Head of Operations

Overview

At Huddle, our mission is to help address South Africa's education crisis by making rigorous and joyful teaching and learning accessible to all through scalable blended classrooms.

As Head of Operations, you will drive Huddle's operational strategy, working across teams to ensure we build solid foundations on which Huddle can grow as a business.

To give you a glimpse into the role before applying, please consider the following questions:

• Are you someone who thrives when creating new processes and systems that enhance efficiency, clarity, and order?
• Do you love assimilating complex information and organizing it in a way that makes it clearer for other team members to understand and contribute to solutions and decision-making?
• Are you someone who can engage in kind and candid conversations that result in personal growth and high levels of accountability?
• Are you excited about engaging with stakeholders including teachers, principals, funders, and government officials to improve the quality of education?
• Do you thrive in environments where you are expected to create order from chaos?
• Do you get a thrill from managing beautifully designed projects that seek to achieve difficult outcomes?
• Do you love building and leading teams, developing team members, and holding people to account?
• Are you comfortable in challenging contexts with high levels of poverty and limited resources?
• Are you a positive problem solver, a can-do, high-energy, realistic optimist?
• Are you excited about the prospect of joining a team whose passion is empowering learners and teachers in the most challenging school contexts?
• Are you able to assimilate high-level strategy but then dive into operational planning and details that enable meaningful change?

If you said yes to all of the above, then please consider applying to Huddle for this role.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Planning:

• Develop and implement operational strategies aligned with the company's overall goals and objectives.
• Collaborate with executive leadership on long-term organizational strategy.
• Work with the CEO to manage partner relationships, including relationships with external funders

Team Leadership:

• Lead and manage a high-performing operations team, providing guidance, mentorship, and support
• Create a culture of learning, introducing new operations processes that optimize performance and Huddle's systems.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the operations team

Project Management:

• Work with project management team members to ensure projects are managed on time and within budget, adopting strong project management methodologies to optimize performance
• Work closely with the implementation team to ensure that Huddle's learning solutions are integrated fully within partner schools

Process Optimization:

• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance operational efficiency
• Streamline workflows to ensure seamless collaboration between cross-functional teams

Resource Management:

• Oversee resource allocation and utilization to optimize productivity
• Work closely with Finance and Talent teams to manage budgeting, forecasting, and resource planning

Finance Operations:

• Oversee financial operations including budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning
• Work with the CEO to ensure accurate and timely financial reporting and analysis to support decision-making

Talent and Recruitment:

• Lead Talent initiatives including talent acquisition, onboarding, performance management, and employee development with the Talent & Operations Coordinator
• Develop and implement Talent policies and procedures to support a positive and productive work environment
• Develop an efficient and welcoming recruitment and onboarding process including managing the candidate screening process to ensure Huddle attracts the right talent.
• Ensure Huddle's hiring plan and recruitment strategy achievess Huddle's diversity and inclusion strategy.

Office Management:

• Ensure the efficient operation of office facilities with the Talent & Operations Coordinator, including managing office supplies, equipment, and services
• Support the Talent & Operations Coordinator to implement and maintain effective office management systems and processes

Technology Integration:

• Collaborate with technology teams to integrate innovative solutions that enhance operational capabilities
• Stay informed about industry trends and emerging technologies to drive continuous improvement

Vendor and Partner Management:

• Build and maintain strong relationships with partners to ensure seamless collaboration and service delivery
• Negotiate contracts and agreements to optimize value and performance

Compliance and Risk Management:

• Ensure compliance with industry regulations and company policies
• Develop and implement risk management strategies to mitigate potential operational challenges

Fundraising and Stakeholder Management:

• Support fundraising efforts by collaborating with the CEO and CPO to develop and execute fundraising strategies
• Manage relationships with stakeholders, including investors, partners, and donors

Information management:

• Ensure that information at Huddle is organized, up to date and easily searchable.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, operations management, or a related field; advanced degree preferred
• At least 5 years experience in a senior operations role, preferably within the education technology or edtech industry
• Strong leadership and team management skills
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Demonstrated success in process improvement and optimization
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
• Experience in financial operations and Talent management
• Strategic thinker with a track record of successfully contributing to long-term organizational strategies
• Agile and adaptable to new information and changing priorities
• Willingness to travel to partner schools when required.

Character traits we're looking for

• Process improvement geek. Deeply passionate about solving South Africa's education crisis. This feels like a calling rather than a job.
• A positive, resilient, high-initiative go-getter who will thrive in a startup environment (which includes creating clarity amidst ambiguity and being an expert problem-solver).
• Humble, curious, loves giving and receiving feedback, and possesses a growth mindset.
• Team player. Highly collaborative and loves helping others flourish.
• Laser focused on excellence and achieving goals. Sets and upholds extremely high standards for themself and others.

Benefits

Salary: We pay competitive market-related salaries to attract top talent. Please see other benefits on our Careers page here.

What's our application process?

A stunning workplace is stunning colleagues. There's nothing more important for Huddle than finding the right people who will thrive here. And we know that this could be a life-altering decision for you. So let's do this dating thing properly before we decide to get married.

Our application process (which is subject to change) includes the following steps:

• Fill in the application form. Time: +-20 mins. Need: Matric certificate, Degree certificate, CV, Courage
• Asynchronous video interview. Time: +-25 mins. Need: Computer/phone to record your answers
• Work sample. Time: 3 - 4 hours. Need: Your best thinking
• Live interview/s. Time: 60 minutes. Need: Questions and your authentic self
• Short or Long-term Offer. Time: TBC. Need: champagne glass

Due to the large volumes of applications we receive, our small team unfortunately can't always get back to everyone. If you don't hear from us within 2-4 weeks, please assume that your application has been unsuccessful.

We're rooting for you to find your highest calling, hopefully with Huddle!