Operations Manager
Leeds (Hybrid) or Cheltenham (Hybrid) | Full-time
Who we are
Vector Talent is a specialist executive search firm in life sciences, pharma, CRO and CDMO. Founded in 2021, we’ve grown into a globally trusted partner for some of the most demanding clients in the sector, with a strong presence in the US and Europe.
We operate globally with a strong US presence, placing talent across multiple functional areas, with currently two offices in Leeds and Cheltenham, with further targeted locations. Our blend of technology and people is our edge. Our systems are what let us scale it.
The foundations are solid. The next chapter is bigger.
The opportunity
We’re hiring an Operations Manager to own the operational infrastructure of the business as we scale. This is a senior role with real autonomy from day one, and scope that grows as the business grows.
You’ll report to the COO with a strong working relationship with the CEO. You’ll sit alongside the leadership team, and your decisions will shape how Vector runs, how it scales, and how it competes.
How we think about technology
We lean hard on technology, but we keep humans in the loop. We believe the best operators in the next decade will be the ones who know what to automate, what to keep human, and when to introduce new tools without disrupting what already works.
You’ll be the person making those calls. You’ll scan the landscape for new technology, AI capabilities, and process improvements, evaluate them against our actual needs, and bring them in at the right time. Not the latest tool for its own sake. The right tool, at the right moment, embedded properly.
Why is this role different
• You’re joining a firm that already takes technology and process seriously. You’ll be extending an advantage, not building one from scratch.
• Real ownership, not box-checking. You’re trusted to diagnose, design, and implement.
• Direct line to the COO and a strong working relationship with the CEO.
• Scope to build operational infrastructure that compounds as we grow.
What you’ll own
- Tech stack: ATS, automation, AI tooling, reporting, BI
- Identifying, evaluating, and introducing new technology at the right time
- Suppliers, contracts, insurance, facilities
- Onboarding, training, and knowledge systems
- ISO 27001 and Cyber Essentials roadmap
- Marketing operations and podcast
- People operations across the employee lifecycle
What we need
- 3+ years running operations at pace, ideally in a staffing (recruitment or talent acquisition) environment
- Hands-on with CRM/ATS, automation
- A genuine interest in AI and how it changes business workflows
- Judgement to know what to adopt, what to ignore, and when to introduce change
- Systems thinker with commercial instincts
- Comfortable with ambiguity, biased to action
- Since we are a global business, we flex based on the needs of our customers
To apply: message Jack Shute or Neil Kelly for more information on LinkedIn, or apply below.
#hiring #operations #lifesciences #AI
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