Senior Operations Lead in Skipton

Senior Operations Lead in Skipton

Skipton Full-Time 45000 - 55000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Skipton International Ltd

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Drive operational activities, improve processes, and lead workshops to enhance team performance.
  • Company: Join a dynamic team at Skipton, focused on innovation and collaboration.
  • Benefits: Enjoy a hybrid work model, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
  • Other info: Diversity and inclusion are key values; all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping operations and engaging with leadership.
  • Qualifications: Advanced Excel skills and experience in operations or business management.

The predicted salary is between 45000 - 55000 £ per year.

We are looking for a Senior Operations Analyst to join our team, combining strong operational ownership with advanced data and facilitation skills. This is a hybrid role where you will play a key part in how the function operates—bringing structure, insight and pace. You will work closely with leadership and delivery teams to own operational processes, build data-driven insight, and lead key forums and workshops. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys variety, problem-solving and influence, and is equally comfortable working with data, improving processes, and engaging stakeholders.

What You’ll Be Doing

  • Operational Ownership & Delivery
    • Own and drive a range of operational activities across the function, ensuring work is prioritised and delivered effectively
    • Identify inefficiencies and lead improvements to processes, tools and ways of working
    • Provide structure, clarity and follow-through across initiatives and day-to-day operations
  • Data, Modelling & Insight
    • Build and maintain robust Excel-based data models to support operational decision-making
    • Develop and enhance dashboards (Power BI / Excel) that provide clear, actionable insight
    • Analyse trends across performance, capacity, and delivery, translating data into meaningful recommendations
    • Ensure reporting is accurate, consistent, and aligned to business needs
  • Operational Rhythm, Governance & Controls
    • Lead the preparation and facilitation of weekly, monthly and quarterly operational forums
    • Produce high-quality packs, track actions, and ensure clear outcomes and follow-through
    • Maintain key artefacts such as RAID logs and RACIs and process documentation
    • Support audit readiness, controls, and governance activities
  • Workshops, Facilitation & Engagement
    • Lead and facilitate workshops, meetings and operational forums, ensuring engagement and clear decision-making
    • Work with stakeholders to define problems, structure discussions and drive outcomes
    • Support team engagement initiatives such as offsites, town halls and retrospectives
    • Deliver clear, concise communications to a range of audiences
  • Improvements & Initiatives
    • Lead or coordinate small projects and operational improvement initiatives
    • Track milestones, risks and dependencies to maintain momentum
    • Contribute to broader initiatives such as workforce planning, onboarding improvements and capability uplift
  • Financial & Workforce Support
    • Support budget tracking, forecasting and cost oversight
    • Assist with resource planning, utilisation tracking and workforce reporting
    • Coordinate recruitment and onboarding activities as part of operational workflows

What We’re Looking For

  • Skills & Experience
    • Advanced Excel skills, including data modelling, complex formulas, and data transformation
    • Experience building dashboards and reports (Power BI or similar)
    • Strong analytical capability, with the ability to translate data into insight and recommendations
    • Experience working in operations, business management, or delivery support environments
    • Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver end-to-end outcomes
    • Experience supporting or leading process improvements or small initiatives
  • Interpersonal & Facilitation Skills
    • Confident facilitating meetings, workshops and operational forums
    • Strong communication skills, with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels
    • Able to build relationships quickly and work effectively across teams
  • Ways of Working
    • Highly organised, structured and detail-oriented
    • Logical, analytical thinker who can break down complex problems into clear actions
    • Proactive and solutions-focused, with a strong sense of ownership
    • Comfortable working with ambiguity and driving work forward independently

Why Join Us?

  • Opportunity to play a central role in shaping how the function operates
  • High visibility role working closely with leadership
  • A varied position combining operations, data, and stakeholder engagement
  • Chance to drive real improvements and make a measurable impact

Ideal Candidate Profile

You are someone who:

  • Enjoys working with data but doesn’t want a purely technical analyst role
  • Is confident using Excel to build models and solve problems
  • Can step into a room, facilitate discussions, and drive outcomes
  • Brings structure, clarity and momentum to ambiguous situations
  • Takes ownership and sees work through to completion

Diversity and inclusion are a priority for us as we continue to support our members and represent the communities we serve. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, neurodiversity, age, family or parental status, beliefs, nationalities and religions - supporting an inclusive environment for all our colleagues to bring their true selves to Skipton.

If you have a disability, or if you have a condition that you believe may affect your performance during our selection process, we’ll be happy to discuss making reasonable adjustments to our processes for you. Please contact our Talent Acquisition team at talentacquisition@skipton.co.uk.

Senior Operations Lead in Skipton employer: Skipton International Ltd

At Skipton, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters collaboration and innovation. As a Senior Operations Lead, you will have the opportunity to shape operational processes while enjoying a hybrid working model that promotes work-life balance. With a strong focus on employee growth, we provide ample opportunities for professional development and encourage diverse perspectives, making it a rewarding place to build your career.

Skipton International Ltd

Contact Details:

Skipton International Ltd Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Operations Lead in Skipton

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry on LinkedIn or at events. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.

Tip Number 2

Prepare for interviews by practising common questions and scenarios related to operations and data analysis. We recommend role-playing with a friend to boost your confidence!

Tip Number 3

Showcase your skills during interviews by sharing specific examples of how you’ve improved processes or used data to drive decisions. We love hearing about real-life impacts!

Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can keep you top of mind and show your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it’s just good manners!

We think you need these skills to ace Senior Operations Lead in Skipton

Operational Ownership
Data Modelling
Advanced Excel Skills
Power BI
Analytical Capability
Process Improvement
Facilitation Skills

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight how your skills match the Senior Operations Analyst role. Use keywords from the job description to show we’re on the same page!

Show Off Your Data Skills:Since this role involves a lot of data work, don’t shy away from showcasing your advanced Excel skills and any experience with dashboards. We want to see how you can turn data into actionable insights!

Highlight Your Facilitation Experience:We’re looking for someone who can lead workshops and engage stakeholders. Share examples of how you’ve successfully facilitated meetings or discussions in the past to demonstrate your interpersonal skills.

Apply Through Our Website:For the best chance of getting noticed, make sure to apply directly through our website. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and get back to you quickly!

How to prepare for a job interview at Skipton International Ltd

Master Your Data Skills

Since this role heavily involves data modelling and analysis, brush up on your Excel skills. Be prepared to discuss how you've used Excel to create models or dashboards in the past. Maybe even bring a sample of your work to showcase your capabilities!

Showcase Your Operational Ownership

Think of specific examples where you've taken ownership of operational processes. Be ready to explain how you identified inefficiencies and led improvements. This will demonstrate your proactive approach and problem-solving skills, which are crucial for this position.

Engage Stakeholders Effectively

This role requires strong interpersonal skills, so prepare to discuss how you've facilitated meetings or workshops. Share examples of how you've engaged stakeholders and driven outcomes, as this will highlight your ability to influence and communicate effectively.

Prepare for Scenario Questions

Expect questions that assess your ability to handle ambiguity and drive work forward independently. Think about past situations where you had to navigate unclear circumstances and how you brought structure and clarity to those scenarios. This will show your logical thinking and organisational skills.