At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage daily operations, ensuring teams meet deadlines and commitments.
- Company: Join a growing SaaS company focused on operational efficiency in aviation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, dynamic work environment, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Ideal for proactive individuals who thrive in a tech-driven environment.
- Why this job: Be the driving force behind a fast-paced team, making a real impact every day.
- Qualifications: Experience in hands-on operations or project management within software or SaaS.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
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 a growing software business and we need someone to take ownership of how we run day to day — keeping every team focused, on schedule and accountable to their commitments.
This role is about one thing: making sure the right people are doing the right things at the right time across the whole business. You will spend the majority of your time actively managing people against plans and deadlines. That means knowing what everyone is working on, chasing progress, calling out slippage early and keeping things moving. You are not here to set strategy or write reports. You are here to organise, coordinate, push and follow through.
You will work directly with the Managing Director and leadership team to translate priorities into clear plans and then hold the business to those plans. You will run operational reviews across every team, track progress against schedules and act on what you find — every single day. This is a hands-on, high-energy role. The right person will be energised by staying on top of a complex, fast-moving environment and will take real pride in keeping the whole organisation running in an organised and disciplined way.
Is This Role Right for You?
This role will suit you if you have:
- Direct, hands-on experience managing teams and individuals against plans and deadlines within a software or SaaS business.
- A background in active project or operations management — where you were personally responsible for chasing people, tracking progress and driving delivery.
- Experience working embedded within software development or SaaS product teams and a solid understanding of how they operate.
- A natural instinct to organise, follow up and get things done without being asked.
This role is unlikely to suit you if your background is primarily in:
- Service delivery, customer success or account management — this is an internal operations role, not a client-facing one.
- Senior leadership or strategic operations — this role is about doing, not directing. You will be hands-on every day.
- Industries outside of software or technology — experience in a SaaS or software development environment is essential.
- Programme management or PMO functions where your role was primarily governance and reporting rather than active delivery management.
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.
- Actively manage people against agreed schedules, milestones and deadlines across all functions in the business.
- Chase progress, call out slippage and remove blockers before they affect delivery.
- Hold teams and individuals to their commitments in a direct but constructive way.
- Run regular operational reviews across all teams and act on what you find.
- Escalate issues to leadership promptly and with clarity.
Planning and Operational Control
- Work with leadership to translate business priorities into clear, actionable plans with defined owners and deadlines.
- Ensure that plans, priorities and resource allocation are kept current and visible across the business.
- Coordinate workloads and dependencies across teams to avoid bottlenecks and gaps.
- Produce concise operational status updates and progress reports for the Managing Director and leadership team.
Customer and Project Delivery
- Ensure that customer commitments are tracked and consistently met across all active projects.
- Work alongside the Delivery Manager to maintain grip on SaaS delivery workstreams.
- Act as a point of escalation for operational issues that affect customer timelines or commitments.
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.
- Work with the Head of Software Engineering to ensure AI adoption is effective and well-governed.
Required Experience
- Proven experience in an active, hands-on operations or project management role within a software or SaaS business — this is essential.
- Direct experience managing teams and individuals against schedules and delivery commitments, including chasing progress and resolving slippage.
- Strong understanding of how software development and SaaS delivery teams work, including Agile environments.
- Experience coordinating across multiple teams and functions simultaneously with a high volume of concurrent activity.
- A track record of driving accountability and delivery discipline — not just tracking and reporting, but actively pushing things forward.
- Confident using project and task management tools such as Jira, Monday, Asana or similar in an operational context.
- Clear, direct communication skills and the ability to give leadership an honest picture of operational performance.
- Experience using AI tools and AI-assisted workflows to improve day-to-day operations.
Ideal Profile
- Proactive and energetic — you spot what needs doing and act without being asked.
- Organised and structured — you naturally bring order to complexity.
- Direct and confident — you are comfortable chasing people, raising concerns and holding colleagues to account.
- Resilient and focused — you do not lose grip when priorities shift or pressure increases.
- A strong communicator at all levels — from engineers to senior leadership.
- Interested in technology and how it can make operations smarter and more efficient.
- Focused on outcomes — you care about things actually getting done, not just being planned.
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 knows exactly what they are working on and is being actively managed against their commitments.
- Slippage is caught early and resolved — not discovered late and escalated upward.
- Leadership has a clear, real-time picture of operational performance without having to ask for it.
- Customer commitments are met consistently and delivery is reliable.
- The Managing Director is free to focus on the business rather than chasing day-to-day progress.
Operations Programme Manager in Farnborough employer: Valsoft Corporation
At IDGateway, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and collaborative work culture. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through hands-on operational management roles like the Operations Programme Manager, where you will have the opportunity to directly influence our SaaS solutions in a fast-paced environment. With a focus on innovation and efficiency, we offer unique advantages such as the chance to drive AI adoption and operational improvements while working closely with leadership in a supportive and engaging atmosphere.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Operations Programme Manager in Farnborough
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry on LinkedIn or at events. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions and scenarios related to operations management. We want you to showcase your hands-on experience and how you keep teams accountable.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t just wait for job postings; proactively reach out to companies you admire. Express your interest in their operations and how you can contribute to their success.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are keen to join us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Operations Programme Manager in Farnborough
Some tips for your application 🫡
Be Yourself:When you're writing your application, let your personality shine through! We want to see the real you, so don’t be afraid to show your enthusiasm for the role and how your experience aligns with what we’re looking for.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to highlight your relevant experience in operations and project management. Use examples that demonstrate your hands-on approach and ability to keep teams on track, as this is key for us.
Keep It Clear and Concise:We appreciate clarity! Make your application easy to read by keeping it structured and to the point. Highlight your achievements and skills without unnecessary fluff – we want to get to know you quickly!
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super straightforward!
How to prepare for a job interview at Valsoft Corporation
✨Know the Role Inside Out
Before your interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the Operations Programme Manager role. Familiarise yourself with the key responsibilities and required experience outlined in the job description. This will help you tailor your answers to demonstrate how your background aligns perfectly with what they’re looking for.
✨Showcase Your Hands-On Experience
Since this role is all about active management, be ready to share specific examples from your past where you’ve successfully managed teams against deadlines. Highlight situations where you chased progress, resolved slippage, and kept projects on track. Concrete examples will show that you can hit the ground running.
✨Demonstrate Your Organisational Skills
The company is looking for someone who can bring order to complexity. During the interview, discuss your methods for keeping teams organised and accountable. Mention any tools you’ve used, like Jira or Asana, to manage tasks and track progress effectively. This will illustrate your ability to maintain a live picture of operations.
✨Be Ready to Discuss AI and Automation
With a focus on operational improvement and AI adoption, be prepared to talk about your experience with AI tools and how you’ve implemented smarter workflows in previous roles. Share any ideas you have for leveraging technology to enhance efficiency, as this will resonate well with their goals.
