CF is a management consultancy and data science firm focused on healthcare and life sciences. It works with health systems and organisations across pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, diagnostics, and health technology, combining strategic advice with data-led services to address performance, organisational, and operational challenges. Its work is aimed at helping clients make better decisions and improve outcomes for the people and communities they serve.
Head of Operations, Healthcare Consultancy (UK Hybrid)
Lead planning, resourcing and performance reporting at a healthcare consultancy. Own the operational levers that support profitability, growth and international expansion.
Description
- Improve core operational and commercial processes across the company.
- Identify and lead operational improvements, applying AI and automation safely where they add value.
- Own CMap, the firm’s resourcing, project and pipeline system, and set standards for data quality and use.
- Oversee resourcing across all practices and geographies.
- Lead the Resourcing Team in assigning consultants and associates to client work, balancing skills, development, availability and commercial priorities.
- Forecast capacity and demand, and identify gaps or surpluses.
- Run resourcing forums, resolve competing requests and escalate trade-offs for leadership decisions.
- Manage the associate pool and costs, staying within budget while protecting margins.
- Monitor utilisation and timesheet compliance.
- Work with the People team on workforce plans and hiring.
- Lead annual business planning and align practice plans with the financial and operating models.
- Maintain the internal costing table and develop the costing model with business leaders.
- Model scenarios and recommend options and trade-offs to the leadership team.
- Support pricing, bids and commercial decisions with day rate, margin and capacity data.
- Contribute to long-term strategic planning.
- Produce the monthly Integrated Performance Report for the Executive Operating Committee and Board.
- Set and maintain measures for utilisation, average day rate, leverage, pipeline conversion and lock-up.
- Work with Data Operations to replace static spreadsheets with live dashboards.
- Ensure reporting covers every geography.
- Oversee ISO 9001, ISO 27001 and ISO 14001 certification, including audits and accreditation maintenance.
- Own ISO 9001 and keep the quality management system ready for audit.
- Manage carbon reporting, including the annual Carbon Reduction Plan and progress towards Net Zero targets.
- Manage and develop the Operations and Resourcing team.
- Build an inclusive, high-performing team that supports consulting practices.
- Work closely with Finance, People, Marketing, the CEO Office and Data Operations.
- Contribute to the Leadership Team, recruitment, and the company’s learning and feedback culture.
Requirements
- At least eight years’ experience in operations, resourcing or business planning at a professional services firm.
- A track record leading resourcing or capacity planning for a fee-earning workforce while balancing utilisation, client needs and employee development.
- Strong commercial and financial understanding, including forecasting, budgeting and the factors that drive professional services profitability.
- Advanced Excel and data skills, plus experience producing management information and insights for a board or executive committee.
- Experience leading and developing a team.
- Able to influence and constructively challenge senior leaders, including Partners.
- Adaptable and hands-on, with the ability to deliver in a lean, fast-moving environment without depending on established processes or large support teams.
- Clear, concise written and verbal communication skills.
- Experience in healthcare, life sciences or a health-focused consultancy.
- Experience with resourcing or professional services systems such as CMap, or similar, and Power BI.
- Experience managing operations in more than one country.
- Experience using AI tools to improve operations.
- Knowledge of ISO 9001, ISO 27001 and ISO 14001 standards and carbon reporting, with experience supporting audits and accreditations.
- A relevant finance or operations qualification, such as CIMA or ACCA.
Benefits
- Standard work-from-home day each week, plus 44 additional remote working days per year.
- Flexible office hours, with core hours from 10 am to 4 pm.
- Competitive, flexible reward package.
- At least 25 days of holiday, increasing with career progression.
- Strong employer pension contribution.
- Lifestyle-based flexible benefits, including wellbeing, fitness and financial protection.
- Enhanced family leave.
- Income and life protection.
- Interest-free loans.
- Travel support.
- Comprehensive wellbeing and employee assistance programme.
- Preventative health benefits.
- Initiatives that support an active, balanced way of working.
- Inclusive, supportive workplace culture.
- Reasonable adjustments during recruitment for candidates who need them.