Looking for a job

Lydia Bennett

@lydiabennett

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I build operations, risk frameworks and teams that make fast-growing organisations work.

United Kingdom

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What I'm looking for

I’m looking to build and improve the strategy, processes, systems and teams that help an organisation work well under pressure. I value evidence-led problem-solving, ownership, practical change and the chance to work closely with leaders and frontline teams.

At Penfold, I redesigned a core pension withdrawal process, cutting completion time from 70 days to 20 while case volume rose by 250%. I’ve also hired, onboarded and led a team while owning complex, high-stakes operational work.

Most recently, I built Penfold’s first organisation-wide governance and risk framework, bringing risks, controls, owners, actions and performance indicators together for the first time. I turn regulatory requirements, evidence-led reviews and root-cause investigations into practical guidance, reporting and improvements that senior leaders can act on.

I’m at my best building the strategy, process and systems nobody has written down yet. My frontline social care experience taught me to go straight to the people and evidence closest to the work, then create practical solutions that hold up under pressure.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Compliance Analyst

Current

Penfold

Apr 2025 - Present (1 year 5 months)

Designed and built a governance and risk framework from scratch, shifting the organisation from reactive fixes to proactive planning. Automated a manual reporting process, cutting it from days to 5-10 minutes.

Governance Risk Management Compliance Process Design Report Automation Jira Notion SQL Excel Google Sheets Python Airtable Stakeholder Management

Senior Operations Associate

Penfold

Aug 2022 - Apr 2025 (2 years 8 months)

Owned complex pension withdrawal cases end to end and redesigned the core case management process, cutting completion time by 71% while volume rose by 250%. Hired, onboarded, and led a team, running 1:1s and performance reviews.

Case Management Airtable Process Redesign Automation Team Leadership Hiring Onboarding Performance Reviews SQL Excel Google Sheets Risk Assessment Quality Assurance

Job Operations Specialist

Otta Technology Ltd

Oct 2021 - Aug 2022 (10 months)

Provided user support and drove cross-team problem-solving and process improvement in a fast-growth job platform.

User Support Problem Solving Process Improvement Cross Functional Collaboration

Support Worker

Southdown Housing Association

May 2020 - Dec 2021 (1 year 7 months)

Managed a caseload of adults with learning disabilities and mental health needs, working to safeguarding procedures. Supported individuals through psychotic episodes and implemented systems for dementia care.

Safeguarding Case Management Person centred care Inter Agency Working Record keeping Risk Management

Assistant Manager

The Red Lion, London

Sep 2017 - Feb 2020 (2 years 5 months)

Progressed from bar and restaurant staff to Assistant Manager, leading shifts, coordinating events, and handling customer issues across a busy pub and hotel.

Team Leadership Shift Management Event Coordination Customer Service Operations

Specialist Barista

Harris + Hoole, Stansted Airport

Dec 2014 - Sep 2015 (9 months)

Delivered high-volume customer service and operational delivery in a fast-paced airport site.

Customer Service High Volume Operations Barista Skills

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

Goldsmiths, University of London

Master of Science, Forensic Psychology

2021 - 2022

Grade: Merit

Completed an MSc in Forensic Psychology with Merit, including quantitative and qualitative research with a strong grounding in statistical analysis and research methods.