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.

1. 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.

1. 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.

1. 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.

1. 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.

1. 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.

Requirements

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.