Location
London

Hours
Full Time

Salary
Competitive, commensurate with experience

About the Role
Prevail is a British intelligence and security company delivering intelligence, investigations, specialist operational support and strategic advice to governments, NGOs and commercial clients operating in unstable and hostile environments. We are seeking an experienced Senior Operations Manager to lead the delivery of multiple client engagements, ensuring each is properly resourced and delivered safely, on time, on budget and to standard. You will work closely with project leads, analysts, investigators and advisors, reporting to the Head of Operations. This role involves strengthening systems, processes and governance behind delivery, while supporting wider business functions including Commercial, Finance and People teams to maintain operational effectiveness as the company grows. The ideal candidate thrives in fast-moving, complex environments, balancing competing priorities and making well-reasoned decisions amid uncertainty.

Experience
- Significant experience managing operations, project or programme delivery in intelligence, security, defence, risk, consulting or comparable professional services.
- Proven track record running multiple concurrent projects with responsibility for delivery, budgets, timelines and resourcing.
- Strong planning, organisation and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make sound decisions under pressure and ambiguity.
- Commercial awareness including project finances, forecasting and resource utilisation.
- Proven people management experience including performance management and team development.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, able to brief senior stakeholders and engage confidently with clients.
- High discretion and sound judgement handling sensitive information, with a solid grasp of operational risk, security and confidentiality.
- Eligibility for UK Security Check (SC) clearance (see Eligibility and clearance below).

About You
You are comfortable operating in a dynamic, growing environment, adept at navigating changing priorities and making informed decisions with available information. You have a proactive approach to building and improving processes as the business evolves. You demonstrate leadership by coaching junior staff, setting clear expectations and fostering accountability and steady improvement across the team. You are resilient and professional when exposed to challenging operational content and able to manage responsibilities with discretion and care.

Qualifications
- Eligibility for UK Security Check (SC) clearance, which requires the right to work in the UK and five years' continuous UK residency. Prevail sponsors clearance and employment is conditional on obtaining and maintaining it.
- Desirable qualifications include recognised project or programme management certifications such as PRINCE2, APM, Agile or equivalent.
- Additional desirable skills include experience designing and improving operational processes and governance, familiarity with project management and reporting tools, and knowledge of intelligence production, investigations, due diligence or OSINT methods.
- Background in government, defence, military, law enforcement or intelligence community is advantageous.
- Experience supporting operations in challenging, austere or high-risk environments and familiarity with UAS (uncrewed aircraft systems) and protective security operations are beneficial.
- Experience supporting business development and competitive bids and proficiency in a second language are also desirable.

Additional Considerations
This role may involve occasional exposure to extremist material and graphic or distressing online content as part of operational delivery. Exposure will be minimised and staff wellbeing actively supported. The role may require occasional domestic and international travel, sometimes at short notice, depending on operational requirements.