Head of Operations

About the organisation

This role sits within a rapidly expanding, purpose-led organisation that provides high-quality one-to-one support services to learners across the UK, including young people and adults with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) as well as other vulnerable groups. The organisation’s success depends on strong people leadership, dependable service delivery, and a deep commitment to safeguarding and excellence.

As the business enters a significant growth phase, it is looking for an experienced Head of Operations to take charge of key operational areas, strengthen processes, and ensure delivery remains safe, consistent, and high quality at scale.

Role overview

This is a senior leadership position with end-to-end accountability for operational delivery. You will oversee safeguarding and compliance, recruitment and onboarding, and quality assurance/service standards. The role calls for a commercially aware, hands-on leader who can design scalable systems, guide teams effectively, and create a culture focused on quality and accountability.

You will help ensure the right people are in the right place at the right time, while maintaining the highest standards of safeguarding, compliance, and service quality.

Key responsibilities

• Take ownership of safeguarding policy, processes, and organisational culture, and keep them continuously improving.
• Serve as the senior lead responsible for safeguarding and compliance standards.
• Ensure all professionals meet strict vetting requirements, including Enhanced DBS checks, references, and ongoing compliance monitoring.
• Manage safeguarding training, audit activity, and incident handling processes.
• Maintain compliance with applicable legal, regulatory, and sector-specific requirements.
• Lead the full recruitment and onboarding function, ensuring adequate pipeline coverage across subjects and locations.
• Develop proactive sourcing approaches across channels such as professional networks, job boards, and referrals.
• Make the candidate journey efficient from application through to readiness for placement.
• Track and improve hiring performance measures such as time-to-fill, conversion, and onboarding lead time.
• Build, lead, and develop a strong recruitment and onboarding team.
• Set and implement clear quality standards across all service delivery activity.
• Measure performance using data such as satisfaction scores, retention, and outcomes.
• Create structured feedback loops that support ongoing improvement.
• Spot delivery risks or gaps early and take action to reduce impact.
• Ensure professionals are prepared, supported, and aligned with organisational expectations.
• Own and report on operational KPIs across recruitment, compliance, quality, and retention.
• Create scalable workflows, systems, and reporting structures to support continued expansion.
• Keep real-time visibility of pipeline health, capacity, and regional coverage.
• Use data and insight to shape decisions and improve operations.
• Work closely with senior leaders to align operations with business growth goals.
• Lead, coach, and develop teams across recruitment, onboarding, and quality.
• Promote a high-performance culture with clear ownership, KPIs, and progression pathways.
• Set direction strategically while remaining closely connected to day-to-day operations.
• Encourage collaboration and a mission-led approach across the business.

Candidate profile

You should bring substantial experience in an operational leadership role within recruitment, education, healthcare, or another regulated, safeguarding-led environment. A background in scaling multi-functional teams is important, along with experience across recruitment, compliance, onboarding, or service delivery.

Strong knowledge of safeguarding and compliance best practice is essential, as is a commercial mindset and the ability to scale processes effectively. You’ll need to be comfortable using data and reporting to guide decisions, and you should also bring excellent organisation, problem-solving ability, and confidence when influencing stakeholders at all levels.

The ideal person will have a hands-on leadership style, strong attention to detail, and a genuine commitment to making a positive impact through high-quality services.

Rewards and benefits

• Salary of £65,000 to £80,000, plus a performance-related bonus.
• 25 days of annual leave, in addition to bank holidays.
• Pension provision and wellbeing support.
• Hybrid working, with up to 2 days working from home.
• Clear opportunities for progression within a growing organisation.
• A senior leadership role with the chance to make a meaningful difference in a mission-driven environment.

Safeguarding requirement

The organisation is committed to protecting children and young people. The successful applicant will need to complete an Enhanced DBS check, including the Children’s Barred List, and provide satisfactory references before starting employment.

Equality and adjustments

The employer is an equal opportunities organisation and encourages applications from candidates of all backgrounds. Reasonable adjustments can be provided during the recruitment process on request.

Additional information

This position is based in Redhill, Surrey, with a hybrid working pattern and up to two days per week working from home. It is a full-time, permanent role.

The role is suited to someone who wants to take ownership of a critical operational function within a growing organisation and help scale its impact responsibly and effectively.