Senior Operations Manager (Senior Associate)

We are recruiting for a Senior Operations Manager (Senior Associate) to join our Secured Lender Services team in Bristol. This is a full-time permanent role working on a hybrid working basis. 

Your Role

You will be:

• Managing the operational needs of 1 core client.  
• Managing the operational needs of 2/3 additional operational teams (either teams with a mix of clients, or work-types).  
• Supporting the OD in strategic planning and developing optimal operational strategies.  
• Resolving allocated client queries.   
• Responsible for ensuring that allocated teams are compliant with operational risk processes.  
• Responsible for ensuring that allocated teams adopt efficient resource allocation and management.  
• A point of escalation for all technical expertise.  

As part of your role, you will also participate in the following areas:

• Budget management:
  • Develop and manage operational budget  
• Optimising Operational Performance:   
  • Support the development of strategies to enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness.   
  • Monitor and analyse key performance indicators (KPIs) of teams to identify areas for improvement.   
  • Identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies in the team  
  • Contribute to support delivery of Strategic Delivery division  
  • Work collaboratively with Strategic Delivery division to optimise productivity and cost savings  
  • Work collaboratively with Strategic Delivery division to identify resolutions to known issues identified in the operations   
  • Supporting line to resolve problems and implement solutions  
• Operational Change:   
  • Embed operational change initiatives to improve processes and systems.   
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless implementation of changes.   
• Client Management:  
  • Key operational contact for core clients dealing and liaising with client queries.   
  • Supporting the Client Services Manager on an ad-hoc basis for ‘Other’ clients relating to operational teams within responsibility.  
• Client Relationship Management:   
  • Conduct regular meetings with clients to understand their needs and provide solutions.   
  • Build and maintain strong client relationships to ensure satisfaction and retention.   
  • Address client concerns and resolve issues promptly.   
  • Escalate to OD any client concerns that cannot be satisfactorily resolved.   
• Operational Risk Management: 
  • Play an active part in managing operational risk under the framework  
  • Ensuring teams comply with TLT's risk frameworks, policies and procedures.  
  • Ensuring teams comply with regulatory and industry frameworks, policies and procedures.  
  • Ensuring teams comply with quality standards and client contractual requirements.    
• Team Leadership:  
  • Manage performance of teams and colleagues.  
  • Development of individuals within team  
  • Monitor employee performance and provide feedback  
  • Conduct performance evaluations and appraisals  
  • Motivate and coach team creating goals at both levels  
  • Address employee concerns and resolve issues  
• Resource Management:   
  • Manage team recruitment processes to ensure the recruitment strategy is achieved  
  • Allocate resources effectively to meet operational needs and priorities  
  • Oversee the allocation and utilisation of resources to maximise productivity.   
  • Manage teams’ recruitment budgets and financial resources effectively.   
  • Stay close to recruitment activity to ensure that right candidates being hired, those with the necessary skills and alignment with TLT’s values.   
  • Oversee onboarding and orientation programs for new hires.   
  • Escalate urgent and critical resourcing needs and decisions appropriately  
• Performance Management:   
  • Set performance goals and objectives for First Line Managers and their teams.   
  • Conduct regular Connections and Quarterly Conversations, providing feedback and identifying training/development needs, to ensure goals and objectives are met.   
  • Implement performance improvement plans as needed.   
  • Monitor team and delivery of KPIs
  • Analyse the team's performance data
  • Identify areas for improvement and implement initiatives
• People Policy:   
  • Foster a positive and inclusive work environment within team and across the Operations team
  • Ensure team complies with employment laws and regulations.
  • Supported by HR, address employee grievances and disciplinary issues.
• Culture and Coaching:   
  • Ensure team aligned with TLT’s values and culture  
  • Foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation within team
  • Provide coaching and mentorship to First Line Managers to enhance their skills and career development
  • Promote teamwork and collaboration within the team
• Training:   
  • Identify training needs and develop training programs for the team.   
  • Oversee the deployment of training initiatives.   
  • Drive necessary adjustments to improve effectiveness of training programs.   

Your Skills and Experience

You will be/have:

• A Qualified Solicitor (SRA or Law Society Registered), with the ability to work independently with limited supervision (essential)
• A previous fee earner in a litigation role (highly desirable)
• A forward thinker, with excellent analytical, communication and organisational skills, you will be self-motivated with the ability to manage workloads and deadlines 
• Commercially aware, with the ability to maintain and nurture strong client relationships 
• Develop a deep understanding of your client’s business needs, and act in the best interest of the firm and the client  
• Contribute to our collaborative culture, with an ambition to assist in the development of junior team members.

Your Team

Operating from our offices in Bristol, Manchester, Glasgow and Belfast, we have specialist expertise in each UK jurisdiction. We act for banks, building societies, other secured lenders and third party services. Whatever the size of mortgage portfolio, we adapt our processes to deliver the best outcome for the lender and their customer. Our approach ensures that all customers are treated fairly, and vulnerability is identified and handled appropriately.

About TLT

Fast paced, fast growing and forward thinking, TLT is the law firm that helps clients stay one step ahead, and we do the same for our people.

We work with high profile clients in innovative sectors. With local, national and international reach, we have over 1,800 people in offices across the UK and a network of partner firms across Europe, India and the US. TLT was named Law Firm of the Year at the Legal Business Awards 2023. This marks the third year in a row the firm has taken away this accolade in industry awards - having previously been named Law Firm of the Year at The Lawyer Awards in 2021 and the British Legal Awards in 2022.

Our purpose is to protect, prepare and progress our clients for what comes next and it’s essential that we do the same for our people, our planet and our communities too. In our open and collaborative culture, we encourage everyone to be their whole self, to have a voice and to contribute.  

Our Benefits

We value our employees highly and we want you to feel valued. You’ll receive a competitive salary with an annual pay review. You will also have access to an extensive range of benefits via our flexible benefits scheme including 25 days holiday (which will increase to 30 days based upon length of service) and private medical insurance. 

At TLT we have a progressive fully flexible working approach. We empower our people to work in a place and at a time that meets their needs, those of their clients and of the wider team and firm. Part of this agile approach is a focus on hybrid working and supporting the work/life balance of our people. We’re happy to talk about how flexible working can work for you and this role. 

TLT is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive working environment and encourages applications from all suitably qualified people, regardless of any of the characteristics protected by the laws in the locations in which we operate. 

We welcome applications from people with disabilities and are committed to providing reasonable adjustments, where necessary, to make interviews and jobs more accessible. Should you have any difficulty during the recruitment process, require any reasonable adjustments or an application to Access to work please contact the recruitment team on HR-Recruitment@TLTsolicitors.com