Operations Manager- Global Engineering Center

WPP is the transformation company. We use the power of creativity to build better futures for our people, planet, clients, and communities.

Working at WPP means being part of a global network of more than 100,000 accomplished people in 110 countries. We create transformative ideas and outcomes for its clients through an integrated offer of communications, experience, commerce, and technology. WPP and our award-winning agencies work with most of the world's biggest companies and organisations – from Ford, Unilever and P&G to Google, HSBC, and the UN. Our clients include 61 of the FTSE 100, 325 of the Fortune Global 500, all 30 of the Dow Jones 30 and 62 of the NASDAQ 100.

WPP has headquarters in New York, London and Singapore and a corporate presence in major markets worldwide. We are quoted on the London Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange. Key performance indicators for WPP (2020) include Billings of £46.9bn and Revenue of £12bn.

Visit our LinkedIn page to see what we're up to!

Why we're hiring:

At WPP, technology is at the heart of everything we do, and it is WPP IT’s mission to enable everyone to collaborate, create and thrive. WPP IT is undergoing a significant transformation to modernise ways of working, shift to cloud and micro-service-based architectures, drive automation, digitise colleague and client experiences and deliver insight from WPP’s petabytes of data.

• As we progress on this journey, we need to develop a strong operational fabric and professionalise how we run IT for WPP. We’re establishing new Global Engineering Centres that will allow us to expand and diversify the skills and capabilities of WPP IT across the globe and to emulate follow the sun support model.
• You will be responsible for the overall Operational Management of the WPP IT Global Engineering Centres including smooth functioning and administration of the Office property, facilities, legal, IT and other infrastructure for service commencement and continuity. 

What you'll be doing:

• Stakeholder Management in all the GEC’s, WPP IT and across the WPP Group with the responsibility of operating within Budget and timelines.
• Ensure EHS (Environment, Health, Safety) and IT Security, Risk and Compliance norms and measures are implemented, and incidents are resolved in a timely manner.
• Support GEC leaders in:
  • Collaborating with Finance, HR, Legal, Service Transformation business partners ensuring policies and engagement regulations are adhered to.
  • Developing policies that will correlate with strategies. Implementing effective processes and standards.
  • Manage contracts and relations with customers, partners, and other stakeholders
  • Overseeing implementation of IT systems
  • Evaluate risk and lead quality assurance and regulatory compliance efforts
  • Supporting in Building maintenance, associated inspections, and audits.
  • Implement safety programs, ensure compliance and safety policies are adhered to.
  • Coordinate staff schedules, training, and associated transport arrangements.
  • Managing end to end Executive travel itineraries.
  • Overseeing day-to-day activities in the facility

What you'll need:

• Degree or equivalent (i.e. MBA) desirable but not essential
• Minimum 3 years in a management role
• Capability to work cross-functionally with global teams across IT, Finance, HR, and other functions.
• Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with teams across geographic regions and time zones
• Sound knowledge on all office administration, SHE, facilities, travel, physical security, and front office management activities
• Proven experience leading an operations team and delivering continuous improvement.
• Significant experience working with cross-functional teams and managing competing and ever-changing priorities while delivering on overall organizational objectives
• Strong experience in workflow management and process improvement (Lean / Six-Sigma)
• Strong communicator with a track record of operating, partnering with and influencing senior stakeholders.

Who you are:

You're open: We are inclusive and collaborative; we encourage the free exchange of ideas; we respect and celebrate diverse views. We are accepting: of new ideas, new partnerships, new ways of working.

You're optimistic: We believe in the power of creativity, technology and talent to create brighter futures or our people, our clients and our communities. We approach all that we do with conviction: to try the new and to seek the unexpected.

You're extraordinary: we are stronger together: through collaboration we achieve the amazing. We are creative leaders and pioneers of our industry; we provide extraordinary every day.

What we'll give you:

Passionate, inspired people – We promote a culture of people that do extraordinary work.

Scale and opportunity – We offer the opportunity to create, influence and complete projects at a scale that is unparalleled in the industry.

Challenging and stimulating work – Unique work and the opportunity to join a group of creative problem solvers. Are you up for the challenge?

WPP is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, age, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, military/veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability. We believe in creating a dynamic work environment that values diversity and inclusion and strives to recruit a diverse slate of candidates to help us achieve that goal.

Please read our Privacy Notice for more information on how we process the information you provide.