Central Operations Manager – Optical job in Darwen

Joining the Hakim Group means becoming part of a close-knit family of independent Optical practices across the UK and Ireland.
A career where empowerment, innovation, and unwavering support create a truly fulfilling experience. A career that’s not just rewarding but feels like joining a secret club of the happiest eye-care professionals.

We’re now looking for a Central Operations Manager to play a key role in driving performance, enabling operational excellence, and supporting our practices to thrive as we continue our exciting growth journey.

You will also receive:

You’ll Enjoy

In return for your energy and expertise, you’ll enjoy a competitive salary and a rewarding, people-first working environment.

This is an office based role, at our HQ in Darwen (BB3 1AE)

You’ll also enjoy access to our wellbeing and rewards programme, including:
• Employee health plan and financial flexibility fund
• Exclusive benefits and discounts via our rewards portal
• A vibrant calendar of team events that bring our culture to life

Most importantly, you’ll be joining a supportive, growing team where you can thrive, make an impact, and enjoy being part of something truly special—our award-winning Hakim Group family.

About the Role

This is a hands-on leadership role within our core Operations Team—perfect for someone who loves making things work smarter, faster, and better. You’ll be instrumental in driving operational performance, ensuring exceptional service delivery, and creating efficiencies that benefit both our HQ and practices.

Working closely with the Head of Central Operations, you’ll help shape and deliver continuous improvement projects, spot new opportunities, and bring innovative ideas to life. You’ll combine strategic thinking with practical know-how—balancing “what works in theory” with “what works in practice.”

As a natural communicator and relationship-builder, you’ll collaborate across teams and levels to make operational improvements feel effortless—always staying true to Hakim Group’s unique culture and value

Key Roles & Responsibilities

Lead and support the Central Operations team, driving efficiency while delivering outstanding service to our leaders and colleagues.
• Act as a key point of escalation for internal and practice queries, ensuring swift, effective resolution.
• Champion operational compliance and excellence, influencing the delivery of exceptional service.
• Contribute to the company’s long-term strategic goals and priorities.
• Identify areas for innovation—improving processes, systems, and performance.
• Inspire creative thinking and support the development of local business objectives.
• Set and uphold the standards for operational excellence across the group.
• Support the implementation of loss prevention and debt recovery strategies aligned with HG’s cultural values.
• Collaborate with the Business Systems Manager and Head of Central Operations to enhance operational systems and processes.
• Maintain open, transparent communication with both internal stakeholders and external partners.
• Present clear, insightful information to support decision-making by business leaders

The Ideal Candidate

We’re looking for someone who’s both people-focused and performance-driven—a confident communicator with an eye for detail and a passion for making things better every day.

Communication & Relationship-Building: You’re personable, approachable, and skilled at influencing and connecting with people at all levels.
• Analytical Thinking: You can interpret data, identify trends, and use insights to drive action and improvement.
• Self-Motivation: You take ownership and get things done, turning direction into delivery.
• Compliance & Governance: You understand the importance of operating within a clinically governed environment and are confident managing legal and contractual compliance.
• Operational Expertise: You bring experience in improving systems, processes, and team performance—ideally in a retail or healthcare setting.
• Continuous Growth: You’re committed to learning, evolving, and developing in your career.
• Knowledge of Data Protection: You understand how data protection legislation applies within operational functions

Industry Knowledge – you’ll be familiar with the optical industry and have worked in a leadership or operational capacity previously within Optics.