Azura Search is currently partnered with a well-known environmental fund whose key mission is to support the world on meeting global net zero emission by no later than 2050.
The Director of Operations will lead all aspects of the operational functions of the business. Reporting to the Chief Executive, you will provide strong leadership to the Operations team, ensuring that the business's financial and operational systems support our strategic objectives. The primary focus of this role is operationalizing the organization’s strategy, building scalable systems, and leading efficient activities.
This role is ideal for someone with experience in scaling operational frameworks and infrastructure that will enable us to scale our outputs and support strategic, mission-aligned growth. With a focus on co-creating solutions across teams, this position requires a detail-oriented leader who excels at operationalizing strategy, managing growth, and establishing robust processes that set us up for long-term success.
This role requires a combination of strategic oversight and hands-on management, making sure the finer details, from vendor contracts to legal and tax structures to software systems, are fit for purpose and support smooth financial and business operations.
Key responsibilities:
Strategic Operations Leadership
* Collaborate with the Chief Executive and Leadership Team to derive organizational strategy and goals.
* Develop long-term operational plans that align with the business's mission and support mission-aligned growth.
* Build a strong operational foundation that allows the organization to scale and grow efficiently, across finance, business operations and systems, legal, risk governance and client/user journeys.
Financial Oversight & Resource Allocation
* Manage the Head of Finance to ensure that financial planning, budgeting, and resource allocation support operational goals.
* Monitor financial performance to ensure organizational sustainability, adjusting budgets and spending as needed to align with strategic priorities.
* Support fundraising and grant management efforts by ensuring operational structures are in place to effectively manage funds and resources.
* Manage resources effectively to ensure operational scalability while supporting ambitious growth goals.
Development & Growth
* Establish the infrastructure required for scaling the organization’s reach through partnerships and stakeholders, specifically focused on dynamic users of the business's direct outputs who can drive change.
* Lead efforts to grow the business's activities and impact, in both providing solutions to new themes, industries and geographies.
* Ensure operational readiness for scaling user-defined products, including vendor onboarding, user service frameworks and operational support systems.
Operational Excellence & Efficiency
* Drive improvements across operational systems and processes to enhance efficiency and scalability.
* Oversee the creation and refinement of policies, processes, and tools that enhance efficiency and productivity.
* Monitor and ensure the achievement of key performance indicators (KPIs) related to day to day operations and organizational growth.
Team Management & Leadership
* Build and nurture a high-performing team, cultivating a culture of accountability and focusing on continuous improvement and professional growth.
* Promote a culture of innovation, ensuring that operations are responsive to the shifting external environment.
* Foster collaboration across departments to streamline operations, eliminate silos and drive collective organizational success.
Governance & Risk Management
* Ensure operational compliance with all relevant governance policies, legal requirements, and regulations, working closely with the Head of Business Operations.
* Oversee risk management strategies to safeguard organizational assets and mitigate operational risks.
* Maintain strong relationships with the Board of Directors, providing updates on operational performance and risk management.
Qualifications & Experience:
* 10+ years’ experience in senior operations roles, with a track record of operationalizing an evolving strategy. You've seen what good looks like and you know what it takes to build something from the ground up.
* A proven track record of scaling operations and co-creating solutions across multiple functions.
* Strong leadership and team management skills with the ability to motivate and guide direct reports.
* Demonstrated ability to build and scale operational systems, processes, and teams.
* Experience managing the operational launch of tools or services, particularly in growth-oriented environments.
* Experience in business development, especially in expanding into new markets and scaling products.
* Strong understanding of operational systems, processes, and governance
* Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with senior leadership, boards, and external stakeholders.
* Strong business acumen with the ability to implement customer service frameworks and operational readiness strategies.
Skills & Competencies:
* Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
* Strong leadership and team-building abilities, with a focus on developing high-performance teams.
* Ability to navigate complex regulatory environments and manage risk effectively.
* Strategic mindset with a hands-on approach to implementing fit for purpose solutions.
* Experience with vendor management, customer service frameworks, and operational scaling in product-based environments ideal.
Inclusion and Diversity
Building a diverse and inclusive team is vital to achieving the companies goals. As such, all applications regardless of age, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity, perspective, or flexible working requirements. Hiring great people who can work well as a team and constructively contribute to the betterment of the organisation and the common goal. If this sounds like you, regardless of who you are, your application is welcome.