Head of operations

Key Responsibilities

1. Operational Leadership & Strategy:

· Develop and implement operational strategies, policies, and procedures to enhance efficiency and scalability across the agency.

· Oversee the entire project lifecycle, ensuring seamless workflow from client brief to final delivery.

· Act as a bridge between the creative, accounts, strategy, and finance departments to ensure alignment and collaboration.

2. Project & Program Management:

· Utilize expert project management skills to plan, execute, and finalize projects according to strict deadlines and budgets.

· Implement and manage project management methodologies and tools to track progress and performance.

· Proactively identify and mitigate project risks and resolve operational issues swiftly.

3. Team Management & Development:

· Lead, mentor, and inspire a cross-functional operations team, including project managers, traffic managers, and coordinators.

· Foster a culture of high performance, continuous improvement, and accountability.

· Conduct performance reviews, facilitate training, and support career development for team members.

4. Financial Management & Cost Optimization:

· Own the agency's operational budget, focusing on rigorous cost optimization without compromising on quality or creativity.

· Analyze operational costs, identify areas for efficiency gains, and implement cost-saving measures.

· Work with the finance department to improve project profitability and resource allocation.

5. Client & Vendor Relations:

· Leverage superior negotiation skills to manage contracts with vendors, media houses, production partners, and freelancers.

· Occasionally step in to support the accounts team in high-stakes client negotiations and relationship management.

6. Process Improvement:

· Apply a systematic and analytical approach (a significant plus of an engineering background) to diagnose operational bottlenecks and design robust solutions.

· Standardize and document core processes to ensure consistency and quality in all deliverables.

Qualifications & Experience

· Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field. An MBA or Master's is a plus.

· Must have 7+ years of operational management experience, with a significant portion spent within an advertising firm or a related creative agency.

· Proven expertise in Project Management and Project Planning, with a certification like PMP/PRINCE2 being a strong advantage.

· Demonstrable experience in Team Management and leadership.

· Strong background in financial management and cost optimization strategies.

Required Skills & Competencies

· Exceptional Project Management Skills: Mastery in planning, scheduling, resource allocation, and risk management.

· Strategic Negotiator: Outstanding negotiation skills with a proven ability to secure favorable terms.

· Analytical Problem-Solver: Ability to use data and metrics to drive operational decisions. (The engineering background is a significant plus here.)

· Leadership & People Management: Inspirational leader who can build, motivate, and retain high-performing teams.

· Financial Acumen: Strong understanding of budgeting, forecasting, and cost control.

· Excellent Communication: Fluent in both verbal and written English, with the ability to communicate effectively with all stakeholders.

· Resilience: Thrives in a fast-paced, high-pressure, and deadline-driven environment.