Leader of Operations, Cognisys
+ EMI Employee Share Schemes
More information about location
Cyber security, pen testing & compliance experts
Job no longer available
Cyber security, pen testing & compliance experts
21-100 employees
Job no longer available
+ EMI Employee Share Schemes
More information about location
21-100 employees
Company mission
To help protect businesses from cyber attackers.
Role
Who you are
- Significant experience in Operations or Delivery Leadership roles
- Proven track record in a high-growth, scaling professional services organisation
- Experience leading managers and senior operational leaders
- Strong background in process design, delivery oversight and execution at scale
- Comfortable operating closely with a CEO and Leadership Team
- Exceptional data and analytics capability — comfortable building dashboards, interpreting operational metrics and using data to drive decisions rather than relying on gut feel
- Hands-on experience applying AI and automation to operational workflows — whether that’s using tools like ClickUp, Make, Zapier or custom integrations to eliminate manual work, accelerate delivery and improve consistency across teams
- A builder, not just an optimiser — someone who has designed and implemented operational systems from scratch, not simply inherited frameworks from large consultancies. You bring software appreciation and the imagination to architect new workflows, with demonstrable achievements in turning ideas into working, measurable processes
What the job involves
- We are now seeking a Leader of Operations to join our Leadership Team and take clear, end-to-end ownership of how Cognisys delivers work, operates day-to-day and scales responsibly
- Fundamentally, we’re not concerned about the role title - this opportunity is all about leading a scaling operation from the front, with our values of Ownership, Excellence, Momentum and Together driving the way we deliver, maximising the potential that technology and AI can bring to our operations
- This role exists because we recognise that operational leadership must be designed, not improvised
- Today, delivery success can depend too heavily on individuals, historic business knowledge and senior leader intervention
- This role will change that — building an operating engine that is predictable, scalable and resilient
- This is a senior role with real authority and influence
- It is far from maintaining the status quo
- It is about creating the conditions for Cognisys to scale from ~100 to 200+ employees without compromising quality or eroding client trust
- In this role you will be accountable for the end-to-end operational effectiveness of Cognisys
- You will design, own and continuously improve the operating model across all delivery and operational functions, ensuring work flows efficiently, consistently and at pace
- You will bring structure without bureaucracy, consistency without rigidity, and clarity without slowing the business down
- You will act as the single operational owner for delivery, project management and operational execution — removing ambiguity, reducing friction and enabling other senior leaders to focus on their core accountabilities
- This role reports directly to the CEO and is a core member of the Leadership Team
- Own the design and evolution of Cognisys’ operating model
- Map and clarify end-to-end delivery and operational processes
- Identify friction, duplication, risk and inefficiency as the business scales
- Implement scalable, standardised ways of working across delivery teams
- Establish clear ownership, hand-offs and accountability between functions
- Provide senior operational leadership across all delivery and operational functions, including:
- GRC (Governance, Risk and Compliance) delivery
- Penetration testing delivery
- Managed services delivery
- Project Management / PMO
- Ensure delivery performance supports a consistent, high-quality client experience
- Align capacity, capability and prioritisation across teams
- Directly line-manage Project Management leadership and other operational leaders as appropriate
- Strengthen delivery and operational leadership capability across the business
- Evaluate the effectiveness of current systems, tools and workflows
- Improve visibility, reporting and operational insight for leadership
- Act as a trusted operational partner to the CEO
- Surface operational risks, constraints and opportunities early and clearly
Our take
Many businesses are struggling to keep up with rising cyber threats, complicated regulations and the constant risk of data breaches. For organisations without in-house specialists, staying secure can become overwhelming. So, Cognisys has stepped in to make this manageable. They're a UK-based cybersecurity and compliance company helping organisations spot vulnerabilities early and build stronger digital defences.
Cognisys delivers this through services like penetration testing, continuous vulnerability management, and support for certifications such as ISO 27001. By simplifying security and offering ongoing guidance, they give businesses confidence that their systems are protected and up to standard. Resulting in fewer risks, fewer headaches, and more room for companies to get on with the work that matters to them.
Kirsty
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Company
Company HQ
Leeds Dock, Leeds, UK
Leadership
Steve Spence
(CEO)Steve previously founded Pure Technology Group and Servatech.
Arjun P.
(CTO)Arjun is the founder of Edge Secure. Previously, he was a Technical Director at Defendza, a Check Team Leader at NCC Group, and a Senior Security Analyst at Tech Mahindra.
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