Workplace Operations Manager

About this role

About Sovereign AI

Sovereign AI is a UK-based AI infrastructure and software solutions provider building the next generation of sovereign-grade AI data centres across EMEA. Designed for resilience, security, and scale, we enable commercial and government customers to deploy advanced AI with confidence in environments where performance, reliability, and compliance are non-negotiable. Focused on regulated and mission-critical sectors including Government, Defence, Healthcare, and Financial Services, we are creating the trusted foundations for AI adoption at scale, combining robust infrastructure with disciplined governance to support long-term innovation and national-level capability.

This Role

As Workplace Operations Manager, you'll own the day-to-day running of our physical workplace and executive support function, leading the Office Manager and Executive Assistant team to deliver a working environment that matches the seriousness of our mission.

You'll bring consistency, discretion, and operational rigour to workplace services and executive support, working closely with People, IT, and Security to ensure our office supports the way a defence and government-facing organisation needs to operate. This is a hands-on leadership role with real autonomy over budget, suppliers, and how the team runs day to day.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Office Manager and Executive Assistant team, setting priorities, standards, and workload
• Own end-to-end office operations, including facilities, health and safety, supplier relationships, and budget
• Define and maintain executive support standards across the business
• Own the workplace operations budget, tracking spend and identifying efficiencies
• Partner with People, IT, and Security to ensure the workplace supports secure working practices
• Manage relationships with landlords, building management, and facilities contractors
• Develop and maintain office policies covering health and safety, incident response, and access
• Own space planning and office moves as the team grows
• Act as escalation point for workplace and executive support issues
• Drive continuous improvement in workplace experience

Experience

• 5+ years' experience in workplace operations, office management, or facilities management, including at least 2 years managing a team
• Experience managing or working closely with Executive Assistants supporting senior leadership
• Experience managing supplier and vendor relationships, including contract negotiation and performance
• Track record of managing office budgets and delivering cost efficiencies
• Experience operating in a security-conscious, regulated, or government/defence-adjacent environment (desirable)
• Experience supporting office moves, space planning, or workplace change projects (desirable)

Skills

• Strong people management skills, with the ability to set standards and develop a small team
• High discretion and sound judgement when handling sensitive or confidential information
• Excellent organisational skills and ability to manage multiple competing priorities
• Clear, confident communicator able to engage senior leadership and external suppliers
• Practical problem-solver, comfortable making decisions independently

Qualifications

• Degree-level education or equivalent professional experience
• IOSH or NEBOSH health and safety qualification, or willingness to obtain within first 6 months (desirable)
• Relevant facilities management or workplace operations certification (desirable)

About facilities & operations roles for ex-police

Operations, facilities and site management roles. Running a shift, a custody suite or an operational unit is people-and-process management employers can use from day one.