Subdial Watches
Director of UK Operations
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About Subdial
Subdial is the trading platform for people who love watches. We make discovering watches exciting and trading them easy.
We combine technology and our industry-leading market data with a focus on collectability and a personal service for collectors. We’re bringing watch collecting into the 21st century, putting passion back into the collector experience.
The role
This role has been created to take over the running of Subdial’s UK operations from one of our Founders, freeing them to explore new international markets. It’s a senior, high-trust position — and the single most important part of it is sitting across and managing the physical operations and processing of our watches, from the moment they arrive to the moment they’re listed and shipped.
You’ll initially lead a team of around 20 people, which we expect to grow. From day one you’ll also manage our Customer / Sales team and will need to do so effectively; over time this is likely to pass to someone else so you can focus on operations. It’s a role for someone who can bring order to complex operations, earn the trust of a whole team, and think like an owner about where Subdial can be better.
Remit
Core remit
- Improve how watches are processed across our operations (Processing & Logistics, Workshop, Photography and Listing) — cutting processing time and errors, and using smarter processes and technology to increase units processed per head.
- Lead a large share of our UK team — a trusted, effective manager who brings people with you and develops them into more senior roles.
- Own a 6-star customer experience end to end — resolving complaints, running the customer processes behind the scenes, and maintaining the physical Clubhouse space itself.
Additional responsibilities
- Manage the Sales team from day one — running it effectively, though we expect this to pass to someone else over time.
- Oversee physical security — insurance, access control, and the infrastructure that keeps our stock and premises safe.
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Experience & skills
- You’ve designed operational processes end to end — from high-level flow down to the physical layout of workstations.
- You run operations by data and SLAs — comfortable instrumenting a process, building dashboards, and managing throughput and quality against targets.
- You’ve implemented systems, tooling and automation (including AI) to lift throughput.
- You’ve scaled an operational team through significant growth (e.g. ~25 to 100+), developing people along the way, with a clear view on how to structure teams as they grow.
- You know watches well and deeply understand watch collectors — what they care about and what makes them tick.
- You thrive on startup-level ownership — you’ve worked in small teams and know how to drive outcomes independently.
About You
- Exceptional EQ — you win the hearts and minds of customers and colleagues alike.
- Highly organised and structured — you bring order to complex operations.
- Thinks like a business owner — as the main escalation point for most of our UK team, you’ll look beyond your set brief to spot gaps and opportunities.
- Exacting attention to detail and high personal standards — you spot the half-millimetre that’s off.
- Trusted, discreet and full of integrity — sound with high-value stock, security and customer data; someone a Founder can genuinely hand the keys to.
- Hands-on and happy on the floor — you lead from among the processing team, not just from a desk.
- A continuous-improvement instinct — you can’t leave a slow or error-prone process alone.
- A calm energy that steadies the team, especially under pressure.
Details
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- Full-time, permanent, leadership-level role.
- Based in person at the Subdial Clubhouse, Farringdon, London.
- Reports to the Founders.
- Initially leads a team of c.20 people, expected to grow.
- You must have the right to work in the UK.
Perks of working at Subdial
- The Subdial Clubhouse. Beautiful offices in the heart of Farringdon, with access to communal spaces for lunches and socials.
- Private health insurance. Provided after successful completion of your probation.
- Free lunches. We put in a weekly Ocado order so there’s always lunch in the office.
- Regular socials. Quarterly big socials and smaller monthly social events.
- Trust in your role. We’re a small team moving at pace, and we trust everyone to manage their own area with autonomy and responsibility.
Application process
To apply, email your CV and cover letter to christy@subdial.com. Here’s the full process from start to finish:
CV & cover letter (21 Sep-13 Oct)
Email your CV and cover letter to christy@subdial.com. Your CV should be one page; your cover letter should speak to why you’re interested in the role and highlight the experience and skills that align with the scope set out in this JD.
Phone interview (5-16 Oct)
A 40-minute phone interview with a Co-Founder — an initial introduction for both sides and a chance to align on expectations for the process ahead.
Practical task (19-30 Oct)
A practical task to complete in your own time (around 3 hours in total), exploring the process and customer-management elements of the role.
In-person interview (2-6 Nov)
An in-person interview at the Subdial Clubhouse with both Co-Founders, plus the opportunity to meet senior members of the team afterwards.
Follow-ups (9-13 Nov)
A chance for any final follow-ups and reference checks before offers are made.
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