Think Specialist Recruitment is working with a business based in Wolverhampton who are looking for a highly organised, commercially aware Business Operations Manager/Chief of Staff to work directly alongside the Managing Director, acting as a true right-hand across a dynamic and fast-moving group of businesses.

This is a pivotal role at the centre of the organisation ideal for someone who thrives on bringing structure, keeping operations on track, and ensuring people deliver what they say they will. You’ll sit between strategic leadership and day-to-day execution, making sure everything runs smoothly across the business.

If you’re naturally proactive, operationally sharp, and enjoy being the person who “makes things happen”, this role offers real ownership and influence.

The Role

You’ll be the bridge between the Managing Director and the wider business taking ownership of operational cadence, financial visibility, compliance coordination, and stakeholder management.

You’ll also play a key role in managing external partners, including the outsourced HR function, ensuring alignment, accountability, and smooth day-to-day delivery.

Ultimately, your focus will be to keep the business running efficiently, freeing up the Managing Director to concentrate on growth, client relationships, and strategic direction.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Oversee day-to-day activity across recruitment, transport, and subcontract project delivery
• Ensure smooth workflows across onboarding, timesheets, payroll inputs, and invoicing
• Track mobilisation across live infrastructure projects and keep timelines on course
• Maintain clear operational reporting and performance dashboards

• Work closely with finance support and external accountants on cashflow, ledgers, and forecasting
• Monitor margins, costs, and project profitability, challenging where needed
• Oversee aged debt and credit control processes
• Support budgeting and performance tracking across the business

• Ensure all workforce and subcontractor compliance is up to date (Right to Work, IR35, training, insurance, etc.)
• Maintain audit-ready documentation for clients and frameworks
• Coordinate onboarding and compliance requirements across infrastructure projects

• Act as the main point of contact for agents, tenants, and contractors
• Oversee maintenance, compliance certifications, and property performance

• Drive weekly reporting rhythms (WIP, cashflow, performance)
• Keep priorities on track and ensure follow-through across key initiatives
• Prepare concise briefings for meetings and decision-making
• Support delivery of strategic projects and operational improvements

Skills and Experience required:

• Experience in a business or operations management role within an SME environment - (recruitment, construction, infrastructure, or engineering sectors are advantageous)
• Strong commercial awareness with confidence around financials (cashflow, margins, debt)
• Highly organised with the ability to manage multiple moving parts
• Comfortable holding others accountable and driving standards
• Experience working with external providers (finance, HR, suppliers)
• Strong Excel and systems capability

The successful candidate will be:

• Proactive and solutions-focused
• Calm under pressure and able to prioritise effectively
• Discreet and trustworthy with sensitive information
• Comfortable working autonomously while staying closely aligned with leadership

This is more than a traditional operations role; it’s a position of real trust and influence at the heart of the business.

You’ll have the opportunity to shape how things run, bring clarity to complexity, and play a key role in driving performance across multiple business areas.

If you enjoy ownership, visibility, and being the person who keeps everything moving forward, this is a role where you can make a genuine impact.

Looking for the next step in your career? Think Specialist Recruitment.

Think Specialist Recruitment is an independent support staff recruitment agency based in Hemel Hempstead and working across the Herts, Beds and Bucks area. We specialise in permanent, temporary and contract recruitment with areas of expertise including: administration, customer service/call centre, PA/secretarial, human resources, accountancy and finance, sales admin/sales support, marketing and IT Helpdesk/IT support.

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