Operations and People Director

PPL: Management Consultancy with a difference

• Financial Times UK's Leading Management Consultants 'Gold' rated 2023 and 2024
• Winner, B Corp 'Best for the World' for Workforce 2021 and 2022
• Winner, MCA Consulting Awards for Innovation, Client Service & Value, and Ethical Consultancy

Founded in 2007, PPL is a Social Enterprise and B Corp that exists to promote better health, wellbeing, and economic outcomes across the UK, working with individuals, communities and the organisations that support them.

Operations and People

Operations & People Director is a new role at the UK's leading Social Enterprise Management Consultancy and B Corp, joining our senior leadership team to lead and manage our in-house operations team and support wider productivity, business performance and social impact through our people.

We are looking for someone who is interested in sustaining and further developing world-class people functions and support, as well as enabling the effective operation of a leading social enterprise. The successful candidate will be able to combine hands-on involvement in the day-to-day running of the business with a strategic focus on growing our capabilities, capacity and impact.

The role will oversee business operations and lead on human resources at PPL, working with senior colleagues to ensure high-quality delivery across all clients and sectors, while enabling the organisation's growth.

It requires someone with the ability to think creatively and strategically around the development and use of our resources, working with direct reports including our Finance & Business Development Manager, Office Management and Administration Team. Outsourced services also falling under this area of responsibility including Communications, IT and wider professional support. In addition, the role will provide opportunities to work closely with our consulting teams, currently based in London and Bristol, and with related VCSE, academic, and private sector partners - all to help advance shared social impact.

Specific responsibilities will include:

• People: Developing our People Strategy, leading on HR across the employee lifecycle, including ensuring effective recruitment, onboarding, professional development, and a robust, values-led employee experience.
• Resource Management: Ensuring effective allocation of resources both to internal activities and external client work. Working with the wider senior leadership team to implement systems and practices that support cost-effective, high-quality delivery of operational priorities and commitments.
• Operational Delivery: Taking overall responsibility for PPL's quality, environmental, information security, and wider business processes in line with ISO 9001, 14001, and 27001 standards. Ensuring robust, ethical supply chains and outsourcing arrangements that deliver value for money.
• Finance & Business Development: Working with the Finance & Business Development Manager and wider operations team to ensure effective operational processes, systems and frameworks are in place across the client lifecycle, from opportunity identification to collating customer feedback. Ensuring overall budgets and performance targets are being effectively developed and met.
• Process Improvement: Proactively identify and implement improvements to enhance operational efficiency, reduce costs, and improve service delivery. Leading on behalf of the Board on risk and issue management.

These responsibilities are further detailed in the full job description provided.

What we offer

This role is office-based in London, SE1. The salary is £78,750 per annum + an annual performance related bonus, and benefits including:

• Company health, life insurance and critical illness cover
• 26 days of annual leave, rising to 30 days based on length of service, plus UK bank holidays
• 10 days of paid volunteering leave per annum
• Access to a range of discounts and rewards, including Cycle to Work scheme

What we are looking for

You will bring a blend of operational leadership, people management, and strategic thinking. You will be passionate about fostering an inclusive, high-performance culture that drives PPL's social and business goals.

We're looking for individuals with:

• Proven experience in people management, with the ability to empower and develop team members in an operational setting.
• Expertise in human resource management, including process improvement and staff support - People Management / HR qualification (CIPD Level 5+ or equivalent) desirable.
• Strong capacity-building skills, ensuring effective planning, training, and development within the organisation.
• Ability to manage resource utilisation, matching internal and external resources to meet business needs.
• Experience in operational leadership, budget and performance management, with accountability for corporate functions working to ISO or equivalent standards.
• Strong leadership and collaboration skills, with the ability to work across departments and motivate teams.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills, capable of managing stakeholders and any potential conflicts.

The process

PPL operates a blind recruitment process. Successfully shortlisted candidates can expect:

• An initial telephone interview (approx. 30 mins)
• An in-person panel interview inc. case study at PPL's SE1 offices
• An in-person final interview

Final offer will be subject to references and successful Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) screening.

Schedule

Application instructions

The linked application form will be used to assess eligibility before CVs are submitted for shortlisting via our blind recruitment process.

Please note cover letters will not be considered as part of the screening process, so please refer to the application form for all required details.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at the same email address.