Head of Operations and People (Maternity Cover)

About Us

Since we were founded in 2007, It’s Nice That has become the leading platform to inspire creativity around the world. Across our online platform, and through our events and social channels, we reach an audience of over 8.3 million people every month – from juniors joining the industry to creative thought leaders.

Creative Lives in Progress is a creative careers resource, on a mission to transform the way emerging talent access, understand and connect with the industry. We promote transparency and representation in the creative industry by sharing advice and insights, highlighting entry-level opportunities, and hosting events that connect talent with employers.

If You Could Jobs is a job board - providing a quick and easy way to browse hundreds of roles across the creative industries.

About the Role

The Head of Operations & People is an influential leadership role that sits within the Shared Services team supporting It’s Nice That, Creative Lives in Progress, and If You Could Jobs. This unique role dovetails our operational strategy with our internal culture and employee experience. Key responsibilities include strategic planning and improving operations processes across these businesses, as well as supporting the attraction, development, and performance of studio talent.

You’ll bring an analytical approach to streamlining our People strategy, ensuring that our employee lifecycle allows for clarity, efficiency, and collaboration. You will work with the Co-Founders and Managing Directors of these businesses to identify operational goals and objectives aligned with each company’s overall vision and revenue targets. You will lead initiatives impacting our culture, talent, and organisational development. In close collaboration with other business leaders, you will drive equity initiatives according to our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) strategy.

No matter what you’re focusing on, you will be the calm mind to manage competing priorities, self motivated in your approach to solving problems, ambitious about our potential, comfortable with ambiguity, and bring strong planning and organisation skills to ensure effective delivery of priorities.

You will work closely with the Co-Founders and MD’s, enabling them to focus on growth and business trajectory rather than being pulled into day-to-day challenges.

Key Responsibilities

Business Operations:

• Develop and implement operational strategies that drive efficiency, reduce costs, and support the companies’ long-term goals
• Set, manage, and review Studio/Operations & People budgets ensuring optimal utilisation of resources and cost-effective solutions
• Lead delivery of large cross-group special projects
• Leverage technology and automation where appropriate to streamline processes
• Ensure that all operational activities are in line with health, safety, and legal regulations
• Regularly review risk management practices and compliance with relevant industry standards and regulations
• Lead Studio Management function by reviewing, delegating and managing priorities
• Regularly audit IT systems and processes, including individual company intranets
• Lead IT and software strategy for the group (supported by the Residence IT team)
• Manage a team of two within Shared Services team (Studio Manager and People Manager), providing direction and clear goals
  

People

• Develop and facilitate the company’s People Strategy, ensuring alignment with broader business objectives
• Drive the strategic roadmap for People systems by identifying, championing, and implementing process and technology overhauls. This includes improving systems impacting the employee lifecycle and experience (e.g., onboarding, recruitment, performance management, offboarding)
• Lead initiatives that promote a positive, inclusive, and high-performance culture that attracts, retains, and motivates top talent
• Lead the People Manager by defining priorities and ensuring the efficient management of all end-to-end people processes, including performance management, development, and employee relations
• In close collaboration with other business leaders, drive equity initiatives according to our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) strateg
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including peers with leadership, managers, employees, and external vendors or consultants
• Lead initiatives to improve employee engagement, satisfaction, and retention, based on employee feedback and data
• Set the direction of learning and development programs that support employee growth and skill enhancement
• Promote employee wellbeing initiatives, including those that promote mental health and DEIB policies

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with leadership to align operational and people strategies with overall business objectives
• Provide regular reports and insights to leadership on relevant operational performance and People metrics
• Lead and manage organisational change initiatives, ensuring smooth transitions, minimal disruption to operations, and employee morale

The ideal candidate

Skills:

• Adaptability - Willingness and ability to adapt their approach depending on the situation and the individuals
• Planning and Organisation - Proven track record of planning complex projects and processes; successfully juggling competing priorities
• Collaboration: Experience working in cross-functional teams to achieve excellent results
• Clear Communication: clear, concise and purposeful communications orally and in writing
• Analysis: able to use a broad range of data and information and reach conclusions and execute appropriate solutions
• Delegation: Can achieve key tasks through others, delegating well and making sure they are working on the most impactful tasks
• Proactivity: Can work independently and proactively, bringing solutions to complex business challenges
• Planning: Can look ahead to ensure competing priorities are well planned or and executed
• Management and Leadership experience: managing a small team and collaborating with executive level peers

Experience Level:

• Deep experience in a similar role, leading and defining operational strategy and execution
• Confidence in management and leadership of multiple reports
• Experience in complex collaboration and communication between different departments and timezones
• Comfortable working independently and bringing ideas forward in a collaborative team setting
• Proactive, positive approach to work – taking responsibility and pride in delivering projects with multiple stakeholders

Key Details

• Salary: £45,600 pro-rata for 4 days (£57,000 before pro-rata)
• Fixed Term Contract (maternity cover for 9-12 months) and Part Time
• Reporting into: Co-Founder
• Level: Head of
• Department: Shared Services
• Hours: Part Time - 4 days per week | 9am to 5:30pm (flexible hours between 8:30am – 6:30pm)
• Location: 2 days based in our London studio on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with the rest of the week at home
• Application deadline: We review applications on a rolling basis and may close this advert early if we receive a high volume of strong candidates. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
• Start date: 23rd February 2026

Please note that we are unable to provide sponsorship for this position, so candidates must have the right to work in the UK.

Benefits

• 27 days annual leave (pro rata for part-time)
• Flexi-time hours (between 8am and 6.30pm)
• 20 days Remote Work from Anywhere
• Enhanced sick leave
• Mental health support via our EAP
• Health cash plan
• 5 week paid sabbatical after 5 years
• End of Year Shutdown period of 4 days between Christmas and New Year
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Learning and Development pot

Do you want to join our team? Then we'd love to hear about you!

We encourage all candidates to apply. We know that some people - especially women and those from underrepresented backgrounds - may be less likely to apply unless they meet every requirement listed. If you're excited about this role but not sure you tick every box, we'd still love to hear from you. Your unique experiences and perspectives could be just what we're looking for.