Associate Director - Operations Transformation Lead

We are seeking an experienced Transformation Lead to drive operational transformation across a financial or professional services organisation.

The successful candidate will have experience delivering cross-functional change across core functions including HR, Finance, Delivery, Commercial, Operations and Technology. They will understand operational interdependencies, assess improvement opportunities and work directly with leaders to implement practical, sustainable change.

This is a hands-on delivery role rather than a governance or PMO position. The role requires someone who can identify issues, evaluate options, manage dependencies and personally drive implementation to achieve measurable business outcomes.

Experience within a private equity-backed portfolio company, value creation environment or operational transformation function is highly desirable..

Key Responsibilities

Operational Transformation

• Lead operational improvement initiatives across multiple business functions.
• Assess operational challenges, identify opportunities and develop practical solutions.
• Understand end-to-end processes and manage impacts across functions.
• Support process improvement, organisational effectiveness and operating model changes.
• Drive measurable improvements in operational performance, efficiency and scalability.
• Partner with functional leaders to embed sustainable change.
  
  

Transformation Delivery and Execution

• Translate business priorities into actionable transformation initiatives.
• Lead delivery from problem definition through implementation.
• Evaluate options, assess impacts and support decision making.
• Manage cross-functional dependencies, risks and delivery challenges.
• Coordinate activity across multiple workstreams and stakeholders.
• Remove obstacles and maintain momentum to ensure successful outcomes.
• Track benefits and intervene where delivery or outcomes are at risk.
  
  

Commercial and Value Creation

• Develop business cases and value realisation plans.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, productivity and performance.
• Analyse operational and financial data to support decision making.
• Quantify benefits and monitor delivery of outcomes.
• Ensure recommendations are commercially viable and operationally practical.
  
  

Stakeholder Leadership and Engagement

• Build trusted relationships with executives, operational leaders and SMEs.
• Facilitate workshops, problem-solving sessions and decision-making forums.
• Drive alignment across functions and competing priorities.
• Present recommendations, progress and outcomes to senior stakeholders.
• Produce high-quality PowerPoint materials for executive audiences.
• Influence through credibility, collaboration and practical expertise.
  
  

Essential

Experience & Background

• Significant experience leading operational transformation, operational excellence or business improvement programmes.
• Strong understanding of HR, Finance, Delivery, Commercial Operations and Technology functions.
• Experience working directly with operational leaders to define problems, assess options and implement change.
• Proven ability to manage complex cross-functional dependencies and operational impacts.
• Experience delivering large-scale change across multiple business functions.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, including business cases and benefits realisation.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret operational and financial performance data.
• Advanced PowerPoint and strong Excel capability.
• Experience influencing senior stakeholders and driving delivery through collaboration.
• Demonstrated ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution.
  
  

Relevant Career Backgrounds

• Operational Transformation Lead.
• Business Operations or Value Creation Lead.
• Operational Excellence or Continuous Improvement Leader.
• Transformation Lead within a PE-backed portfolio company.
• Senior operational leadership role involving large-scale business change.
  
  

Desirable

• Experience within a private equity-backed portfolio company.
• Exposure to value creation or post-acquisition transformation programmes.
• Experience in high-growth or investor-led environments.
• Experience presenting to boards or executive committees.
• Knowledge of financial services or professional services operating models.
• Relevant qualifications in programme delivery, operational excellence, finance or business management.
  
  

Functional Expertise

Candidates are likely to bring deep experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Operational Management and Business Operations.
• Programme and Project Delivery.
• Technology and IT Infrastructure Transformation.
• Finance Operations.
• HR Operations and People Services.
• Shared Services and Corporate Functions.
• Service Delivery and Customer Operations.
• Process Improvement and Operational Excellence.
  
  

Whilst candidates are not expected to be specialists in every function, they should understand how changes in one area impact other parts of the business and be able to work effectively across functional boundaries.

Skills & Attributes

• Hands-on, pragmatic and delivery focused.
• Strong understanding of operational interdependencies.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• Strong dependency management and problem-solving capability.
• Commercially minded with sound business judgement.
• Analytical, structured and outcome focused.
• Comfortable operating in fast-paced environments.
• Able to simplify complexity and drive action.
• Collaborative, resilient and low ego.
• Strong PowerPoint communication and storytelling skills.
  
  

Measures of Success

Success in the role will be demonstrated through:

• Delivery of measurable operational and financial improvements.
• Successful implementation of cross-functional transformation initiatives.
• Effective management of dependencies, risks and delivery challenges.
• Strong engagement and partnership with operational leaders.
• Delivery of agreed value creation and efficiency objectives.
• Sustainable adoption of operational improvements across the organisation