At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative service transformation projects for top UK organisations and inspire multidisciplinary teams.
- Company: Join EY Studio+, a leader in service innovation and operational transformation.
- Benefits: Receive coaching, develop new skills, and enjoy flexible working arrangements.
- Other info: Opportunity to grow your career in a supportive and dynamic environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping strategies and driving change in complex environments.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in large teams and successful delivery of service transformation projects.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
The Opportunity
As a Senior Manager in the Service & Operations Practice at EY Studio+ UK, you will play a pivotal leadership role in shaping, delivering, and scaling service innovation and operational transformation for some of the UK's most complex organisations. You will lead multidisciplinary teams, take ownership of large, high‑value programmes, influence senior client stakeholders, and act as a visible ambassador for EY Studio+ in the market. This is a role for someone who combines strategic clarity with hands‑on ability — someone who can inspire clients, challenge assumptions, and drive delivery from vision through to implementation.
Who You Are
You will exhibit all core traits required of Studio+ practitioners — curiosity, user centredness, visual and iterative ways of working, and comfort operating within complexity — but at a level where you influence others, set standards, and role‑model best practice. In addition, at Senior Manager level, you will:
- Operate confidently with Director, Partner, and C‑suite stakeholders and influence senior decision making.
- Bring a strong point of view on service strategy, operating model design, and organisational transformation.
- Be accountable for multiple teams, programmes, or portfolios, ensuring quality, client satisfaction, and commercial performance.
- Create clarity amid ambiguity, setting direction and shaping delivery approaches for large and complex engagements.
- Actively contribute to practice growth, proposition development, and market positioning.
Key Responsibilities (Senior Manager Level)
Client Leadership & Delivery
- Lead large, complex, multi‑workstream service design and transformation programmes, ensuring alignment with client strategy and EY quality standards.
- Act as the primary client relationship owner, shaping the agenda, defining outcomes, and building long‑term strategic partnerships.
- Challenge senior stakeholders constructively, using insight, data, and storytelling to reframe problems and shift thinking.
- Oversee delivery teams, ensuring progress, risk management, and stakeholder communication across multiple levels.
- Ensure work is implementable, scalable, and commercially viable — not theoretical.
Team Leadership & People Development
- Build, lead and inspire high‑performing multidisciplinary teams, providing coaching, direction, and stretch opportunities.
- Create a positive, inclusive team environment where diverse perspectives are valued and psychological safety is established.
- Act as a mentor and role model across the practice, supporting capability development and contributing to the career growth of others.
- Oversee resource planning across engagements and influence talent decisions within the practice.
Practice & Proposition Growth
- Shape and evolve EY Studio+’s service transformation propositions, methods, and thought leadership.
- Lead go‑to‑market efforts, support bid activity, and hold accountability for revenue targets and commercial outcomes.
- Build market presence by speaking at events, publishing thought leadership, and cultivating external networks.
- Identify emerging trends across sectors, technology, service innovation, and human‑centred design, and translate them into opportunity areas for clients and EY.
- Own commercial management of large programmes (£500k–£2m+), ensuring profitability, scope control, and client value.
- Contribute to forecasting, budgeting, and pipeline planning for the Service & Operations practice.
- Drive operational excellence by advancing consistent ways of working, quality standards, and delivery frameworks across the team.
Skills & Attributes for Success
- Exceptional communication and storytelling skills, able to craft and deliver compelling narratives to senior audiences.
- Strong influencing and negotiation skills, able to shape decisions and align diverse stakeholders.
- Ability to simplify complexity and design clear pathways from insight to action and implementation.
- Proven expertise in service design, operating model design, business analysis, customer insight, and transformation delivery.
- Highly developed judgement and decision‑making abilities, using data, experience, and intuition to make informed choices.
- Entrepreneurial mindset with a focus on growth, innovation, and long‑term impact for clients and the practice.
To Qualify for the Role, You Should Be Able To:
- Demonstrate a track record leading large teams (6–30+).
- Evidence successful delivery of service transformation projects in complex environments (e.g., utilities, government, FMCG).
- Present a strong portfolio of customer‑centred work, including operating models, data‑driven insights, and implementation plans.
- Show experience managing large budgets and contributing to practice revenue growth.
- Demonstrate experience winning work — proposal development, client pitching, and deal shaping.
- Articulate EY Studio+ capabilities clearly and confidently to market‑level clients and partners.
- Bring experience influencing and engaging C‑suite stakeholders.
- (Optional/maintained) Bring contact centre or operational excellence experience — ideal but not essential.
- Show appetite to learn more technical skills if not already present, and an appetite to learn about AI and its benefits to customers.
- Demonstrate the ability to jump in at the deep end; willingness to roll up your sleeves and get involved.
What Working at EY Offers
- Support, coaching and feedback from some of the most engaging colleagues around.
- Opportunities to develop new skills and accelerate your career.
- The freedom and flexibility to shape your role in ways that work for you.
Senior Manager, Service & Operations, UKI Studio+ employer: EY UK
At EY Studio+ UK, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a culture of innovation and collaboration. As a Senior Manager, you will benefit from unparalleled opportunities for professional growth, supported by a diverse and inclusive team environment that values your unique perspectives. With a focus on service transformation and operational excellence, you'll have the chance to lead impactful projects while enjoying the flexibility to shape your role in a dynamic and supportive workplace.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Manager, Service & Operations, UKI Studio+
✨Get Involved in Industry Events
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✨Engage in Professional Networks
Join professional management associations relevant to your career goals. These networks often host workshops, panels, and networking events that can put you in front of hiring managers. Plus, they can give you the scoop on upcoming roles, such as the full-time positions with companies like EY UK.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
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We think you need these skills to ace Senior Manager, Service & Operations, UKI Studio+
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 EY UK.
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 EY UK. 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 EY UK
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
You’ll want to thoroughly convey your unique approach to leadership. During the interview with EY UK, 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 EY UK, especially in the specific context of the challenges they’re currently facing.
✨Craft Your Vision for the Company
Since this is a full-time leadership role, spending time thinking about your vision for EY UK 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
In corporate leadership, team dynamics and organisational culture are everything. Be ready to discuss how you've fostered a positive work environment in previous roles. Bring up examples of how you've managed diverse teams effectively—this will resonate well at EY UK as they’re likely seeking a candidate who can enhance their workplace culture.
