Location: Hybrid – Cambridge (1–2 days per week)Hours: Full Time/Part Time also available dependant on experienceSalary: £60,000–£80,000 (dependent on experience; based on full time)
Role Summary
Capabilities Limited is a specialist software and hardware engineering consultancy delivering innovative research and hardware/software solutions for government, defence and commercial organisations. As a trusted partner to organisations including Google, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and programmes funded by DARPA, we combine technical excellence with a collaborative, agile approach.
As Operations Manager, you will be responsible for leading the day-to-day operational management of Capabilities Limited, ensuring the business and its projects run efficiently, compliantly and commercially.
Working closely with the Founders, Directors and technical leads, you will oversee operations across HR, finance, IT, compliance, programme management and client operations. This is a varied, hands-on role suited to someone who enjoys improving processes, building strong relationships and enabling a highly technical team to focus on delivering exceptional work.
Key ResponsibilitiesProgramme Operations
- Maintain oversight of project milestones, deliverables and commercial performance across the portfolio.
- Support technical leads with programme planning, risk management and reporting.
- Produce and maintain programme artefacts including Gantt charts, risk registers and delivery trackers.
- Ensure milestones, project reporting and staff timesheets are completed accurately and on time.
- Support technical leads by monitoring programme progress and helping maintain delivery momentum where required.
- Maintain the Programme Operations spreadsheet, tracking project finances, utilisation, profitability, burn rate and resource allocation.
- Coordinate company events, workshops, off-sites and team meetings.
- Identify programme risks and escalate issues proactively to Directors and technical leads.
Client Operations & Commercial Support
- Act as the primary operational contact for client-facing commercial matters.
- Coordinate change requests, contract variations and annual project re-costing exercises.
- Support client onboarding, contractual documentation and project initiation.
- Build and maintain strong working relationships with clients.
- Support commercial discussions around project scope, pricing and delivery planning.
- Oversee grant claims, ensuring submissions are accurate, compliant and delivered on time.
- Manage day-to-day invoicing and liaise with external accountants.
- Coordinate billing schedules alongside project leads and directors.
- Support financial reporting and operational planning.
Compliance & Information Security
- Lead the annual NCSC Cyber Essentials certification process.
- Maintain company policies, operational documentation and compliance records.
- Monitor changes in cybersecurity guidance and industry best practice, including attending relevant briefings and webinars.
- Translate regulatory or security requirements into practical business policies.
- Manage procurement and inventory of company equipment.
Business Operations & Systems
- Own the administration and continuous improvement of business platforms including Slack, Google Workspace, Xero, Microsoft 365 and Apple Business Manager.
- Manage the company website and coordinate content updates.
- Act as the primary operational contact for staff, resolving day-to-day business queries and coordinating internal support.
- Manage relationships with external suppliers and service providers.
HR & Business Governance
- Coordinate recruitment, onboarding and induction activities.
- Lead annual salary review administration.
- Maintain HR records and employment documentation.
- Liaise with external HR, legal and financial advisers.
- Develop and maintain company policies covering areas such as hybrid working, conduct and grievance procedures.
Skills & ExperienceEssential
- Strong operational management or programme management experience. At least 5 years in either. Ideal candidates will have strong experience with both with documented examples within their CV.
- Excellent organisational skills with exceptional attention to detail.
- Experience managing multiple priorities simultaneously.
- Confident working directly with clients, senior stakeholders, external suppliers and service providers.
- Experience managing the finances of grant-funded projects.
- Experience working with project management tools (MSProject or similar) and financial reporting (Xero or similar).
- Applicants must have the unrestricted right to work in the UK. We are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this role. The successful candidate will need to undergo UK Government Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) and DBS checks prior to employment.
Desirable
- Familiarity with Cyber Essentials or similar IT certifications
- Experience within software, engineering, academic or technology organisations.
Reporting Line
Reports directly to the Founders (Robert and Ben).
About Capabilities Limited
Capabilities Limited is a specialist software and hardware engineering consultancy delivering innovative hardware/software and research solutions for clients across the public and private sectors. Spun out from the University of Cambridge, the company focuses particularly on transitioning the CHERI technology developed by our team members.
We're a small team of just 12 people, and that's by design. We recruit carefully, giving every member of the team the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the business and to work closely with colleagues, clients and directors. Our size allows us to be agile, collaborative and highly responsive while maintaining exceptionally high standards of technical and operational excellence.
This approach has enabled us to build long-term relationships and deliver projects with organisations including Google, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), and programmes funded by DARPA. We pride ourselves on tackling complex challenges, delivering high-quality work and building trusted partnerships with some of the world's leading organisations.
Pay: £60,000.00-£80,000.00 per year
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Cambridge CB3 0FD
