Operations Director in City of London

Location: [London/ Hybrid]

Reports to: Chief Operating Officer

About the Role

Our client, a leading European fibre network operator, is looking for an Operations Director to lead the build and construction of their network infrastructure across Europe. This is a hands-on leadership role focused on the physical delivery of network assets—from planning and civil works through to commissioning and handover. You'll own the end-to-end construction lifecycle, ensuring projects are delivered safely, on time, and within budget while meeting the quality standards required for a tier-one carrier network.

Key Responsibilities

• Construction Programme Leadership — Direct all network build activities including route planning, wayleaves, civils, duct installation, fibre splicing, and site commissioning.
• Contractor & Vendor Management — Procure, manage, and hold accountable third-party civils contractors, installation partners, and equipment suppliers. Negotiate contracts and enforce SLAs.
• Capital Delivery — Own construction budgets and capital expenditure, ensuring efficient deployment of investment across build programmes.
• Health, Safety & Compliance — Embed a safety-first culture across all field operations. Ensure full compliance with CDM regulations, street works permits, and environmental standards.
• Planning & Permitting — Oversee wayleave acquisition, local authority liaison, and permitting processes to keep build programmes unblocked.
• Cross-Functional Coordination — Work closely with Network Engineering, Commercial, and Service Operations teams to align build priorities with customer demand and product roadmaps.
• Resource Planning — Scale internal teams and contractor capacity to meet build targets, balancing speed with cost efficiency.
• Quality Assurance — Implement inspection and acceptance frameworks to ensure constructed assets meet design specifications and operational readiness standards.
• Reporting & Governance — Provide clear visibility to the COO and executive team on build progress, risks, and investment performance.

Essential:

• Significant experience leading physical network construction—fibre, duct, civils, or similar infrastructure at scale.
• Proven track record delivering large capital build programmes on time and within budget.
• Deep understanding of UK/European street works, wayleaves, and regulatory frameworks.
• Experience managing civils contractors and field-based delivery teams.
• Strong commercial acumen—contract negotiation, cost control, vendor performance management.
• Knowledge of CDM regulations and health & safety leadership in construction environments.

Desirable:

• Background in telecoms, utilities, or datacentre infrastructure build.
• Experience with fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP), metro, or long-haul network construction.
• Familiarity with GIS, network planning tools, and asset management systems.
• NEBOSH, SMSTS, or equivalent H&S qualifications.