Operations Director – Geotechnical & Foundations

Overview

As Operations Director for UK geotechnics and foundations, you will lead the strategic and operational delivery of VSL’s specialist foundations portfolio. You will oversee multiple complex projects, drive safety, quality and commercial performance, and shape the UK market strategy in collaboration with the leadership team. You will work with cross-functional teams across the Bouygues network to push technical excellence and innovative solutions. This role offers high-impact leadership across major infrastructure projects and opportunities to grow the UK foundations business.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for the UK geotechnical and foundations portfolio
• Oversee delivery of complex projects meeting contractual, programme, financial, safety, and quality requirements
• Lead Project Directors, Project Managers, Construction Managers and multidisciplinary teams
• Develop delivery strategies, methodologies and performance management frameworks
• Monitor performance, milestones and resource use; implement corrective actions
• Provide senior oversight on operational, technical and contractual matters
• Drive continuous improvement and best practices across the portfolio
• Ensure alignment with safety, quality and environmental standards across operations
• Lead and manage commercial and financial performance with support from commercial and finance teams
• Contribute to business strategy, resource planning and long-term development of foundations activities
• Oversee resource planning, coordination with engineering, procurement and operations to optimize project performance
• Maintain strong relationships with clients, JV partners and stakeholders

Key requirements

• Extensive senior operational leadership experience in specialist foundations or geotechnical engineering
• Proven track record delivering deep foundation and ground engineering works on major infrastructure projects
• Experience managing multiple projects and an operational portfolio with financial and resource oversight
• Strong technical background in specialist foundations (diaphragm walls, piling, ground improvement, etc.)
• Experience with large multidisciplinary teams and complex construction operations
• Strong financial and commercial management capabilities (budgets, forecasting, profitability)
• Good understanding of UK contracts, ideally NEC
• Experience on major UK infrastructure programmes (highways, rail, tunnelling, energy)
• Willingness to travel regularly across the UK

• leadership with credibility at director level
• strong commercial judgement
• clear communication and negotiation
• geotechnics and foundations
• diaphragm walls
• piling (bored and CFA)

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