Operations Director in Thame

Hi, we’re PEXA! We know you’ll Google us before applying, so let’s keep this brief. PEXA revolutionised the way that property is settled in Australia, turning a paper-based process into a digital one. Our solution is a world-first, with over 500 people across Australia and an expanding international team, we’re helping 20,000+ families into their homes each week. We’re passionate about solving problems for our customers – always striving to set the standard for how property is bought and sold. We believe our success in Australia is worth sharing and that our proven technology will advance how the UK buys and sells homes.

Establishing ourselves within the UK in late 2020, we are committed to collaborating with lawyers, conveyancers, lenders, government and the property industry, to set the new standard for both remortgages and buying and selling property. We’re looking for an Operations Director to help shape the next stage of our UK journey. Reporting to the CEO and sitting on our Executive Committee, you’ll lead the strategic direction, alignment and performance of operations across PEXA, Optima Legal and Amity Law. Our UK business is scaling, so the operating environment continues to evolve. Priorities can move quickly, teams work across traditional organisational boundaries and our leaders stay close to delivery. You’ll bring structure and clarity without creating unnecessary bureaucracy, while maintaining the discipline expected within a regulated financial-services environment.

This role calls for a brilliant people leader who is also commercially sharp. You’ll bring together senior teams with different areas of expertise, create a clear sense of direction and take people with you as our operating model develops.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Defining and delivering an operations strategy that supports our UK growth plans, regulatory responsibilities and product roadmap.
• Bringing greater alignment across PEXA, Optima Legal and Amity Law while recognising the different needs of each business.
• Leading and developing the senior operational leadership team, creating clear ownership, strong collaboration and shared accountability.
• Translating business strategy into practical operational priorities, plans and measures.
• Overseeing the operational delivery of requirements arising from Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) regulation, working with the relevant accountable leaders and specialists.
• Strengthening operational governance, controls, resilience and incident management.
• Sponsoring significant operational change and transformation, with clear oversight of delivery, adoption and benefits.
• Working closely with Product and Technology to improve workflows, capacity and operational tooling.
• Owning operational budgets and overseeing suppliers, costs, forecasts and performance.
• Using customer feedback, service data and operational insight to improve the experience for customers, clients and lenders.
• Providing the CEO, Executive Committee and UK Board with clear operational insight, recommendations and assurance.
• Building effective relationships with regulators, lenders, clients, suppliers and strategic partners.

What We're Looking For

You’ll be an experienced operations leader who understands how to build capable teams and develop an operating model while the organisation around it continues to grow. You’ll bring:

• Substantial operations leadership experience within financial services or another closely related regulated environment.
• A strong track record of leading broad operational functions through senior leaders.
• Experience bringing different teams, businesses or operating models together around a shared direction.
• A people-focused leadership style, with the ability to build trust, develop leadership capability and create accountability.
• Strong commercial judgement and experience managing budgets, suppliers, operational costs and performance.
• Experience working with executive teams and Boards, providing clear insight, recommendations and constructive challenge.
• A sound understanding of operational governance, risk, controls and regulatory delivery.
• The confidence to make decisions and maintain momentum when priorities, structures or information are still developing.
• An understanding of payments, digital onboarding or transaction-processing environments.
• Experience leading operational transformation or significant change programmes would be a strong advantage.
• Experience within conveyancing or legal services would be useful, although it isn't essential.

The Kind of Leader Who'll Thrive Here

You’ll be comfortable moving between strategy and delivery. You can set a clear direction, but you’re equally willing to get close to a problem when the team needs support. You’ll bring people with you, especially when the destination is clear but every step of the route hasn't yet been mapped out. You’ll listen, communicate openly and build alignment across teams with different priorities and professional backgrounds. Most importantly, you’ll care about the people delivering the operation as much as the commercial results it achieves.

£140,000 - £160,000 a year

Why become a PEXArian?

Great question! Being a PEXArian is so much more than just a job. We’re a passionate, motivated and unashamedly enthusiastic bunch at PEXA – we love what we do and we’re proud to admit it! Creating brilliant experiences for our members and their clients wouldn’t be possible without ensuring we deliver an exceptional employee experience.

Here’s a snapshot of what your life at PEXA could look like:

• Your wellbeing: Enjoy four Wellness Days across the year to rest and recharge, plus 24/7 personal safety, medical and mental health support through Sonder. You’ll also receive an £800 Health Flex Pot to spend on health options, alongside access to a digital GP, mental health and nutrition consultations, and support with eye tests and glasses.
• Your growth: Grow your skills and shape your career through PEXA Academy and LinkedIn Learning. You’ll also have up to five days’ paid study leave each year for relevant courses.
• Your rewards: Our reward and recognition benefits include performance-based incentives, the PEXA OwnIt Equity Plan for eligible employees, PEXA Impact Awards and a £500 employee referral bonus. You’ll also have access to discounts through Perkbox and Get Active.
• Your family: Eligible permanent employees with at least 12 months’ continuous service can receive up to 20 weeks’ paid maternity or adoption leave and up to four weeks’ paid paternity leave, in addition to statutory entitlements. You’ll also have access to support for family and life events, including family grief counselling, discounted legal services and UK-registered veterinary advice.
• Your work/life blend: We know that work is just one aspect of your life – we want to help you create your ideal work/life blend, rather than squeezing in life around work. Our hybrid approach combines regular in-office connection with working from home. You may also be able to work remotely from an approved country for up to two weeks every six months and purchase up to four additional weeks of annual leave each year.
• Your opportunity to give back: Use your paid Volunteer Day to support a cause that matters to you and enjoy events throughout the year that bring PEXArians together to connect and celebrate.