Overview
A global due diligence and intelligence consultancy is currently seeking to appoint a Director of Project Operations to join its London-based team.
The Director of Project Operations transforms quality standards into scalable, efficient, AI-enabled project execution while driving continuous operational improvement. This leadership role manages team capacity, orchestrates delivery excellence, and champions technology adoption to optimise client outcomes and financial performance. The Director operates at the intersection of people, process, and technology, ensuring the organisation can handle both steady-state delivery and workload surges while maintaining exceptional quality.
Key Responsibilities
Process Leadership
- Own and continuously improve the project execution playbook through daily and weekly iteration
- Translate quality standards into clear, scalable operational processes defining who does what, when, and with which tools
- Take a data-informed approach to constant process improvement, tracking key metrics and identifying optimization opportunities
- Implement and enforce QA processes at appropriate project stages via checklists, tools, and workflows
Technology & Automation Excellence
- Embrace and drive adoption of technology solutions, both in-house custom-built and off-the-shelf, for operational efficiency
- Champion automation by identifying repetitive tasks for automation
- Test new network partners, digitised data partners and automation tools rapidly with appropriate risk mitigation
- Balance experimentation and improvement with maintaining quality and responsiveness
Team & Resource Management
- Manage down: Assign projects to junior analysts, build skills, drive process adoption, and address performance gaps
- Manage up: Provide visibility into delivery performance, capacity constraints, and improvement
- initiatives
- Strategically manage resourcing including core capacity and surge capacity to handle workload fluctuations
- Identify, solve, and escalate delivery issues quickly and effectively across capacity, skills, and availability
Cross-Functional Collaboration & Delivery
- Collaborate with Director of Product & Chief Analyst, Director, Intelligence Network, and Director,
- Client Success to ensure optimal project execution and client satisfaction
- Execute processes efficiently to meet financial targets through strategic resource allocation
- Solve operational problems including delays, resource constraints, and special client requests
- Utilise network partners as specified and provide performance feedback to relevant stakeholders
Performance Management & Metrics
- Monitor and report on key delivery metrics: on-time delivery, hours per project, hours worked, gross margin, and quality defects
- Use data to drive decision-making and continuous improvement initiatives
- Ensure client commitments and deadlines are consistently met while managing expectations
- Track automation adoption and operational efficiency gains
Key Objectives
- Test new technologies and partners rapidly while mitigating risks appropriately
- Maintain high quality and responsiveness while enabling continuous experimentation and improvement
- Optimise delivery for gross margin targets through intelligent resource allocation and automation
- Build a resilient operation that can flex to handle workload fluctuations without compromising quality
What This Role Does Not Include
- Defining quality standards (enforces and operationalizes existing standards)
- Executing complex client projects directly (orchestrates delivery instead)
- Managing client accounts or negotiating project scope and pricing
- Managing network partners or sourcing new partners directly
Skills, Knowledge & Experience
Experience & Background
- 5+ years of experience in the global due diligence / intelligence / investigations sector
- Demonstrated track record of operational leadership and process improvement
- Experience managing teams and resources in a delivery-focused environment
Mindset & Attributes
- Can-do attitude: Solution-oriented approach to challenges with a bias toward action and a willingness to make and defend difficult priority choices
- Proactive: Anticipates problems, identifies opportunities, and drives improvements without waiting to be asked
- AI enthusiastic: Genuine excitement about leveraging AI and automation to transform operations and delivery
- Comfortable with ambiguity and rapid iteration in a fast-paced environment
- Data-driven decision maker who balances metrics with judgment
Skills
- Strong project and resource management capabilities
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills across all organisational levels
- Ability to translate strategic vision into operational reality
- Process design and continuous improvement expertise
- Comfort with technology adoption and change management
