VP Operations

Purpose of the role

The VP Operations is accountable for end-to-end operational delivery and continual performance of operational services across the company. This includes oversight of customer deployments, internal and external IT and networking, programme delivery, 24/7/365 operational monitoring and threat triage, field service engineering, managed services, and customer success.

Operating at the centre of a high-impact CUAS business, the VP Operations leads multi-disciplinary, distributed teams in the UK and abroad, including embedded customer-site teams. This role demands strategic clarity, deep operational oversight, confident leadership in ambiguity, cross-functional collaboration, and the personal accountability to deliver exceptional service.

This role is UK-based with regular presence required on-site across company and customer locations nationally and internationally. Eligibility to obtain and maintain security clearance (SC or DV) is required.

Reporting

The VP Operations reports directly to the COO and works closely with the SLT and other senior leaders to align operational execution with company goals, customer needs, and long-term business growth.

Key responsibilities

Leadership behaviours and expectations:

• lead by example and be present and visible across the organisation;
• be a strategic thinker with deep operational instincts;
• demonstrate sound judgment and accountability, with a bias for resolution and ownership:
• communicate openly and consistently, ensuring their teams feel connected and informed;
• develop their teams' capabilities, confidence, and connection to the business;
• embody trustworthiness, responsiveness, and professionalism in all interactions; and
• be relentless in the pursuit of safety, compliance, and delivery excellence.

Operational responsibilities:

Customer deployment and programme delivery

• Lead and deliver all customer deployments globally, ensuring safe, high quality, and compliant design, logistics, imports and exports, field engineering, installation, commissioning, training, maintenance, and (where applicable) system operation.
• Direct all internal and customer-facing programmes and projects through the Solution Delivery Team (PMO), ensuring timelines, scope, and budgets are tightly controlled.

IT and Networking

• Own the company's IT infrastructure, security, and networking to ensure high availability and performance.
• Oversee the deployment and sustainment of external networking and communications infrastructure at customer sites, including secure access, data transmission, and remote monitoring capability.

Monitoring and threat triage

• Lead the 24/7/365 operations team responsible for real-time monitoring of deployed systems.
• Ensure timely triage, escalation, reporting, and resolution of potential threats or anomalies.

Managed services and embedded operations

• Manage teams embedded at secure customer sites.
• Ensure presence, leadership, performance management, and wellbeing of all on-site personnel.

Operational compliance and risk management

• Champion HSE standards across all sites and operations.
• Ensure safe and compliant UAV operations across the business.
• Ensure robust compliance with ISO9001 and ISO14001, Cyber Essentials Plus, Construction (Design and Management) Regulations, UK and EU GDPR, CCTV and wireless telegraphy, and other regulations; and implement ISO27001.
• Own risk identification, mitigation, and audit readiness across operational domains.

Financial and commercial ownership

• Collaborate with the Financial Controller to create and manage operational budgets.
• Deliver commercial commitments on-time and on-budget.
• Ensure accurate bid costing, invoicing milestones, and identify revenue growth or cost-saving opportunities.
• Manage commercial relationships and contract management of customer agreements.

People leadership and team development

• Build, lead, and inspire a multi-disciplinary operations team across the UK and internationally.
• Drive professional development, performance, succession planning, and retention across functions.
• Foster a culture of excellence, accountability, and ongoing development for office-based, customer-embedded, and remote teams.

Communication and culture

• Maintain a strong presence, building trust through visibility and accessibility.
• Ensure frequent, open, and effective two-way communication with all team members, and with key stakeholders, including the CEO, COO, VP Development, and Director Corporate & Commercial, to ensure that there is effective co-ordination of all activities in support of company objectives.
• Represent OSL to key external stakeholders, including suppliers, partners, and regulatory bodies as needed.

Skills and behaviours

• Strategic mindset with the ability to operate confidently at executive level while also diving into operational detail where needed.
• Demonstrated ability to thrive decisively in fast-paced ambiguity, juggle multiple competing priorities, and maintain calm under pressure.
• Personable and trusted leader who takes full ownership of outcomes.
• Excellent communicator who shares information freely and fosters collective ownership.
• Customer-focused with a commitment to delivering high-quality solutions that meet customers' needs and expectations.
• Strong technical background with knowledge of engineering, software support and maintenance methodologies, and IT infrastructure.
• Strong understanding of safety, compliance, and quality assurance in high-risk environments.

Experience

• Substantial experience in senior Operations roles within a software and hardware technology business.
• Experience delivering programmes and services to critical infrastructure, defence, or government customers, ideally with international exposure.
• Experience in establishing or maturing operational disciplines in scaling organisations.
• Proven leadership of complex technical field service engineering, IT, 24x7 specialist monitoring, and embedded team operations.
• Demonstrated leadership of cross-functional, geographically distributed teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Business, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Master's degree (e.g. MBA, MS in Engineering Management or Operations Management) desirable.
• PMP, AgilePM project management or equivalent.
• ITIL, ISO27001, Six Sigma (Green or Black Belt), and/or Lean certifications advantageous.
• NEBOSH or IOSH certification strongly preferred.
• Eligibility for UK security clearance (SC or DV) required.

Diversity & Inclusions

We are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace where everyone is respected, valued, and empowered to thrive. We believe that different perspectives and experiences enrich our organisation, and we welcome applications from all qualified individuals.

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We do not discriminate based on age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation, in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.

We are also committed to supporting neurodiverse individuals and others who may benefit from tailored approaches to recruitment and workplace adjustments.

We are dedicated to ensuring fair and accessible recruitment processes. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process or in the workplace, please let us know, and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.

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This job description is not exhaustive and will be subject to periodic review. It may be amended to meet the changing needs of the business, following consultation where appropriate.