Head of Operations in UNITED KINGDOM

Summary

We are looking for a high performer with leadership skills, attention to detail and a willingness to be hands-on in several areas of the business, to help as we simplify, automate and scale.

The Company 

• SpeedyBooker, part of Redburn Innovations, is a travel technology platform located in the centre of beautiful Bury St Edmunds, with exciting plans for the future. 
• We own and operate specialist leisure websites focusing on accommodation but also including activities. They include BeachHuts.com, BritainsFinest.co.uk, FishPal.com, Monasteries.com and UniversityRooms.com.  
• Our booking engine, internally developed over ten years, also powers third party websites. 
• We are building SAAS management tools to upsell to our marketplace properties.
• Our vision is for SpeedyBooker to be the world’s leading collection of specialist leisure booking websites and apps that are no.1 in their markets, backed by our platform and subscription software.
• We aim for a culture of excellence, innovation, collaboration, and accountability in line with our principles of ‘Passion for the product’, ‘Work as a team’, and ‘Commit to personal excellence’.
• Turnover grew over 15% in 2024 to reach a new record of £13.8m, and we are on track for over 20% growth in 2025.
• We donate over £20,000 each year to environmental causes including the World Land Trust.
• We have an exciting opportunity ahead.

Managerial Responsibilities

• Oversee and understand the detail of all aspects of operations, and be responsible for achieving budgets, driving growth and operating margins, whilst also protecting and enhancing our principles and the long-term health of the business.
• Review and implement our operational policies, procedures and standards to drive operational excellence, simplification, automation, and innovation. 
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and financial metrics to assess the company's ongoing performance and make data-driven decisions.
• Overall responsibility for risk, office management, HR, legal and compliance.
• Bank account signatory for fortnightly pay runs.
• You will report to the Executive Chairman and Founder.

Ecommerce Responsibilities

You will be responsible for identifying and exploiting growth opportunities in both supply and demand across our websites.  This will involve:

• Working with our in-house supply/sales team to ensure we recruit and optimise the right vendors in the right locations to satisfy customer demand, in an efficient and scalable way.
• Managing our small marketing team of marketing employees and consultants to drive customer demand in those areas where we have availability.
• Overseeing our vendor/customer support processes.

Product & Project Management responsibilities

The level of detail you are required to achieve in website/software product management will depend on your hours per week.  A full time role will enable you to have a higher level of detail in 1 and 2 below than if you are part-time.

1. Specification Management:
2. Work with product leads and developers to gather and suggest product improvement ideas, and ensure these are translated into lightweight specifications including user journeys and wireframes.
3. Ensure sufficient collaboration between teams to hone specifications pre- and during development.
4. Measure website and admin system performance, including through the use of A/B testing.
5. Project Management:
6. Lead Go/No Go meetings.
7. Oversee process adherence, metrics tracking, and deadline management.
8. Assist in ensuring proper development and testing procedures are followed.
9. Product Roadmap and Backlog Management:
10. Oversee the product roadmap, backlog, and prioritisation process.
11. Lead prioritisation meetings.

Experience, Qualifications and Skills 

Must have: 

• Hands-on operator with attention to detail and willingness to throw your hand to any task.
• People management experience and skills, ideally within a scale-up business.
• Highly organised and driven.
• Proficient with Google Sheets / Excel.

Nice to have (can be learned):

• Ecommerce / online B2C sector experience.
• SaaS experience.
• Project management experience.
• Google analytics.
• Google/Microsoft ads (only sufficient to oversee, not be hands on)
• Paid social/Meta ads (only sufficient to oversee, not be hands on)
• SEO (only sufficient to oversee, not be hands on)

Benefits 

• Opportunity to join an established profitable ecommerce/software business with exciting growth plans for the future. 
• 15% on target bonus.
• Long-term bonus scheme gives employees a share of growth in the value of the company. 
• Employee benefits and rewards scheme.
• Free car parking. 
• Bright office on Cornhill in the centre of Bury St Edmunds: table football, darts, as much coffee and tea as you can drink!
• Relocation allowance if you move to Bury to St Edmunds.
• Generous holiday allowance that rises to 28 days over time, plus bank holidays.
• Paid for training. 
• Company events & social time.
• Free wellbeing and fitness resources. 
• Environmentally conscious business.
• You will be joining a twenty+ strong team of fun and hard-working sales people, account managers, and software developers with a high performance culture.