Every thriving agency has a secret weapon: operational talent. While creativity and strategy often take the spotlight, the behind-the-scenes magic that makes campaigns successful and clients happy is the work of strong operations. If you want to build an unstoppable agency, investing in the right ops talent isn’t optional—it’s essential.
What Makes Ops Talent So Critical?
Operations professionals keep the engine running. They ensure workflows are efficient, deadlines are met, budgets stay in check, and clients remain in the loop. They’re the ones creating clarity from chaos. Whether it’s through implementing project management systems, optimising resourcing, or reducing client churn through smooth delivery processes, they touch nearly every aspect of agency life.
Without solid ops, creative work may never reach its full potential. Campaigns may be late, clients may lose trust, and teams may burn out. With the right ops people in place, however, your agency becomes a well-oiled machine.
Hiring for Ops: What to Look For
Finding the right operations talent means looking beyond just logistics. A strong operations lead has to understand how to balance structure with flexibility, especially in fast-paced, creative environments.
Here are key qualities to seek out:
- Systems thinking: Can they design and maintain workflows that scale?
- Emotional intelligence: Are they empathetic and able to resolve internal conflicts?
- Proactivity: Do they anticipate problems before they arise?
- Tech fluency: Are they comfortable with tools like Asana, ClickUp, Notion, or HubSpot?
You want someone who can connect the dots, support multiple departments, and create operational calm without stifling creativity.
Creating a Culture That Supports Ops
Hiring ops talent is only the first step. To truly harness their power, your agency culture has to support them. That means:
- Giving them a seat at the leadership table
- Empowering them to challenge inefficiencies
- Encouraging collaboration across departments
- Celebrating internal wins, not just client-facing ones
When ops is respected, they become partners to your strategists, creatives, and account managers—not just task managers.
Where to Find the Right Talent
Recruiting ops talent can be tricky because it’s often not flashy. You may not find them on the usual creative job boards. Consider looking at:
- Agency-specific recruiters
- LinkedIn communities focused on agency operations
- Referrals from within your network
- Ops professionals in adjacent industries like SaaS or marketing tech
One excellent resource is VWA Recruitment, a specialist operations recruitment agency that connects agencies with high-calibre ops professionals who can drive real transformation.
Sometimes, the best fit isn’t someone with an agency background but someone who knows how to build systems in a complex environment.
The Result? Freedom to Grow
With a solid ops backbone, your agency unlocks the ability to scale. You’ll stop reinventing the wheel every project. Teams will have clearer roles and fewer fires to put out. And you’ll have room to focus on the big stuff—innovation, culture, and long-term strategy.
In short, operational talent doesn’t just help you stay afloat—it helps you fly. If you’re serious about growth, it’s time to prioritise the people who make growth sustainable.