THE DETAILS:

Job Title: Operations Manager
Department: Operations
Reports to: Director of Operations
Responsible for: No direct reports
Hours: Full time, 12 month fixed-term contract, with potential to become permanent
Location: Manchester, Northern Quarter. We operate a Hybrid working policy of ideally minimum 3 days in Manchester HQ per week.

THE ROLE:

We are looking for a highly organised and proactive Operations Manager to lead across core processes, policies, infrastructure and compliance in our agency. The role is designed for someone who takes pride in the smooth running of a creative business and enjoys the challenge of turning strategic goals into tangible results. You won’t just be overseeing processes; you will support in the design of them, rolling them out, and ensuring they stick. You will be a guardian of best practice processes within the agency, helping to constantly evolve our process to suit the ever changing needs of the business and championing these within. You will be a key figure in our Manchester office, a relentless problem solver who thrives in a fast paced environment.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Agency Project Execution & Change Rollout

• Implementation Lead: Own the end-to-end rollout of agency wide initiatives, new software or software optimisation initiatives. You will take strategic concepts from the Board and turn them into functional reality across the business, collaborating with other experts as required.

• Annual Agency-wide Compliance Training Track: Own annual improvements to, implementation of and training on agency compliance and policies e.g. Life of a Job, Supplier best practices, ESG, ISO 9001, GDPR, Cybersecurity and others as required. This will extend to reporting on training uptake on core tracks agency-wide.

• Cybersecurity, Data Mapping & IP Protection: Execute the agency’s cybersecurity, AI, data and IP protection strategy. You are responsible for the hands-on realisation of data security protocols and the ongoing status of actions to protect our Intellectual Property

• Annual Policy Audits: Conduct an annual review and update of key operational policies, ensuring completeness and traction across the agency

2. Technical Infrastructure & Partner Ownership

• IT Infrastructure: Directly manage our IT partners and infrastructure. You are the point of contact for ensuring all hardware and software are performant and secure.

• UAC Control: Hands-on management of User Access Controls; you will be the in-house gatekeeper for permissions and security across all agency platforms.

• Partner Management: Oversee and/ or where relevant lead rigorous reviews of IT, Travel, Software solutions and more, switching and onboarding new providers to ensure maximum ROI, agency profit protection and service levels.

3. Client Compliance

• Compliance Delivery: Act as the lead for Client Compliance, ensuring the agency meets the specific operational and security requirements of our global partners (e.g., Sony, NBA). And, ensuring agency-wide training on these matters.

4. Resource Support

• Be fully trained and able to step in to provide resource admin cover to ensure no project stalls during peak periods or annual leave for our Senior Resource Manager.

5. Office Management & Environment

• Facility Lead: Lead the operation of the Manchester HQ. You ensure the physical space is optimised for high-performance creative work, HSE standards and office refurb projects are executed to time and budget.

KEY REQUIREMENTS:

Our ideal successful candidate will have: 

• 4+ years’ experience in a high-pressure agency operations role with a demonstrated track record of execution.

• Exceptional Project Management: A proven PM who has personally led the rollout of software or change initiatives.

• Technical Literacy: Hands-on experience with IT infrastructure, Cybersecurity.

• Operational Agility: The ability to move from highly detailed and high stakes compliance to agency engagement initiatives with ease

• Commercial Sharpness: Proven experience in negotiating with suppliers and managing budgets to maximize agency profitability

• Passion for ‘How’: You love the mechanics of how an agency runs and take pride in a perfectly executed process

• Culture Fit: A passion for sport, gaming, and entertainment is essential.

THE AGENCY

Ear to the Ground is a global sport, gaming, and entertainment creative agency with a unique model that sets us apart. We are driven by Fan Intelligence®, our global network of 12,000 influential tastemakers and fans. Our real time insight into what fans truly want, enables us to create compelling work that consistently pushes the boundaries of culture.

We pride ourselves on being the agency that listens better than anyone to solve our clients' challenges, maximise their sport, gaming and entertainment partnerships, and ultimately build brands that lead culture. We’ve helped clients including Nike, PlayStation, JD, NBA, Coca-Cola and 2K turn fans into consumers by delivering culturally relevant, fan-first campaigns that inspire emotional connection and measurable business impact.

You can learn more about the agency with our 2025 agency show reel here.

OUR CULTURE

We are dedicated to making Ear to the Ground an amazing place to work where people grow, develop and thrive. We pride ourselves on our dynamic and exciting culture, excellent support of staff and fantastic benefits package. We have made it our mission to lead the way in being an inspiring, future-thinking, creative agency and are invested in our people because they are the ones that will make that happen.

Some of our benefits include:

• 🕒 Flexible & hybrid working

• 🎉 Birthday off

• 👶 Workplace nursery benefit

• 👩‍👧‍👦 Enhanced maternity, paternity and shared parental leave

• 🏥 Private medical insurance and health cash plan

• 🤒 Enhanced sick leave

• 🚴‍♂️ Cycle to Work scheme

• 🐶 Dog friendly office

• 🚗 EV salary sacrifice scheme

• 📈 Personal development coaching

• + more