role but also invested in the agency’s mission.
✨Showcase Your Project Management Skills
Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've successfully led project rollouts or change initiatives in the past. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers, highlighting your ability to turn strategic goals into tangible results.
✨Demonstrate Your Problem-Solving Ability
Prepare to share instances where you've tackled challenges in a fast-paced environment. Think about how you’ve optimised processes or improved compliance training. This will illustrate your proactive approach and your knack for finding solutions under pressure.
✨Cultural Fit is Key
Since the agency values a passion for sport, gaming, and entertainment, be sure to express your enthusiasm for these areas. Share personal experiences or insights that connect your interests with the agency’s work, showing that you’ll fit right into their dynamic culture.