Director of Operations

Overview

Blue Gem Holdings Ltd runs some of London’s most premium workspaces. The business creates, builds and operates hospitality-led environments for highly selective organisations. Excellence, precision and strong attention to detail define the brand, and the company is scaling quickly.

This leadership role is for someone who already operates like an owner and is ready for board-level accountability. You will oversee the full portfolio, take responsibility for performance and P&L across the business, and mobilise new buildings from fit-out through to handover. The role includes direct reporting to the CEO and a seat on the Board from the outset.

Why this opportunity stands out

• Board authority from day one, with no shadow period.
• Full portfolio ownership rather than responsibility for only one part of the business.
• Commercial control over pricing, yield, upsell and supplier negotiations.
• Director-level reward aligned to the scope of the role.
• Responsibility for every new centre opening, including launch readiness and handover.
• High standards expected across a premium, client-facing environment.

Key responsibilities

• Oversee operations across multiple sites and the full portfolio.
• Negotiate group-wide agreements with suppliers, contractors and procurement partners.
• Lead, coach and hold accountable the Business Manager team across all locations.
• Manage cross-site compliance activity, including standards, health and safety, fire and risk audits.
• Own business-wide P&L, revenue and budget performance.
• Control capex, refurbishment and reconfiguration programmes.
• Lead end-to-end mobilisations for new centre openings, from fit-out to handover.
• Implement systems and process rollouts across the organisation.
• Protect brand consistency and service quality at every site.
• Improve commercial results through pricing, yield management and upsell.
• Handle complex and escalated client matters.
• Contribute at Board level and report directly to the CEO.

What success looks like

• Strong portfolio-level financial performance versus plan.
• Audit results that demonstrate consistent excellence across every site.
• Successful launch and mobilisation of new buildings.
• Delivery of SMART goals for client retention and events.
• Regular, effective reporting rhythm with the CEO and Board.

Profile of the right candidate

The business is looking for a highly capable operator who thrives in senior leadership and can manage dispersed teams through other managers. You should be commercially sharp, financially fluent, well organised and able to prioritise decisively. The role suits someone who communicates confidently at all levels, builds strong relationships, negotiates effectively, stays calm during change and pressure, and brings a strategic, analytical and problem-solving mindset.

Background and requirements

• A degree or an equivalent track record that clearly demonstrates career achievement.
• 8 to 15 years of operational leadership experience.
• Full P&L responsibility across a multi-site portfolio.
• Experience leading multi-site teams indirectly through managers, not only through direct reporting lines.
• Board-level exposure, or experience operating at that level in practice.
• Helpful industry background: serviced offices, premium real estate, hospitality, luxury retail or members’ clubs.
• Full legal right to work in the UK.

Package

Base salary is £85,000 to £90,000, plus a 50% company bonus. The role also includes a Board seat from day one, full portfolio P&L ownership, direct reporting to the CEO, cross-portfolio exposure with Sales, Commercial and Finance, and responsibility for every new centre opening.

Working style

This is a full-time, onsite leadership position in the London Area, United Kingdom.

About the team

You will work closely with Richard Matthews, Commercial Director and Board Director, who joined as Revenue Manager in 2019 and now oversees licence agreements, pricing and a 500-strong broker network. You will also partner with Gurmeet Josen, Financial Controller and Board Director, who manages the control function for a £30m business and leads the Group’s AI integration agenda. The finance function is positioned to support Operations rather than oversee it punitively.

Additional information

The company is not seeking generic CV submissions; it is looking to fill a Board seat. Applicants are asked to explain, in their own words, why they believe they are the right person for this position.