Operational Support Lead

Job Title: Operational Support Lead

Role Overview:

As the Operational Support Lead, you will work very closely with the COO and Operations Team across Verne, ensuring a number of critical activities are delivered. You will be a critical part of the Senior Operations Team ensuring the team is well structured and organised whilst driving key initiatives including efficiency, priorities and driving performance by ensuring critical actions are prioritised, captured and completed within agreed times.

You will own certain projects within operations for example working with HR and others to create an apprentice program and ensuring uniform is standardised across Verne in the most efficient way whilst looking professional aligned with corporate branding.

Responsibilities:

Culture & Communication Leadership

• Champion cultural consistency across all Operations teams, ensuring everyone receives clear, aligned, and timely communication.
• Partner closely with the COO and core leadership team to shape and deliver cultural and communication initiatives, including Weekly Calls, Monthly Calls, AHCs, feedback loops, and engagement activities.
• Use AI‑driven tools to capture, transcribe, summarise, and translate communications to ensure accessibility for all sites and languages.
• Identify themes, trends, and areas for improvement across Operations, informing strategic decisions and project scopes.

Strategic Projects & Operational Efficiency

• Lead and oversee special projects aimed at improving operational quality, efficiency, sustainability, and consistency.
• Manage supplier reviews for uniforms, PPE (including arc‑flash), and related equipment, driving cost efficiencies and sustainable recycling initiatives in collaboration with Marketing, Procurement, and other teams.
• Support the apprenticeship programme, working with HR and external partners (e.g., colleges) to ensure a robust structure and pipeline.
• Collaborate with Procurement to optimise spend and identify efficiencies in consumables such as stationery, cleaning supplies, tools, and more.

Team Engagement & Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Design and facilitate team‑building activities, operational meetings, cross‑collaboration workshops, and recognition initiatives for COO, site, and central teams.
• Prepare and support presentations, planning materials, and leadership updates.

Budget, Approvals & Governance

• Oversee entertainment and travel budget submissions, working closely with Finance to ensure compliance and financial accuracy.
• Manage approval workflows and produce summary recommendations, ensuring alignment with Delegation of Authority (DOA) across HR and Finance systems.

Priority Tracking & Delivery Support

• Monitor key initiatives, action logs, and operational priorities, partnering with action owners across sites and global teams to ensure timely delivery and full completion.
• Provide structure, follow‑up, and visibility on progress for operational and cross‑functional programmes.

General Support to the COO function

• Support the COO and wider Operations leadership team with travel coordination, meetings, workshops, client interactions, expenses, and represented approvals where delegated.
• Serve as a confidential liaison, trusted advisor, and operational enabler for senior leadership across Operations.

Experience:

Datacentre experience essential, especially high pressure environments such as hyperscale delivery requirements.

Previous experience in working across multi national teams where understanding and engaging with people across multiple cultures and backgrounds.

Working within large, multi national operations teams, playing a key role in organising the team whilst driving performance.

Skills & Abilities:

• Leadership and team management skills.
• Be a people person, inspiring people in a positive and collaborative way.
• Getting people on board across all levels within the Operations team.
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Effective communication and collaboration skills.
• Project management and organizational skills.
• Very structured, organised and responsive.

What We Offer:

• Opportunity to be part of a fast-growing, private equity-backed company.
• A dynamic, innovative, and inclusive working environment.
• Competitive compensation and benefits package.
• The chance to work with a talented and ambitious international team.