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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive execution across talent pathways and manage flagship initiatives from concept to delivery.
- Company: Join Social Mobility Ventures, tackling socioeconomic inclusion in UK tech.
- Benefits: Collaborate with industry leaders and shape your role as the organisation scales.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on under-addressed challenges in the tech ecosystem.
- Qualifications: Experience in project management, partnerships, or growth roles; adaptable and strategic mindset.
- Other info: Work in a dynamic environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 ÂŁ per year.
Social Mobility Ventures (SMV) exists to tackle one of the biggest blind spots in UK tech and venture: socioeconomic inclusion. The UK has no shortage of talent from state-school and low‑income backgrounds. What it lacks is clear pathways - to early career opportunities, to entrepreneurship, and to investment. SMV is building a full‑stack platform to change that. We operate across three connected layers:
- Talent – unlocking early access to startup roles and high‑signal career pathways
- Founders – supporting operators and builders to take the leap into entrepreneurship
- Investment – backing underrepresented founders at inception and pre‑seed
Our work spans programmes, partnerships, capital, and narrative‑shifting research - bringing together startups, VCs, corporates, government, and philanthropies to build a more meritocratic tech ecosystem.
The Role
We’re looking for an Operations Lead to work directly with the founding team to drive execution across SMV’s platform - with a particular focus on Talent pathways. This is a hands‑on, high‑ownership role. One day you might be working with graduates on a career programme or supporting early‑career talent through a live initiative; the next, you’re collaborating with startups and scaleups to design hiring pathways, or working with corporates to deliver talent‑focused campaigns. You’ll sit at the centre of SMV’s activity - turning ideas into live programmes, partnerships into outcomes, and ambition into execution.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Project‑manage flagship talent and startup/scaleup initiatives from concept through to delivery and iteration
- Build lightweight but effective operating processes to keep multiple workstreams moving in parallel
- Own timelines, dependencies, and delivery standards across programmes
- Own relationships with employers, charities, VCs, and delivery partners – identifying win‑wins and converting conversations into action
- Support commercial and philanthropic fundraising efforts across Talent, Founder, and Investment initiatives
- Help shape partnership propositions, decks, and materials
- Lead logistics and delivery for events, roundtables, and community moments
- Coordinate outreach campaigns and ecosystem engagement across founders, operators, and investors
- Contribute to the development of SMV’s product layer – guides, playbooks, toolkits, and programme resources
- Support comms and narrative work, ensuring clarity and consistency across Talent, Founder, and Investment messaging
- Track progress, flag risks early, and unblock bottlenecks
- Bring structure to ambiguity – without slowing things down
- Act as a connective tissue across founders, partners, and internal stakeholders
You’ll Thrive in This Role If You…
- Are a natural operator who gets energy from turning ideas into reality
- Have experience in project/programme management, partnerships, or growth roles
- Are comfortable wearing multiple hats – strategic when needed, hands‑on by default
- Understand (or are deeply curious about) the UK startup, VC, and tech ecosystem
- Enjoy building things from scratch: programmes, partnerships, processes
- Can operate in ambiguity, prioritise ruthlessly, and know when speed matters more than perfection
- Are motivated by the belief that talent is evenly distributed, opportunity is not
Why Join SMV?
- Work on one of the most important and under-addressed challenges in UK tech
- Play a central role in building a platform that spans talent, founders, and capital
- Collaborate with senior leaders across startups, VC, corporates, government, and philanthropy
- Shape your role and grow with the organisation as it scales
Our partners and collaborators include leaders from Atomico, DSIT, LocalGlobe, Google, and beyond.
To Apply
Send your CV (or LinkedIn) and a few lines on why this role excites you to us. No formal cover letter required - we care more about judgement, energy, and execution mindset than perfect formatting.
Operations Lead in London employer: Social Mobility Ventures
Contact Detail:
Social Mobility Ventures Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Operations Lead in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to folks on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show your passion! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, make sure to express why you’re excited about the role and the company. Share your ideas on how you can contribute to their mission, especially around talent pathways and socioeconomic inclusion.
✨Tip Number 3
Be ready to demonstrate your skills! Prepare examples of past projects or initiatives where you’ve successfully managed multiple workstreams or built partnerships. This will show that you can handle the hands-on, high-ownership nature of the Operations Lead role.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of SMV and its mission to create clear pathways for underrepresented talent in tech.
We think you need these skills to ace Operations Lead in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When you’re writing your application, let your enthusiasm for the role shine through! We want to see why this position excites you and how it aligns with your values. A genuine connection to our mission will make your application stand out.
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the Operations Lead role. Highlight any project management or partnership experience you have, as well as your ability to thrive in a dynamic environment. We love seeing how your background fits with what we do!
Keep It Concise: We appreciate clarity and brevity. When you write those few lines about why you’re excited about the role, get straight to the point! Use clear language and avoid fluff – we want to know what makes you tick and how you can contribute to our mission.
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 ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at SMV!
How to prepare for a job interview at Social Mobility Ventures
✨Know the Mission
Before your interview, dive deep into Social Mobility Ventures' mission and values. Understand how they tackle socioeconomic inclusion in the UK tech scene. This will not only help you align your answers but also show your genuine interest in their work.
✨Showcase Your Project Management Skills
As an Operations Lead, you'll need to demonstrate your project management experience. Prepare specific examples of past projects where you successfully managed timelines, dependencies, and outcomes. Highlight how you turned ideas into reality, as this is crucial for the role.
✨Emphasise Your Collaborative Spirit
This role involves working with various stakeholders, from startups to corporates. Be ready to discuss how you've built relationships and collaborated effectively in previous roles. Share instances where you identified win-win situations and converted conversations into action.
✨Be Ready for Ambiguity
The job description mentions operating in ambiguity and prioritising ruthlessly. Prepare to discuss how you've navigated uncertain situations in the past. Share strategies you used to bring structure to chaos without slowing down progress, as this will resonate well with the interviewers.
