Head of Strategic Initiatives (m/w/d)

Job Description

At OVO, we understand that a one size fits all approach doesn’t work for everyone. That’s why we created the OVO Way of Flexibility.

All our roles are hub based (Bristol, Glasgow or London), providing a dedicated space for collaboration, connection and teamwork. You’ll also have the flexibility to work from home.

Everyone belongs at OVO

At OVO, we are on a mission to solve one of humanity's biggest challenges, the climate crisis. And we know it takes all of us to change the world. That's why we need diverse people from all abilities, gender identities, ethnicities, ages, sexual orientations, life experiences and backgrounds to join us.

Teamworking for the planet

Everything we do here spins around Plan Zero. So, naturally, the team you’ll be joining plays a gigantic role in making that happen. Here’s how:

We’re hiring world-changers. From Zero Carbon Living Advisors to Product Managers, every role we’re hiring plays their own part in our mission; our role is to find those people and bring them on our Zero Carbon journey.

This role in a nutshell

We’re hiring a Head of Strategic Initiatives: a strategic operator, execution obsessed, and a trusted partner throughout the organisation. This is not a ‘deck builder’ role. You will identify, lead, and land some of the most important initiatives in the business; simplifying how we work, supercharging how we scale, and unlocking value through data, technology, and operational excellence.

You will need to know what good looks like, have a strong opinion on how world class technology-led businesses should operate, and the credibility to influence people across multiple levels of the organisation.

Your key outcomes will be

Drive end-to-end strategic initiatives

• Lead business-critical, cross-functional projects, from idea to execution to outcomes.
• Cut through complexity to redesign how the organisation operates: faster, leaner, better.
• Build organisational momentum behind bold decisions and help turn strategy into reality.

Be a data-driven truth teller

• Model impact, size opportunities, and get under the skin of what is really going on in the business.
• Use data to influence, challenge, and guide decision-making, especially when the situation is uncomfortable or ambiguous.
• Bring both commercial and customer lenses to every analysis, articulating P&L impact and customer value.

Set the standard for organisational excellence

• Champion scalable processes and high-performance ways of working.
• Codify what great looks like by drawing on best practice from world-class consumer-facing technology companies.
• Help shift the company mindset from reactive to proactive, from bloated to focused.

Partner with the key stakeholders

• Be in the room, collaborating and influencing leaders throughout the organisation to shape what great looks like.
• Build deep trust and credibility across Product, Technology, Commercial, Operations, Finance, and People teams.
• Drive alignment without needing hierarchy, because your work and thinking speak for themselves.

You’ll be a successful in this role if you…

• Have 6–10 years of experience in scale ups; ideally a mix of operating roles, likely to also have spent time in VC, Growth Equity, Investment Banking, and/or Consulting.
• Are financially fluent and analytically dangerous: Excel, SQL, dashboards, financial models
• Have led highly visible initiatives that have changed the trajectory of a company.
• Understand what breaks at scale and how to fix it.
• Are comfortable being dropped into messy problems with no playbook.
• Know how to push and drive outcomes with empathy.
• Thrive in ambiguity, move at pace, and own outcomes.

Let’s talk about what’s in it for you

We’ll pay you a competitive salary, depending on your specific skills and experience.

We keep our pay ranges broad on purpose to give us, and you, flexibility to match your experience to our zero carbon mission.

You’ll be eligible for an on-target bonus of 15%. We have one OVO bonus plan that focuses on the collective performance of our people to deliver our Plan Zero goal.

We also offer plenty of green benefits and progressive policies to help you feel like you belong at OVO…and there’s flex pay. It’s an extra 9% of your salary on top of your core pay to use as you like. You can take it as cash, add to your pension, or choose to spend it on a huge range of flex benefits.

Here’s a taster of what’s on offer:

For starters, you’ll get 34 days of holiday (including bank holidays).

For your health

With benefits like a healthcare cash plan or private medical insurance depending on your career level, critical illness cover, life assurance, health assessments, and more

For your wellbeing

With gym membership, gadget, travel and cyber insurance, workplace ISA, will writing services, DNA testing, dental insurance, and more

For your lifestyle

With extra holiday buying, discount dining, culture cards, tech loans, and supporting your favourite charities with give-as-you-earn donations

For your home

Get up to £300 off any OVO Energy plan (when you pay by Direct Debit), plus personal carbon offsetting and great discounts on smart thermostats and EV chargers

For your commute

Nab a great deal on ultra-low emission car leasing, plus our cycle to work scheme and public transport season ticket loans

Want to hear about our full range of flexible benefits and progressive people policies? Our People Team can tell you everything you need to know.

For your Belonging

To find better ways to support our people, we need to listen to each other’s experiences and find ways to build a truly inclusive and diverse workplace. As part of this, we have 8 Belonging Networks at OVO. Led by our people, for our people - so when you join OVO, you can play a part - big or small - with any of the Networks. It's up to you.

Oh, and one last thing...

We’d be thrilled if you tick off all our boxes yet we also believe it’s just as important we tick off all of yours. And if you think you have most of what we’re looking for but not every single thing, go ahead and hit apply. We’d still love to hear from you! If you have any additional requirements, there’s a space to let us know on the application form; we want to make the process as easy and comfortable for you as possible.