TechOps Manager Remote

Prolific is not just another player in the AI space – we are the architects of the human data infrastructure that's reshaping the landscape of AI development. In a world where foundational AI technologies are increasingly commoditized, it's the quality and diversity of human-generated data that truly differentiates products and models.

Tech Ops at Prolific isn't a traditional IT team; we're lean, agile and engineering-driven. We don't just maintain systems — we solve problems before they happen, automate relentlessly, and build solutions that help Prolificos do their best work. From internal infrastructure to tooling, security to automation, we take a proactive, hands-on approach to be an enabler for teams, making sure they have everything they need to move fast, make an impact and help Prolific scale.

As Tech Ops Manager, you'll lead and grow the Tech Ops team while remaining deeply hands‑on — expect to spend 50–70% of your time doing technical work alongside your team. You'll own the team's strategy and roadmap, set the standard for how Tech Ops operates, and build strong relationships with department leaders across the business to ensure Tech Ops is a true partner, not just a support function.

You'll manage a team of 3–5 specialists, coaching them to do their best work while also rolling up your sleeves on the hardest problems yourself. You'll own projects end‑to‑end across infrastructure, automation, security and compliance — and you'll make sure your team can do the same. As Tech Ops Manager, you'll play a defining role in shaping the team's culture, capabilities, and impact as Prolific scales.

Leadership & Team Development (30–50%)

• Lead, coach and develop a team of 3–5 Tech Ops specialists, running regular 1:1s, setting clear goals, and providing meaningful feedback that helps people grow.
• Own the Tech Ops roadmap — working with department leaders across Engineering, People, Finance and Security to understand their needs and translate them into a prioritised plan.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders across the business, positioning Tech Ops as a proactive, strategic partner rather than a reactive support function.
• Drive hiring as the team grows, defining roles, raising the bar in interviews, and shaping the team you want to build.
• Foster a team culture of ownership, automation‑first, process thinking, and clear documentation.

Hands‑On Technical Work (50–70%)

• Own and drive complex technical projects from problem identification through to delivery, including scoping solutions, evaluating trade‑offs, and making recommendations.
• Act as the senior escalation point for the Tech Ops team, providing technical guidance and helping unblock issues across the stack.
• Design, build and maintain automation that reduces manual toil and scales our operations — from access provisioning to onboarding workflows and beyond.
• Take ownership of critical areas of our technical infrastructure and tooling, ensuring they remain secure, well‑documented and fit for purpose as the company grows.
• Support and contribute to our information security and compliance programme, working closely with our Information Security and Compliance teams to maintain certifications like ISO 27001, SOC 2 and Cyber Essentials.
• Manage supplier relationships and budgets, ensuring we get value from our software stack and that renewals are planned and executed on time.
• Write and maintain clear, useful documentation that supports the team and the wider business.

• Significant experience in a Tech Ops, IT Operations, or Systems Administration role, including experience leading or managing a small team.
• A track record of owning and delivering technical projects independently — you're a manager who still does the work, not just delegates it.
• Strong experience with Google Workspace administration, macOS fleet management (e.g. Kandji or similar MDM), and identity and access management.
• Demonstrable ability to take ambiguous problems, break them down, and drive them to well‑reasoned solutions — and to coach others to do the same.
• Experience with scripting and automation (e.g. Python, Bash, or low/no‑code platforms…