At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead daily operations, ensuring teams stay on track and accountable.
- Company: Join a fast-growing SaaS company focused on AI-driven solutions in aviation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working hours, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with a focus on innovation and efficiency.
- Why this job: Be the backbone of operations and drive impactful AI adoption.
- Qualifications: Experience in operational management and strong communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
About IDGateway
IDGateway delivers SaaS solutions into security-sensitive and operationally demanding environments. We work closely with airports, aviation operators and enterprise customers to improve operational efficiency, compliance and workforce management through modern technology. We are growing quickly and need an Operations Manager who can take day-to-day control of how the business runs — keeping every team focused, on schedule and accountable to their commitments.
The Role
This is a hands-on operational leadership role. Your job is to make sure everyone in the business is doing what they are supposed to be doing, when they are supposed to be doing it. You will maintain a clear, real-time picture of who is working on what across every team and function. You will hold people to their commitments, manage them against schedules and deadlines, and escalate problems before they become crises. You are the operational backbone of the business.
You will work directly with the Operations Director and senior leadership to translate priorities into clear plans and ensure those plans are executed. You are not here to observe and report, you are here to drive delivery and operational discipline across the whole organisation. You will also lead the practical adoption of AI tools and AI-assisted workflows across the business, working with the Head of Software Engineering to embed smarter ways of working into day-to-day operations.
Key Responsibilities
- Day-to-Day Operational Management
- Maintain a live, accurate picture of what every team and individual is working on and whether they are on track.
- Manage people against agreed schedules, milestones and deadlines across all functions in the business.
- Hold teams and individuals accountable for their commitments in a constructive but firm manner.
- Identify slippage, blockers and missed commitments early and take action to address them.
- Run regular operational reviews across teams to assess progress, surface risks and drive forward momentum.
- Escalate material issues to senior leadership promptly and with clarity.
- Operational Control and Planning
- Ensure that business priorities, deadlines and resource plans are clearly defined and kept up to date.
- Maintain operational dashboards and reporting that give leadership real visibility of business performance.
- Coordinate workloads and priorities across teams to avoid bottlenecks and ensure effective use of resource.
- Manage dependencies between teams and functions so that nothing falls through the gaps.
- Produce clear, concise operational plans, status updates and progress reports for leadership.
- Customer and Project Delivery
- Ensure that customer commitments and delivery expectations are tracked and met across all active projects.
- Work alongside the Delivery Manager to maintain control of SaaS delivery workstreams.
- Act as a point of escalation for operational issues affecting customers or delivery timelines.
- Operational Improvement and AI Adoption
- Drive the adoption of AI tools and AI-assisted workflows to improve efficiency and productivity across the business.
- Identify opportunities for automation and smarter ways of working and lead their implementation.
- Support teams in embedding practical AI capability into their day-to-day work.
- Work with the Head of Software Engineering to ensure AI adoption is effective and well-governed.
Required Experience
- Proven experience in an operational management role with direct responsibility for managing people against schedules and deliverables.
- Strong track record of holding teams accountable and driving delivery discipline across multiple functions.
- Experience working across cross-functional teams in a fast-paced technology or software business.
- Demonstrable ability to manage many concurrent priorities without losing grip on the detail.
- Experience running operational reviews, tracking plans and producing clear progress reporting for leadership.
- Comfortable using project and task management tools such as Jira, Monday, Asana or similar.
- Strong stakeholder management and communication skills at all levels.
- Experience using AI tools and AI-assisted workflows in an operational context.
Ideal Profile
- Highly organised with an instinct for operational control and structure.
- Direct, confident and comfortable holding people to account in a constructive way.
- Proactive by nature, spots problems before they are reported and acts without being asked.
- Able to maintain visibility and control across many moving parts simultaneously.
- A strong communicator who can cut through complexity and give leadership a clear, honest picture.
- Calm and decisive under pressure.
- Comfortable operating in a fast-moving, evolving business where priorities can shift quickly.
- Interested in emerging technology and practical AI adoption.
- Focused on outcomes and results, not process for its own sake.
Desirable
- Experience within aviation, security, identity management or regulated industries.
- PRINCE2, AgilePM, PMP or equivalent qualification.
- Experience within a scaling SaaS business.
- Experience introducing automation or AI-enabled operational improvements.
What Success Looks Like
- Every team in the business knows exactly what they are working on and is on track against their commitments.
- Slippage and problems are surfaced and resolved quickly before they become escalations.
- Leadership has clear, real-time visibility of operational performance across the whole business.
- Customer commitments are met consistently and delivery is reliable.
- The business operates more efficiently as a result of better tooling, AI adoption and operational discipline.
- The organisation runs smoothly without the Managing Director needing to chase progress or manage day-to-day coordination.
Operations Leader — AI-Driven Delivery & Planning in Farnborough employer: Valsoft Corp
At IDGateway, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and innovative work culture. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through hands-on operational leadership opportunities, where you can directly influence the adoption of cutting-edge AI tools in a fast-paced environment. Located at the heart of the aviation sector, we offer a unique chance to work closely with industry leaders while ensuring operational excellence and efficiency across our teams.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Operations Leader — AI-Driven Delivery & Planning in Farnborough
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Research IDGateway's SaaS solutions and their impact on operational efficiency. This will help you tailor your conversations and show that you're genuinely interested in how you can contribute.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or attend industry events. Building relationships can give you insider info and might even lead to a referral, which is always a bonus!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common operational management scenarios. Think about how you'd handle slippage or manage cross-functional teams. Being ready to discuss real-life examples will set you apart from the crowd.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team at IDGateway.
We think you need these skills to ace Operations Leader — AI-Driven Delivery & Planning in Farnborough
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Operational Skills:When writing your application, make sure to highlight your experience in operational management. We want to see how you've kept teams accountable and driven delivery discipline in your previous roles.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to describe your achievements and how they relate to the role. We appreciate a well-structured application that gets straight to the heart of your experience.
Demonstrate Your AI Knowledge:Since we're keen on AI adoption, mention any experience you have with AI tools or workflows. Show us how you've implemented smarter ways of working in your past roles, as this is a big part of what we do at IDGateway.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you're proactive, which is exactly what we’re looking for!
How to prepare for a job interview at Valsoft Corp
✨Know Your Operations Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into IDGateway's operations and understand their SaaS solutions. Familiarise yourself with how they improve efficiency in security-sensitive environments, especially in aviation. This knowledge will help you demonstrate your understanding of the role and how you can contribute.
✨Showcase Your Accountability Skills
Be ready to discuss specific examples from your past where you held teams accountable and drove delivery discipline. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers, highlighting how you managed schedules and resolved issues proactively.
✨Emphasise Your AI Experience
Since the role involves driving AI adoption, prepare to talk about your experience with AI tools and workflows. Share concrete examples of how you've implemented AI solutions in operational contexts and the impact they had on efficiency and productivity.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills and ability to manage multiple priorities. Practice articulating how you would handle potential challenges, such as slippage in project timelines or team accountability issues, to showcase your proactive approach.
