Operations Manager

Overview

Senior Operations Manager to lead multi-site projects in the UK water sector. You will manage Project Managers, maintain client relationships, and drive operational performance, safety, quality, and continuous improvement. You will ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to high standards while developing teams and coordinating subcontractors. Reporting to the Operations Director, you will collaborate with cross-functional teams to optimise resources and maximise project impact. This is a strategic role with a clear focus on client delivery, safety culture, and operational excellence.

Responsibilities

• Primary point of contact for clients and relationship development
• Lead and coordinate project delivery teams across regions
• Monitor programme delivery, budgets, and risk management
• Support recruitment, induction, and performance development of operational staff
• Ensure compliance with integrated management systems, quality standards and procedures
• Manage subcontractors and suppliers, including onboarding and performance evaluation
• Collaborate with wider operational teams to maximise resource utilisation and efficiency
• Provide regular operational and financial updates to senior leadership
• Drive a Right First Time culture focused on quality, safety and continuous improvement

Key requirements

• Strong leadership and team management experience
• Excellent communication and client relationship skills
• Experience delivering projects within the water industry
• Understanding of operational, financial and programme management
• Engineering knowledge with practical site experience
• Ability to motivate teams and resolve conflict
• Proactive and highly self-motivated
• Strong ethical standards and commitment to high-quality delivery
• Planning and programming experience
• Chartered Engineer status would be advantageous but is not essential

• leadership
• communication
• conflict resolution
• project management
• programme management
• budgeting and financial oversight

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