Operations are the unsung hero of any growing business. They keep the wheels turning from team workflows and processes to logistics, systems, and execution. But when you're scaling a startup or SME, knowing when to bring on a full-time Head of Operations (or Ops Lead) can be tricky.
Should you hire now? Can you make do with fractional support? Or are you better off waiting a little longer?
At JamPot, we help high-growth teams make smart talent decisions. Here’s our take on when a full-time Ops Lead is a game-changer and when it might not be the best move (yet).
In early-stage businesses, “operations” can mean everything from firefighting customer issues to streamlining internal processes. But as your company matures, operations leadership often includes:
An experienced Ops Lead doesn't just make things smoother—they make growth sustainable
1. You’re Growing Fast, but Slowing Down
If your team is constantly playing catch-up, missing deadlines, or struggling to prioritise, you likely need a dedicated person to align people, processes, and tools.
2. Founders Are in the Weeds
When founders are spending more time managing systems, logistics, and internal chaos than driving the business forward, it's time to delegate.
3. You've Hit 15+ People (and Scaling More)
At this stage, complexity increases exponentially. More meetings, more coordination, and more room for things to fall through the cracks.
4. You're Preparing for Funding or Expansion
Investors want to see solid infrastructure. Whether it’s international expansion or new verticals, a strong ops lead can help you scale without breaking.
1. You’re Still Defining Product-Market Fit
If you're pre-revenue or iterating rapidly, a full-time ops leader might not have enough strategic clarity to build scalable systems yet.
2. You Only Need Tactical Help
Sometimes what you need is project management, not operations strategy. Hiring a full-time ops lead to “just get stuff done” may be overkill.
3. You Have Strong Ops-Capable Founders or Leads
If someone internally is already wearing the ops hat well (and has the bandwidth), a full-time hire may not add enough value to justify the cost.
Still in that grey area? Many teams turn to fractional operations leaders as a bridge. At JamPot, we see founders benefit most from fractional support when they:
This model lets you stay agile while still getting expert input on your processes, systems, and team scaling.
Hiring a full-time Ops Lead isn’t about throwing headcount at chaos. It’s about laying the foundation for sustainable growth. But smart scaling means being intentional. Whether full-time, fractional, or project-based, operations is too important to ignore.
If you’re unsure what kind of operations support you need, let’s talk. At JamPot, we help startups and scaleups build the right teams, at the right time.
Book a chat with us to figure out what ops leadership should look like for your next stage of growth.
Book a call with our team to see how we can help.