Operations Director

Operations Director

Contract: Initial six-month contract, with the possibility of becoming permanent

Location: Globally based / remote, with reliable working-hour overlap with the London head office and flexibility to work across time zones

Salary: Dependent on location and experience (London salary benchmarked at circa £75,000 - £80,000), with flexibility for an experienced interim appointment

Start: As soon as possible

Altum Consulting is partnering with a start-up, global health-focussed NGO with a unique and highly effective approach to solving a major global health issue. The organisation is growing with secure funding and is now seeking an Operations Director to strengthen the infrastructure supporting its international work.

Its approach is grounded in evidence, data and cost-effectiveness. With a growing team working across countries and time zones, it needs operational systems and processes that are reliable, proportionate and able to support further expansion.

This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who enjoys building and improving how an organisation works. You will bring rigour to systems, technology, compliance and administration, while keeping processes practical for the people using them.

The start-up context is central to the role. Some foundations are already in place; others need developing or adapting as the organisation grows. You will need to assess what matters most, establish clear ownership and deliver improvements while keeping day-to-day operations running.

Responsibilities

• Reviewing operational arrangements and setting clear priorities for the initial six-month period.
• Strengthening systems, technology and processes to support a growing, globally distributed team.
• Improving workflows, integrations and automation to reduce manual work and make information more reliable.
• Establishing clear responsibilities, controls and documentation across operational activities.
• Coordinating legal and compliance requirements across jurisdictions, working with internal colleagues and external advisers.
• Managing relationships with technology providers, suppliers and other operational partners.
• Supporting people operations and administration where needed, ensuring arrangements keep pace with growth.
• Leading and supporting operational colleagues, maintaining clear expectations and consistent standards.
• Working with senior leaders to identify operational risks, resolve problems and plan for future capacity.

Requirements

• Senior operational experience in a start-up, growing organisation or an environment undergoing substantial change.
• A track record of building or improving systems, processes and organisational infrastructure.
• Strong understanding of technology and business systems, with the ability to assess needs and manage technical delivery.
• Experience overseeing compliance, risk and legal matters, including coordinating specialist advice.
• The ability to establish proportionate controls and reliable ways of working across teams and locations.
• Strong supplier management, project delivery and stakeholder communication skills.
• Experience leading people and improving the quality and consistency of a team's work.
• A practical approach, sound judgement and the willingness to get involved in detail.
• An interest in evidence, efficiency and cost-effectiveness, with an understanding of how effective operations support organisational impact.

Your background could be in an NGO, a start-up or another internationally focused organisation. Finance expertise would be useful, but the emphasis is on operational leadership, systems, compliance and the quality of delivery.

For further information or a confidential discussion, please contact Altum Consulting.