Head of Strategic Operations & Commercial Planning

We are partnering with a leading global education and professional learning organisation to appoint an experienced Head of Strategic Operations & Commercial Planning on an interim contract basis.

This is a high-impact leadership role focused on driving the commercial and operational success of large-scale online learning partnerships. The successful consultant will play a pivotal role in ensuring programmes are commercially sustainable, operationally scalable, and delivered to a high standard across multiple strategic stakeholders and external partners.

The assignment would suit a commercially minded operations leader with deep experience in online education, EdTech, digital learning partnerships, or complex programme operations environments.

The Opportunity

You will take ownership of the commercial and operational performance of online programme partnerships, ensuring both internally delivered and partner-led programmes are commercially viable, operationally robust, and strategically aligned. Working across senior cross-functional teams, you will lead operational planning, commercial oversight, and partner engagement activity while supporting delivery excellence and long-term growth objectives.

This role requires a highly credible individual who is comfortable operating autonomously, influencing senior stakeholders, and balancing commercial objectives with delivery capability.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and oversee the commercial and operational performance of online programme partnerships
• Drive profitability, scalability, and operational efficiency across programme portfolios
• Manage strategic external partnerships end-to-end, including post-contract governance and performance oversight
• Ensure commercial agreements are aligned with operational delivery capability and organisational capacity
• Lead operational planning and implementation activity for new and existing programme initiatives
• Provide commercial insight and challenge to senior stakeholders and delivery teams
• Support contract-to-delivery transitions and operational change initiatives
• Develop strong governance, reporting, and performance management frameworks
• Collaborate across operational, academic, commercial, and external partner teams to ensure successful programme delivery

Required Experience

• Strong commercial acumen with experience owning or influencing revenue, margin, or P&L performance
• Proven experience operating within strategic operations, programme delivery, or business operations leadership roles
• Demonstrated success managing strategic partnerships within complex organisations
• Experience within online learning, higher education, EdTech, or partnership-led education environments
• Strong understanding of online programme management and digital learning delivery models
• Experience working with external learning or platform partners such as online programme providers, digital education platforms, or equivalent partnership ecosystems
• Ability to challenge and influence senior stakeholders constructively and credibly
• Experience supporting organisational change, operational transformation, or implementation programmes
• Strong stakeholder management and cross-functional leadership capabilities
• Comfortable working autonomously within fast-paced and evolving environments

To express interest or discuss the assignment confidentially, please apply with an updated CV and/or reach out to niamh.woodmass@instinct.co.uk