Director, Strategic Operations (6 month FTC)

1637 - Director, Strategic Operations (6 month FTC) - UK

Role Summary and Impact 

We are seeking an exceptionally seasoned and dynamic Director, Strategic Operations, UK to lead the project management, execution, tracking, and delivery of our business-critical "One Company" project portfolio. 

Reporting directly to the VP, Strategic Operations, UK and working alongside the COO, you will take the EXCO "Plan on a Page" and turn it into clear, connected actions across the business - making progress visible, setting rigorous PM frameworks, holding workstream owners to account, and keeping projects moving forward. 

This role requires a heavy-hitting portfolio/programme/project management expert who thrives in a high-visibility environment. You are not just a manager of timelines - you are a strategic driver - an operational leader who knows how to align complex teams to deliver exceptional results. 

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Delivery & Portfolio Execution

• Drive "One Company" Projects: Drive the end-to-end execution of company-wide, critical operational projects from business case / inception through delivery, ensuring alignment with executive business goals. 

• Work Breakdown & Task Management: Translate high-level priorities into clear, practical deliverables - defining detailed Work Breakdown Structures (WBS), timelines, key milestones, dependencies, and precise task ownership. 

• Portfolio & Resource Optimisation: Oversee the master project portfolio across business streams (e.g., people, finance, data, tech, operations). Optimise resource allocation, balance competing priorities, identify capacity constraints, and ensure high-value initiatives are delivered on time and within scope. 

• Keep Things Moving: Work directly with business leads to solve problems, clear blockers, and ensure projects cross the finish line on time.

Governance, Frameworks & Strict Accountability

• Set & Embed Frameworks: Assess existing delivery methodologies and establish best-in-class PM standard operating procedures, tools, and KPIs. Embed simple, practical project toolkits (e.g., Business Case Templates, Project Charters, Portfolio Reports, RACI matrices, RAID logs, and milestone plans) across all initiatives. 

• Hold Teams Accountable: Drive a culture of accountability and precision. Establish clear ownership for every workstream, leading regular portfolio/project reviews and huddles to keep business leads strictly accountable for their deliverables and commitments. 

• Light-Touch Governance: Run light but highly effective tracking. Cut out unnecessary paperwork and "admin for the sake of admin," focusing purely on actions, outputs, and operational efficiency. 

Transparent Reporting & Executive Visibility

• Single Source of Truth: Maintain and own the central executive plan, providing senior leadership with absolute transparency on progress, RAG status, RAID logs, percent-completes, and capacity. 

• Stakeholder Alignment & Escalation: Serve as the key connective tissue between senior leadership, department heads, and execution teams. Communicate project health, risks, and strategic trade-offs effectively, maintaining a direct line of communication with the VP, Strategic Operations and COO to escalate risks