Technical Operations Team Lead in London

The Financial Times is one of the world’s leading news organisations, globally recognised for its authority, integrity and accuracy, with a mission to deliver quality information and services worldwide. At the FT, curiosity thrives and ambitious thinking is rewarded. Together, we help audiences stay better informed and deepen their understanding of the world around them. Our Product & Tech teams drive us forward in an ever-evolving digital landscape, delivering cutting‑edge products to over one million digital subscribers daily. Our growth relies on a diverse, dedicated and dynamic group of product, tech, delivery and data specialists. With a supportive culture, entrepreneurial spirit and opportunities at every turn, there are no limits to where your FT career can take you.

Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion

We believe in the power of unique perspectives and want all voices in our organisation to be heard, respected and valued. A supportive workplace is one where employees feel they can be themselves and operate to their full potential. We are committed to removing barriers for everyone, with a focus on addressing those faced by underrepresented groups.

About you

You are an experienced operational and people leader with a passion for delivering reliable, high‑quality services that support critical business functions. You have a strong track‑record of leading operational, service delivery, or business‑critical support teams, creating an environment where people can thrive, develop their skills, and perform at their best. You are comfortable managing and mentoring team members, fostering collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement. You enjoy working with a wide range of stakeholders, balancing operational priorities with long‑term service enhancements, and ensuring the successful delivery of a business‑critical print publishing operation. Our ideal candidate brings fresh perspectives, strong leadership, and a commitment to building an inclusive and supportive team culture. We believe that diverse experiences and viewpoints strengthen our teams, improve decision‑making, and help us deliver the best possible service to our customers.

About the team

Digital Print Services (DPS) is part of Internal Products at the Financial Times and is responsible for managing and supporting the end‑to‑end processes, systems, and services that enable the daily production and publication of the FT’s print products. The team plays a critical role in ensuring content moves successfully from editorial creation through page production and print publishing, working closely with Editorial, Advertising, Operations, Technology, and external partners to deliver a reliable and high‑quality print product every day. The team owns a range of business‑critical applications, integrations, workflows, and operational processes that underpin the print publishing lifecycle. We are responsible for ensuring the successful execution of daily print production, coordinating operational activities, managing incidents, overseeing change, and driving continuous improvements that help the FT’s print operations run smoothly and efficiently.

What you’ll work on

As the Technical Operations Team Lead for Digital Print Services, you will lead the team responsible for managing, supporting, and continuously improving the Financial Times’ end‑to‑end print publishing process. You will support and develop a team of specialists while helping to shape the strategic direction, operational resilience, and long‑term sustainability of the systems, services, and workflows that underpin daily print production. Working closely with stakeholders across Editorial, Advertising, Operations, Technology, and external partners, you will balance day‑to‑day operational delivery with continuous improvement initiatives and longer‑term planning. This is a people‑first leadership role. You will create the conditions for your team to do their best work by fostering a collaborative and inclusive culture, supporting professional growth, improving operational practices, and helping the team navigate both technical and organisational challenges.

Your responsibilities will include

• Service Leadership & Strategy: Ensuring the successful delivery of the FT’s daily print publishing operation, coordinating people, processes, systems, and partners to meet production deadlines and business commitments.
• People Management & Team Development: Managing and supporting a team of Digital Print Services specialists through regular 1:1s, feedback, coaching, and career development conversations.
• Service Delivery & Collaboration: Overseeing the day‑to‑day operation of the print publishing process, ensuring critical production activities are completed successfully and on schedule.
• Communication & Stakeholder Management: Acting as a key point of contact for Digital Print Services, building trusted relationships with stakeholders across the business.

Our technology

Digital Print Services works across a combination of publishing platforms, operational tooling, cloud services, integrations, and vendor‑managed systems.

Leadership experience we’re looking for

• Experience leading teams responsible for delivering time‑critical operational processes with immovable deadlines.
• Experience managing business‑critical services where reliability, service continuity, and operational excellence are essential.
• Strong coaching, mentoring, feedback, and people development skills, with a genuine commitment to helping others succeed.

Characteristics we value

• Strong collaboration and communication skills.
• Empathy, emotional intelligence, and a people‑first mindset.
• A strong sense of ownership, accountability, and attention to detail.

What’s in it for you?

Our benefits vary by location, but we are committed to providing best‑in‑class perks across all our offices. These include generous annual leave, medical cover, inclusive parental leave packages, subsidised gym memberships and opportunities to give back to the community. We’ve embraced a 50% hybrid working model (averaging two to three days onsite) that fosters trust and remote adaptability while encouraging in‑person camaraderie and peer learning.