The pathway
How you actually get there, here
How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.
- 1
From Senior PR Administrator / Communications Operations Lead (Large Organisation)
3-5 years in a lead roleSkills to master
- Strategic vendor management, budget oversight (P&L responsibility), people management (hiring, performance, development), cross-functional influence, and designing department-wide processes.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully led a significant operational transformation project (e.g., new tech stack implementation).
- Managed a team of 5+ direct reports with demonstrable success in their development.
- Consistently identified and delivered measurable cost savings or efficiency gains.
- Presented operational strategy or performance to senior leadership without significant input.
- 2
From PR Agency Operations Manager
4-6 years in an agency operations management roleSkills to master
- Transitioning from client-focused operations to in-house departmental operations, managing internal stakeholders, and aligning operational strategy with broader corporate goals.
You're ready to move on when
- Managed the operational backbone for multiple client accounts or a significant agency department.
- Proven ability to manage budgets and drive operational profitability in a fast-paced agency environment.
- Experience in building and leading operational teams, even if they were client-facing.
- Demonstrated ability to adapt to new internal systems and stakeholder dynamics.