Operations Manager in London

Who We Are

The Cruise Globe is building the world's leading digital platform for cruise travellers. Founded by a Geographer, a Naval Architect, and one of the cruise industry's most trusted creators, we started with a simple belief: cruising deserves better digital experiences. We're building the "Strava for cruises" — a platform that lets cruisers visualise their exact routes and stats, capture and share their journeys, and then plan, book, and track what comes next. In under a year, more than 100,000 cruisers joined the platform, with over 500,000 cruises logged — all with zero marketing spend. Alongside our digital products, we also operate a fast-growing physical e-commerce business serving cruise travellers globally. As the business scales, operational excellence is becoming a critical advantage.

The Opportunity

We're hiring an Operations Manager to take ownership of the company's day-to-day operations as we scale. As an early-stage startup, many operational, organisational, and administrative responsibilities still sit with the CEO. This role exists to change that. You'll become the person who ensures the business runs smoothly, efficiently, and predictably — removing friction, tightening execution, and proactively improving how things are done. This is a high-trust role at the centre of the company. You'll have broad visibility across operations, finance support, suppliers, contractors, and internal processes, with the autonomy to make meaningful improvements without constant oversight.

Success in this role is measured by:

• A material reduction in operational cognitive load on the CEO
• Clear, proactive efficiency and cost improvements across the business

If you enjoy bringing order, momentum, and reliability to a growing company — and want real responsibility early — this role is for you.

What You'll Be Doing

• Keep the Business Running Smoothly
  • Own the reliable day-to-day operation of the company
  • Act as the connective tissue across teams, suppliers, and systems
  • Identify issues early and resolve them before they escalate
• Manage Suppliers, Stock, and Spend
  • Own relationships with production, logistics, and service suppliers
  • Manage stock levels and re-ordering, ensuring quality, timing, and cost efficiency
  • Monitor contracts, renewals, and ongoing spend, continually seeking better value
  • Proactively identify cost-saving opportunities without compromising quality
• Support Finance, Accounts, and Cost Control
  • Manage invoice flow, internal approvals, and follow-ups
  • Monitor receivables and ensure timely resolution
  • Maintain strong financial hygiene and accurate operational records
  • Support external accountants with clear, well-prepared information
• Improve and Automate Internal Processes
  • Identify inefficient, manual, or fragile workflows
  • Streamline and document processes using modern tools and AI
  • Implement improvements that save time, reduce cost, or improve reliability
• Support People Operations and Company Rhythm
  • Manage onboarding and offboarding processes
  • Maintain internal policies and operational documentation
  • Oversee timesheets, leave tracking, invoicing, and payments for offshore contractors
  • Support hiring processes and candidate coordination when required
  • Handle office logistics and company organisation as needed
• Partner Closely with the CEO
  • Own 1–2 defined operational or research projects per quarter
  • Support ad-hoc analysis (suppliers, pricing, competitors, new initiatives)
  • Assist with board materials, investor reporting, and data room upkeep
  • Provide occasional support with scheduling, logistics, or external coordination

Core Requirements (Non-Negotiable)

• Proven experience in operations, business operations, or a closely related role
• Strong judgment and ability to operate effectively with incomplete information
• Demonstrated ownership of messy, ongoing operational processes
• Highly organised with exceptional attention to detail
• Calm, reliable, and effective under pressure
• Strong commercial intuition: instinctively cost-aware and thoughtful about trade-offs
• Comfortable scrutinising spend, spotting inefficiencies, and improving unit-level economics
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• High proficiency with tools such as Excel/Google Sheets, Notion, and accounting systems
• Comfortable improving processes and pushing back where needed, without seeking permission
• AI-native: able to show how you've used AI to remove manual work or increase efficiency
• High trustworthiness and sound judgment — you'll have unsupervised exposure across the business
• Thrives in early-stage startup environments with pace, ambiguity, and limited structure

Nice to Have

• Early-stage startup experience
• Exposure to finance or accounts support
• Experience managing suppliers, contractors, or inventory-based operations
• Background as an exceptional EA, Office Manager, or Ops Lead
• Interest in travel or consumer products

Benefits

Why Join The Cruise Globe?

• Real Ownership: You'll run core operational functions, not just assist with them
• High Trust: Autonomy and responsibility from day one
• Direct Founder Partnership: Work closely with the CEO on what matters most
• Rapid Progression: This role can scale quickly in scope, authority, and title for someone exceptional
• Meaningful Impact: Your work directly improves company efficiency, pace, and resilience
• Competitive Package: Competitive salary with clear progression potential
• Flexible Working: Hybrid setup with 1–2 days per week in our London office
• Holiday & Benefits: 25 days holiday + bank holidays, pension scheme