Operations Director

About the role:

We’re looking for a brilliant and experienced Operations Director who will be central to both Seventeen’s day-to-day operations and long-term evolution.

The role of Operations Director at Seventeen is designed to help our agency realise its full potential and beyond. Making sure our unique, creative magic has the solid foundation it needs to thrive. You’ll be the person who translates creative ambition into operational and commercial reality: hiring the right people, keeping finances on track, streamlining processes and establishing new essential ones, all while championing the culture that our team and clients love.

If you’ve spent time inside a creative agency before, you’ll recognise the practices: the interdependence of creativity and being commercial, and the balancing of short-term demands and business responsibilities all in the service of long-term ambitions. That’s exactly the kind of experience and confidence we’re after.

We’re a collective of Odd Minds that think unalike. If you see the world a little differently and find opportunity in the overlooked, this is the place for you.

We're looking for someone with the following skills and qualities:

Finance & Legal

• Proven track record of leading financial planning and strategy within a creative or advertising agency environment.
• Skilled in translating company vision into long-term, annual, and quarterly financial models, aligning leadership teams around actionable plans and forecasts.
• Confident in tracking, forecasting, and reporting finances to Partners with accuracy and clarity.
• Experienced in chairing finance meetings, including projections, scenario planning, and strategic discussions.
• Hands-on management of cashflow, credit control, payments, and invoicing, with the ability to delegate administrative and data-entry tasks effectively.
• Comfortable liaising with external accountancy partners to ensure timely completion of tax filings and full compliance with VAT, PAYE, and business regulations.
• Calm and pragmatic approach to legal and contractual matters, ensuring obligations are met and the agency’s interests are protected.

Operations & Processes

• Highly organised and process-driven, creating clarity and efficiency across the business in collaboration with the department Directors & Partners.
• Confident in reviewing, refining, and implementing systems and workflows.
• Comfortable working closely with the Technical Manager to ensure all operational tools are fit for purpose.
• Experienced in managing and evolving business infrastructure, including landlord relationships, lease negotiations, and supporting future property acquisitions or relocations.
• Brilliant at balancing commercial priorities with creative ambition, ensuring operational decisions enable the best possible work to be made.
• Super savvy with everyday tools including Google Workspace, MS Office, and presentation software, and confident learning and implementing new systems as needed.
• Basic understanding of design, CGI, and production workflows, including different types of artists and their processes, enabling smooth collaboration with the production, technical and creative teams.

People & HR

• Experience in line managing, with a supportive and motivating leadership style, directly overseeing the Operations Assistant and indirectly the wider team.
• Confident in handling HR processes including the team handbook, contracts, performance reviews, promotions, and compliance.
• Experience acting as the first point of contact for HR queries and a trusted presence across the wider team.
• Skilled in driving hiring and resourcing in partnership with several department.
• Ensuring the right talent and capabilities are in place for upcoming projects.
• Able to build and maintain strong internal processes for line management, reporting, and performance tracking.
• Experience running or coordinating internship and work experience programmes that reflect Seventeen's creative culture and values.
• Genuine passion for people and culture, including a strong commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, actively bringing DEIB principles into the agency, shaping policies, practices, and culture to ensure the team is inclusive, equitable, and representative.

Culture & Brand

• Natural champion of agency culture, someone who understands its importance and helps nurture it as the business grows.
• Balanced in outlook, commercially sharp but importantly, deeply attuned to the creative heartbeat of the agency.
• Being a pragmatic and strategic voice in the room, always focused on finding smart, effective solutions with excellence at the forefront of decision making.
• Naturally brings curiosity, empathy, and a proactive mindset to everything, from improving processes to supporting the team.

This is a full-time role, working 4.5 days per week - we wrap up at 1pm every Friday. While the role is primarily studio-based, we support a hybrid working approach, encouraging a healthy balance of home and studio days. Our core days are Mondays and Thursdays, when we all come together in the studio.

We are not currently hiring for fully remote or freelance positions.