Project Operations Director

Role purpose

We are seeking a dynamic and engaging individual to lead and develop the Project Operations function within Asia. The role offers significant opportunity to contribute to and support the development of the overall vision and strategy of the function.

You will drive operational excellence, the alignment of business and client priorities and embrace and implement change initiatives. You will be responsible for a diverse, hybrid team of individuals supporting a range of client-facing departments, overseeing operational management and service delivery, as well as people development.

The role will require you to develop and maintain a solid understanding of our business, service offering, our client base, and build strong relationships with a range of stakeholders. The role incorporates the need for a strong commercial mindset, with the ability to apply critical thinking to support and drive the resolution of factors that can influence and impact client experience and effective cash flow throughout the project lifecycle.

The Project Operations function provides hands-on support to the consultancy service delivery teams, project and account managers throughout the project lifecycle. It intersects with Client Onboarding and Finance functions to ensure that all clients receive a consistent and timely administrative experience in our project delivery, management receives accurate information and reporting, and that client-facing departments receive timely, high-quality and accurate support. It is specifically focused on the swift and proactive administration of project set-up through to accurate and timely invoicing, actively supporting and directly contributing to a high-quality client experience, and effective cash flow management.

Role tasks and responsibilities

Provide strong direction and leadership to the function to align with the overall regional business strategy and client requirements.

Manage and drive the operational and commercial aspects of project lifecycle management within the team, to provide collaborative, proactive and effective support to business teams.

Optimise operational processes and appropriate use of internal systems to enhance efficiency, quality, and scalability while availing technological advancement.

Analyse resource requirements and team capacity to develop and maintain a flexible, agile team structured to meet business and client requirements.

Collaborate to identify opportunities to reduce the administration burden to project managers and service delivery teams, leading change initiatives and implementing new ways of working within the region, sharing lessons learnt to enable and promote best-practice and continuous improvement.

Continuously develop and improve the operational delivery through analysis of KPIs and other performance data, presenting to senior management when required, to provide insights and help inform decision-making.

Anticipate potential challenges and opportunities, offering client-focused, proactive solutions.

Be recognised as a trusted advisor, cultivating strong stakeholder relationships with a diverse range of people to achieve consensus and alignment of shared goals.

Inspire and motivate team members to perform at their best, fostering a culture of collaboration, excellence, accountability, and integrity in an inclusive and high-performing team.

Act as a role model, leading by example and demonstrating a commitment to the company’s values, behaviours and policies.

Build a one firm ethos through mentoring and coaching, providing opportunities that contribute to the team’s technical and behavioural development, empowering them to grow and succeed, and ensuring a healthy succession pipeline.

Requirements

Preferably 8-10 years of relevant experience in a senior business operations role.

Critical thinking and strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a data-driven, and growth mindset.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly and concisely.

Resilient and able to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and adaptable to changing priorities.

Experience with remote people management and developing high performance in hybrid, leveraged teams

Demonstrated ability to effectively lead and motivate teams to achieve both tactical and strategic goals.

Results-driven, with a focus on prioritisation and efficiency in a fast-paced environment.

Ability to thrive in a dynamic environment, with energy and enthusiasm to drive positive change.

Comfortable working in a matrix organization, with the ability to navigate cultural nuances and complexities.

Confident and talented with Microsoft Office applications, including experience with Microsoft D365.

Understanding of transactional project data including, but not limited to work in progress management, cost monitoring and invoicing.