Overview
We are seeking an experienced Head of Operations to lead the day-to-day performance of an established UK property and hospitality business.
This is a senior, hands-on leadership role within a lean, founder-led business, working directly with the CEO. Our operation combines remote team members, UK-based operational staff, contractors and suppliers.
We are looking for a player-coach: someone capable of getting into the operational detail and stepping in when genuinely necessary, but whose natural approach is to create clear ownership, develop people, improve processes and ensure the business does not become dependent on one individual.
Your success will be measured by how effectively the operation performs through the people, processes and systems around you - not by how many problems you personally solve.
Key Responsibilities
- Take ownership of day-to-day operational performance and ensure priorities are delivered.
- Lead, support and hold accountable a lean team across remote and UK-based operations.
- Translate CEO/business priorities into clear actions, owners, deadlines and measurable outcomes.
- Maintain visibility across customer experience, property standards, cleaning, maintenance, revenue activity and operational performance.
- Identify underperformance, missed deadlines and operational risks early and ensure corrective action is taken.
- Remain close enough to the operation to investigate issues, understand systems and step in practically when genuinely required.
- Ensure recurring business-critical processes and operational controls happen accurately and on time.
- Oversee effective recruitment, onboarding, training and performance management.
- Improve systems and processes through simplification, automation and effective delegation.
- Ensure critical processes are documented, appropriately backed up and do not depend solely on one person's knowledge.
- Manage relationships with key contractors and suppliers.
- Provide the CEO with concise, accurate operational reporting without requiring them to continually chase for information.
- Make confident operational decisions within agreed authority and escalate significant financial, contractual or commercial decisions appropriately.
About You
We are particularly interested in candidates who have successfully led operations within an SME, founder-led, entrepreneurial or similarly lean business.
You will ideally have:
- Proven experience in an Operations Manager, Head of Operations, General Manager or similar leadership role.
- Experience leading small or lean teams and getting results without multiple management layers.
- Strong experience managing people, performance and accountability.
- The ability to lead both remote and operational/frontline team members.
- A hands-on approach and willingness to get into the detail when required.
- Strong commercial awareness and understanding of how operations affect revenue, customer experience and profitability.
- Excellent organisation, follow-through and attention to detail.
- Strong problem-solving and process-improvement skills.
- Confidence addressing underperformance and having difficult conversations.
- Excellent written and spoken English.
- High levels of integrity, judgement and transparency.
- Confidence learning and using multiple operational systems.
Previous experience working with a UK business is highly desirable. Property, hospitality, accommodation or another operationally intensive service environment would be advantageous.
The Person We're Looking For
This role will suit someone who can lead from the front without becoming the entire operation.
You don't need a large corporate structure or multiple layers of management around you to be effective. Equally, your instinct isn't to personally take over every problem.
When something goes wrong, you are willing to step in if necessary - but you also ask:
Why did this happen? Who should own it? What needs to change so it doesn't happen again?
We are looking for someone who can keep the operation moving today while continually building a stronger, more accountable and less dependent business for tomorrow.
Working Arrangement
This is a full-time remote position, working with a UK-based business.
Substantial alignment with UK working hours is required, along with a professional home-working environment, reliable high-speed internet and backup connectivity.
This is a confidential recruitment process. Further information about the company and its operations will be shared with suitable candidates as they progress.
Pay: R60 000,00 - R70 000,00 per year
Application Question(s):
- Briefly describe the most recent operation you were responsible for, including the approximate size of the team and your main areas of responsibility.
- Have you previously managed a remote or distributed team? If yes, please briefly describe your experience.
- This position supports a UK-based business and requires substantial alignment with UK working hours. Are you able and willing to work consistently within UK business hours?
Experience:
- Operations Management: 3 years (Required)
Language:
Work Location: Remote
