Operations Manager - UK Water Sector

Job content

We have a fantastic opportunity for an experienced Operations Manager to join our client in Shropshire. This senior role will play a vital part in the overall success of a busy and invovled water framework as part of the AMP7 cycle. You will be joining a well-established team with a great reputation in the UK Water Sector.

Reporting to: Operations Director

Direct Reports: 3 to 6 Contracts Managers/Project Managers

Indirect Reports: circa 12 Site Managers and an extended staff & labour team

Projects: Annual value in the range £15M-£25M with projects ranging in size/scale.

People / Team

• Lead a multi-disciplined team of professional staff, skilled trades and semi-skilled operatives.
• Work collaboratively in a management team alongside the Commercial Manager and Design Manager.
• Provide direction to the team through Contracts Managers, Project Managers.
• Develop and implement plans to deliver performance and drive continuous improvement.
• Motivate and manage individuals using a mixture of formal procedures and informal methods.
• Assess staff performance and undertake reviews with direct reports to drive improvement in individual performance.
• Identify poor performers. Develop and implement improvement or exit plans.
• Identify talent within your team and ensure that potential is realised.
• Deploy resources and move between projects as appropriate to deliver results.
• Forecast future staff and labour needs.
• Help make it a fun, challenging and rewarding place to work.

Clients

• Become the established first point of contact for our clients.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with clients’ Senior Managers.
• Deliver a first-class service to clients and implement actions through the team to excel in KPI’s or other client metrics.
• Ensure that we deliver a quality product that meets our clients’ expectations.
• Understand client’s businesses and seek opportunities for further workload.

Health, Safety and Environment

• Be a role model for the companies ‘health and safety strategy’ and assist in its development and implementation – fulfil your own Personal Safety Responsibility.
• Believe that zero injuries are achievable.
• Engage with staff to develop their belief that zero is possible.

Financial / Commercial

• Be a role model for the companies ‘cost and efficiency strategy’ and assist in its development and implementation.
• Deliver acceptable gross margin from contracts.
• Work with Commercial Manager to ensure sustainable returns from clients.
• Accurately report the commercial position of projects on a monthly cycle.
• Accurately forecast future revenue from existing projects and clients.
• Identify problem areas and exploit opportunities where these become apparent and implement actions through the team to deliver or exceed budget expectations.
• Drive teams to deliver projects with pace and beat programmes.

General

• Set a personal example for others to follow.
• Act with integrity and honesty.

Utilise management information (audits, KPI’s, Internal Reports, incident data etc.) to identify concerns and implement actions or initiatives to drive improvement.

Candidate Specification

• Have experience in delivering D&B projects for large national client organisations and around live production facilities.
• Have experience in delivering water, wastewater and civil projects.
• Have a proven track record of driving safety excellence across all forms of delivery.
• Be highly organised and able to manage time and workload effectively.
• Good IT skills
• Excellent communication skills and confidence to work closely with clients
• Full clean driving license

What can we offer:

You will be offered an extremely competitive salary which is commensurate based on your experience. The core benefits include:

• 26 days holiday plus bank holidays with the option to buy and carry over
• Flexible pension contributions up to 7% employee 10% employer
• Life assurance of 4 x salary
• Income protection
• Private medical insurance
• Health cash plan
• Car benefit (subject to role)
• Annual professional institution subscription costs
• Career and professional development opportunities

About The Company

You will be joining a leading civil engineering and construction company, delivering design-and-build projects with clients in the water sector and beyond, across the UK.

They directly employ over 1,300 people across 9 office locations and hundreds of construction sites nationwide.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

Our client are an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from all sectors of the community. We promote an open and transparent culture and a workplace where everyone feels included and is treated fairly and with respect.

Agile working

They are committed to providing a flexible and agile working environment that supports both our employees and the needs of the business.

Please get in touch to discuss the opportunity; Andrew Kerr on 07846319189