Operational Lead - Auto

Location: London and Brackley – Hybrid (plus travel as required)

We are Strata! Imagine being part of a fast and exciting brand experience agency whose clients include specialists in new technology, creators of some of the most stunning electric vehicles on the planet, financial institutions, and global leaders in pharmaceutical solutions. As an agency, we elevate these brands and make them heard through immersive and memorable virtual and face-to-face experiences. As a people-first business, we encourage ambition, support and reward. We’re always listening and open to your ideas, just as we do with our clients. Our name? It’s Strata, an agency on a mission to be the very best. This means we always want to hear from the very best creative and intelligent souls who genuinely believe that every moment matters.

Job Overview

The Operational Lead is responsible for leading, developing, and managing the Automotive team within the agency. This role focuses on people leadership, resource planning, operational excellence, and team performance, ensuring the team is structured, supported, and equipped to deliver outstanding client service. As a senior member of the Automotive team, the Operational Lead will create a high-performing, collaborative culture, driving consistency, accountability, and continuous improvement across the department. The role acts as the bridge between strategic leadership and day-to-day team management, ensuring resources, processes, and capabilities are aligned to business objectives and client SLAs. The primary focus of the role is team management and oversight rather than project delivery; the candidate would be heavily office/hybrid based with a requirement to oversee the team on site as required.

Key Responsibilities

• Team Leadership & People Management: Lead, coach, and develop a team of account, project, and operational professionals within the Automotive division. Conduct regular one-to-one meetings, performance reviews, and development conversations. Create clear career development pathways and identify training opportunities to support employee growth. Foster a positive, collaborative, and high-performing team culture. Support employee engagement, retention, wellbeing, and professional development initiatives. Manage performance issues effectively and constructively, ensuring clear expectations and accountability.
• Resource Planning & Workforce Management: Own team resource allocation and capacity planning across automotive accounts and programmes. Ensure workloads are balanced and aligned with team capabilities and business priorities. Identify future resource requirements and support recruitment activities where needed. Manage freelance and contract resource requirements in partnership with senior leadership and HR. Monitor utilisation and productivity metrics, making recommendations to optimise team performance.
• Operational Excellence: Establish and maintain effective operational processes, frameworks, and ways of working across the Automotive team. Drive consistency in project governance, documentation, reporting, and team processes. Identify operational challenges and implement solutions that improve efficiency and effectiveness. Champion best practice and continuous improvement initiatives across the department. Develop and monitor key performance indicators to measure team effectiveness and operational health.
• Stakeholder Management: Build strong relationships with senior internal stakeholders across Client Services, Production, Finance, HR, and Leadership teams. Act as the primary escalation point for team-related operational challenges. Collaborate with department leaders to ensure alignment on priorities, resource requirements, and business objectives. Support strategic planning initiatives and departmental decision-making.
• Financial & Commercial Oversight: Support workforce budgeting and resource forecasting activities. Monitor team utilisation and contribute to departmental financial planning. Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency and maximise profitability through effective resource management. Ensure operational decisions align with broader commercial objectives.
• Continuous Improvement & Capability Building: Drive operational improvement projects that enhance team performance and employee experience. Develop onboarding programmes and frameworks for new team members. Promote knowledge sharing, collaboration, and best practice across the Automotive team. Identify skills gaps and implement development plans to strengthen team capabilities.

The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate the below experience:

• Significant experience in a leadership or operational management role within an events agency, marketing agency, or client services environment.
• Previous experience of managing projects to understand the full project life cycle to enable team support in solving project challenges.
• Proven track record of managing and developing high-performing teams.
• Strong resource planning, workforce management, and organisational skills.
• Experience implementing operational processes and driving efficiency improvements.
• Excellent communication, coaching, and stakeholder management abilities.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Commercial awareness and understanding of agency operations.
• Experience working within automotive-focused agency teams.
• Knowledge of agency resource management systems and project planning tools.
• Experience leading organisational change or transformation initiatives.
• Coaching, leadership, or people management qualifications.

Key Competencies

• People Leadership
• Resource Planning
• Coaching & Development
• Operational Excellence
• Change Management
• Communication
• Collaboration & Influence
• Commercial Awareness and Strategic Thinking

What Success Looks Like

• A highly engaged and high-performing Automotive team.
• Effective resource planning and workforce utilisation.
• Consistent operational processes and ways of working.
• Strong cross-functional relationships and stakeholder satisfaction.
• Clear development pathways and strong employee retention.
• Continuous improvement initiatives that enhance team performance and efficiency.
• Achievement of departmental objectives through effective leadership, planning, and people management.

This role is ideal for a people-first leader who is passionate about building high-performing teams, improving operational effectiveness, and creating an environment where colleagues can thrive and deliver their best work.

Employee Benefits

• 25 days annual leave, plus usual Bank Holidays
• Birthday day off
• Private Health Insurance*
• Workplace pension scheme
• Death in service scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Hybrid working arrangement
• Regular social events

*Upon successful completion of a 6-month probation period

Diversity at Strata

At Strata, people are at the heart of who we are. We recognise and value the diverse and unique perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds that each individual brings. We are committed to fostering a workplace where everyone feels respected, heard, valued, and empowered. We strive to create an innovative, creative, and inclusive environment where all employees and applicants can thrive. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. Recruitment decisions are based solely on merit, qualifications, and business needs. Embracing diversity isn't just our goal, it's our strength, driving us towards a more inclusive future. At Strata, we are proud to be a Disability Confident employer, committed to creating an inclusive and accessible workplace where everyone can thrive. We actively promote equal opportunities and support individuals with disabilities throughout their careers. As part of our recruitment process, we encourage candidates to let us know if they require any reasonable adjustments - our team is committed to ensuring a fair, supportive, and inclusive experience from application through to employment.