Operations Director
About Seafish
We are a non-departmental public body supporting a thriving seafood industry across the UK, from catch to consumption. We work in partnership with industry and the four governments to provide insight, services and leadership for a safe, responsible and resilient seafood system.
With the recent appointment of a new Chief Executive, we are now seeking to further strengthen our Executive Leadership Team by appointing an Operations Director
This is a senior leadership role at the centre of delivery. It will suit someone comfortable operating between strategy and execution, with the credibility to lead programmes and stakeholders across a complex and exciting national sector.
About the role
As Operations Director, you will lead delivery across our core programmes and services, ensuring alignment with industry need, public value and organisational strategy. You will be a core part of the Executive Team and work closely with the Board, contributing to corporate planning and shaping our longer-term direction.
You will lead a multi-disciplinary team across technical, insight, and stakeholder functions, overseeing delivery across our three priority areas:
- Helping the sector adapt to and be ready for the challenges of the future
- Promoting a safe and skilled workforce
- Facilitating inward and outward seafood trade
This is a hybrid role. We have offices in Edinburgh and Grimsby, ease of national travel will be required.
Key priorities
- Provide visible, collaborative leadership across our delivery teams, including direct management of a team of between 5-7 individuals
- The role combines strategic leadership with direct operational responsibility for programme delivery, budgets and governance within a public body environment
- Translate strategic priorities into clear, deliverable programmes and services
- Oversee delivery of projects across several core areas of the business
- Ensure strong operational planning, performance and governance
- Work closely with industry, governments across the UK, and partners to deliver a positive impact for the seafood sectors. This will include representing Seafish across industry events and the wider network. A significant aspect of the role will be externally focused, building trusted stakeholder relationships
- Be part of the leadership team, contributing fully to organisational strategy, future planning, and promoting our value proposition
What we are looking for
We are interested in senior leaders with experience delivering complex programmes in partnership-led environments. You may come from the seafood, food, supply chain, regulatory or wider public-value sectors.
Experience
- Senior leadership experience with responsibility for delivery
- Ability to balance strategy with hands-on execution
- Experience working with governments, industry and/or regulated sectors
- Strong financial and organisational awareness
- Strong communication skills, demonstrating credibility with stakeholders and confidence representing an organisation externally
- Collaborative, pragmatic leadership style that comes without personal ego
- Resilience and sound judgement in complex environments
- Strong line-management skills, juggling multiple teams and priorities
Knowledge of the seafood sector would be valuable, but equally important is the ability to build credibility quickly and work effectively across a wide stakeholder landscape, as well as drive strong performance across multiple teams. We will consider experience from adjacent industries, government or industry bodies.
This is an opportunity to play a central role in delivering our work at a pivotal time for the sector and the organisation.
How to apply
New Town Hanover is exclusively retained on this appointment. For a confidential conversation, please contact Jane Gilchrist on jane@newtownhanover.com or apply via LinkedIn.
The closing date for applications is Wednesday 18 March
