At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead operations and drive profitability while fostering creativity across global studios.
- Company: YourStudio, a dynamic agency creating next-gen experiences for top brands worldwide.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid work, generous holiday allowance, and private healthcare.
- Other info: Join a culture of collaboration with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Shape the future of creative operations and make a real impact in a vibrant environment.
- Qualifications: Strong leadership skills and experience in operational management.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
About YourStudio
YourStudio is a dynamic strategy and creative agency specialising in next-generation experiences and environments for global brands. With studios in London, Melbourne, New York, and LA, we work supportively as one global team to deliver award-winning retail experiences that are recognised globally.
The Role
The Group Operations Director is a pivotal senior leadership position that shapes both strategic direction and day-to-day reality, navigating the fundamental tension between driving profitability and delivering outstanding creative work. This role serves as the agency’s internal engine focusing on margin protection, operational scalability, and the financial health of our output. You will ensure that the operational infrastructure can deliver on growth promises while setting the commercial standards and culture that underpin long-term success.
What You’ll Do
- Commercial & Margin Leadership
- Drive margin performance across all studios to achieve stretch targets.
- Navigate the inherent tension between margin optimisation and investment in top creative talent and practice.
- Contribute to SOW and Proposal pricing development to ensure client and agency value is represented and target returns are met.
- Monitor project health and step in with creative problem-solving when profitability and resource strain put our margins or team at risk.
- Validate pricing and scoping on new business to ensure margin viability and realistic delivery.
- Partner with the Group FD to maintain financial health and commercial environment, build business cases for strategic investments, and assist in monitoring and maintaining OPEX budget.
- Global Tactical Operations
- Lead the tactical operations of the group, ensuring the structure supports current and future business needs, and aligns with evolving business strategy.
- Implement new structures to improve team collaboration, workflow efficiency, and client experience across London, NYC, LA, and Melbourne.
- Drive consistency in operations, standards, and "one agency" culture across all geographic locations.
- Identify when processes must evolve to support growth without compromising quality.
- Delivery & Project Excellence
- Ensure seamless and efficient project delivery across all studios.
- Oversee, alongside the Group Client Director, the scoping, planning, and operational delivery of all client work.
- Work alongside Creative Directors to shape optimal teaming from existing in-house resources, and plan hiring alongside the Head of People and Creative Ops Manager.
- Work with the Creative Ops Manager to optimise delivery processes and resource planning.
- Ensure realistic scoping that clients can afford and the business can deliver profitably.
- Monitor project health across the portfolio and intervene when needed.
- Continue to evolve the delivery model and overcome team burnout while hitting deadlines.
- Create feedback loops to continuously improve delivery effectiveness.
- Team & Leadership Development
- Work with the Group Head of People to ensure talent planning, building succession plans and leadership pipelines across studios to move the business toward growth goals.
- Foster a culture of excellence, collaboration, and accountability across the global network.
- Partner with the Studio Manager to champion an inclusive, vibrant studio environment that upholds YS values and fuels our global team's energy.
- Work alongside the Group FD and Head of People to ensure team salaries and benefits meet or exceed a competitive marketplace for talent.
- Technology, Infrastructure & Information Security
- Own all the agency’s core tech stack (e.g., Forecast, Hubspot, Slack, Google Workspace).
- Technology change management – co‑manage the process with the Creative Ops Manager.
- AI Journey – Own the evolving AI implementation, tool‑use, ethics, and practice journey.
- Work with partners and IT support to integrate AI tooling within the agency tech stack, and design a full implementation and change management process.
- When live, continually monitor practice, and when fully operational, ensure the scalability and maintenance of the central YS intelligent ‘brain’.
- Information Security – with IT support, ensure the agency continues to work towards globally accepted compliance and governance norms (minimum equivalent SOCII) in handling client data.
- Technology Use – with the Studio Manager, ensure instances and subscriptions are regularly monitored for cost efficiency.
What Success Looks Like in This Role
- Margin Performance – achieving stretch margin targets across all studios.
- Operational Efficiency – utilisation and recovery rates and project profitability.
- Quality Standards – creative output quality and industry recognition.
- Team Health – employee engagement, wellbeing, and retention rates.
- Scalability – successful growth of operational infrastructure as the business expands.
- Master the "And" – find the balance where neither profitability nor creative excellence is sacrificed for the other.
- Operational Scalability – build systems and processes that enable growth rather than constraining it.
- Trust Builder – earn the respect of both financial stakeholders and creative teams by being a "builder of people and systems".
What We Offer
We offer a competitive salary, available upon request, plus our benefits package, which includes:
- We value culture and collaboration, for this reason we operate a 3 day in the office and 2 day WFH hybrid working policy.
- Generous holiday allowance, including 25 days plus bank holidays, a well-being day, 2 community days and your birthday off!
- Alongside additional extra service allowance (pro‑rata for fixed‑term contracts).
- Private Healthcare.
- 2 week Working Abroad Opportunity.
- Opportunities to work from our global studios whilst travelling.
- Dedicated learning platform.
- Enhanced parental leave policies.
- Lunch club, Thursday office drinks, Summer and Christmas parties.
We would love to hear from you! YourStudio is an equal opportunity employer — we welcome applications from all backgrounds and encourage you to apply even if you don't meet every requirement. Accommodations are available upon request throughout the recruitment process.
Group Operations Director employer: YourStudio | B Corp Certified
YourStudio is an exceptional employer that fosters a vibrant and inclusive work culture, offering a unique blend of creativity and operational excellence. With a competitive benefits package, including generous holiday allowances, private healthcare, and opportunities for global travel, employees are empowered to grow both personally and professionally. The agency's commitment to collaboration and employee well-being, alongside its innovative approach to creative projects, makes it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding careers in a dynamic environment.
Contact Details:
YourStudio | B Corp Certified Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Group Operations Director
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their projects and values so you can show how you fit into their vision. Tailor your responses to highlight your experience in margin performance and operational efficiency.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or mentors to refine your answers and boost your confidence. Focus on articulating how you can drive profitability while maintaining creative excellence.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of our dynamic team at YourStudio.
We think you need these skills to ace Group Operations Director
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for the role shine through! We want to see how excited you are about joining our team and contributing to the amazing work we do at YourStudio.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to highlight your relevant experience and skills that align with the Group Operations Director role. We love seeing how your background fits into our vision and values!
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so make sure your key achievements and experiences are easy to spot. This helps us understand your potential impact on our team.
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. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at YourStudio | B Corp Certified
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Group Operations Director, you'll need to demonstrate your understanding of margin performance and financial health. Brush up on key metrics related to profitability and be ready to discuss how you've driven margin improvements in previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
This role requires strong leadership skills. Prepare examples of how you've fostered a culture of excellence and collaboration in your teams. Think about specific instances where you’ve built trust with both financial stakeholders and creative teams.
✨Understand the Creative Balance
You’ll need to navigate the tension between profitability and creative excellence. Be prepared to discuss how you’ve successfully balanced these two aspects in past projects, ensuring that neither is sacrificed for the other.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Tech Tools
Since the role involves owning the agency’s core tech stack, make sure you’re familiar with tools like Forecast, Hubspot, and Google Workspace. Be ready to discuss your experience with technology change management and how you’ve implemented new systems in the past.
