Head of Operations

Company Description

TLM is a growing awarding organisation with a mission to support innovative qualifications, empower educators, and enhance learner outcomes. As we scale, we are building a collaborative and agile team that values both professional expertise and the entrepreneurial spirit needed in a dynamic environment.

Role Description

The Head of Operations will be responsible for ensuring that TLM runs smoothly and scales effectively. Reporting directly to the CEO, this role will oversee day-to-day operations, staff management, systems development, and organisational growth strategies.

The role requires a leader who can balance strategic oversight with hands-on delivery, ensuring TLM continues to deliver excellence to its stakeholders while preparing for expansion. This role has the potential to evolve into a Chief Operating Officer (COO) position as TLM grows, offering the right candidate a pathway into executive leadership.

Key Responsibilities:

Operational Leadership

• Lead and manage daily organisational operations, ensuring efficiency and effectiveness across departments.
• Develop and implement operational policies, processes, and systems to support growth.
• Oversee compliance, quality assurance, and risk management aligned to regulatory frameworks.

Team Management

• Line-manage key staff, with responsibility for performance reviews, training, and development.
• Foster a collaborative and positive work culture that encourages accountability and innovation.
• Support recruitment, on-boarding, and retention strategies as the team expands.

Strategic Delivery

• Work with the CEO and directors to deliver the organisation’s strategic plan.
• Monitor KPI\’s and prepare regular performance reports for the board.
• Lead quarterly in-person meetings to align staff, build cohesion, and strengthen organisational culture.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Ensure TLM holds positive relationships with external partners, regulators, and stakeholders.
• Represent TLM professionally at meetings and events.

What we are looking for

• Proven track record in operations leadership, preferably in education, awarding bodies, or not-for-profit/SME environments.
• Strong financial management skills (budgeting, forecasting, and resource allocation).
• Digital literacy, with experience in using management systems/CRM for operational efficiency.
• Strong people management skills with experience in growing teams.
• Excellent organisational, communication, and leadership skills.
• Demonstrated ability to hold multiple priorities, systems, and projects in balance simultaneously.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to balance strategic priorities with hands-on delivery.
• Comfort with hybrid working and willingness to travel quarterly as a minimum for director and team meetings.

Desirable

• Knowledge of qualifications frameworks and regulatory compliance in education.
• Experience in business development or partnership management.
• Previous work in a small but scaling organisation.

Personality Traits / Leadership Style

• Proactive, solutions-focused, and adaptable in a growing organisation.
• Empathetic and people-oriented, able to inspire and support diverse teams.
• Entrepreneurial mindset — enjoys building systems and processes from the ground up.
• Calm and emotionally measured, able to respond to challenges with composure rather than reactivity.
• Strong communicator who can unite remote teams and build cohesion.
• Analytical and systems-oriented thinker, capable of managing multiple moving parts with clarity.
• Forward-thinking, able to anticipate challenges and identify the best long-term solutions.

Contract: Full-time, permanent (subject to 6-month trial period).

Location: Remote with quarterly travel to team/director meet-ups (expenses covered).

Salary: £55,000–£65,000 per annum depending on experience, with scope for review after a successful 6-month period. In addition, the role includes eligibility for an annual performance-related bonus linked to organisational delivery and growth.