Head of Operations

The OpportunityNoiseBoys is a specialist audio and lighting installation company with a plan for growth over the next few years. We are looking for someone who will be instrumental in that growth, overseeing our operations and installations and putting systems and structures in place to enable expansion.Over the past 17 years, NoiseBoys has designed, planned and delivered specialist projects nationwide, from heritage spaces to new builds, from cathedrals to race tracks, entertainment venues, theatres, schools and sports stadia. Anywhere people gather, we work, and have built a specialism in heritage and niche projects that require creative thinking.At the heart of the role is building a strong operational team while maintaining the quality of delivery and support that NoiseBoys is known for.The ChallengeWe are a nationwide project-based business. The nature of this means that there are ebbs and flows of work intensity, both of which can be operationally challenging in different ways, and at the same time we are intentionally growing. Developing the existing team and bringing in new people in the midst of live project work means that this will not be a purely desk-based, sitting-still role, but a proactive, hands-on, and self-motivated one.This is a great opportunity for the right person to get stuck in and take ownership, with freedom to build and develop themself and their team, but for those who haven’t done it before, or who have always had existing structures around them, it may be a daunting prospect.The RoleThis senior role is made up of three main responsibilities:Build A Great TeamWe have an existing team of people who deliver our installations, made up of a mix of project managers, practical installers and technical engineers. You will lead the project managers and installation team, setting and maintaining expectations for delivery and developing the people responsible for delivering it. The team are busy, and often out on the road, so development needs to be intentional and planned. Your responsibility will be to get to know the team in person and ensure that they are being developed as individuals in their roles, finding and playing to their strengths, and learning and improving the skills they need for career progression. Build CapacityAs NoiseBoys grows, the operational team needs to grow with it. As Head of Operations you will plan for the people, skills and capacity we need, deciding where to develop existing people, where to recruit and where to use subcontractors, and shaping the structure of the team as it grows.Future workload will be in your remit; you’ll need to work with the sales team to look ahead, understand where capacity will become tight and make changes to maintain our ability to deliver well.Build the OperationAlongside building for the future, you will be responsible for making sure the work we already have is properly planned, delivered and supported. You will also have the freedom and responsibility to improve the systems and processes behind that delivery as we grow. That means having a clear view of all live and upcoming projects, and working with the project managers to ensure that people and resources are allocated effectively. As projects inevitably change, you will support and develop the Project Managers to plan and resource confidently, and to keep customers informed.Our workload has peaks and troughs, and projects don't always go exactly to plan. The Head of Ops needs to be someone who stays close enough to the work to spot problems early, and who gets involved when necessary.The PersonYou will have previous experience of building or significantly growing an operational team, rather than only managing an established one, and experience of managing a team who deliver projects to deadlines and budgets. Experience in lighting or AV projects is not essential to this role (though it would help), but experience of a similar role in a business that delivers technical projects would be advantageous.You will have good commercial awareness, understanding project profitability and on-time delivery.You will have experience of growing teams in a live project environment. You'll be genuinely interested in people and good at developing, motivating and getting the best from them.You will have a practical planning brain, strong organisational skills, the ability to triage requests when it gets busy, and a capacity that makes you somewhat unflappable.You will fit in well with our existing team, who are friendly, down-to-earth and professional. You will work hard and enjoy what you do, communicate openly, support those around you and adapt easily to change.You will be adaptable and self-motivated. This role will comprise a mix of office time and site time, a mix of planning and people, for which you will be held accountable but not heavily managed. You will be able to make the role your own, and you will have the freedom to build, but you will be accountable for accurate weekly reporting against agreed targets and progress.You will work well individually when needed, and you will have the flexibility to work partially from home if that suits, but you will be expected to play an active role in the team, getting to know everyone and contributing to the wider business. Like many roles at NoiseBoys this is not a strict 9–5. Our projects are nationwide, so there will be occasions when you need to travel to where the team is, stay away overnight or help with something outside normal working hours. Equally, we don't expect you to be at a desk within those working hours for the sake of it, or rearrange family life when working flexibly is an option. We expect you to deliver, whilst managing your own time sensibly around what the business and team need.You will be eligible to work in the UK, and have a full UK driving licence.The Offer£55k–£65k basic salary, depending on experienceCar allowancePrivate healthcarePension contributionFlexible working options, including some home workingOngoing training and developmentA senior role with real autonomy and influence over how the operational team growsThe freedom to shape the team, systems and working practices rather than simply inherit an established structureThe opportunity to play a significant part in the growth of NoiseBoysThe Next StepsWhen applying, we'd particularly like to hear what you've built before: the team you started with, how it grew and what your role was in making that happen.