Head of Operations in Scotland

Atlas NextWave is partnering with a renowned engineering and fabrication company to appoint a Head of Operations to lead and enhance business-wide operational capability. This individual will take ownership of aligning operational delivery across multiple functions, ensuring the business is equipped with the right structure, resources, and systems to consistently deliver safe, efficient, and commercially successful projects. Acting as a key link between leadership and operational teams, the role will focus on driving cohesion across departments, strengthening communication, and ensuring that operational priorities are clearly aligned with strategic objectives. The successful candidate will play a central role in improving efficiency, fostering accountability, and embedding a culture of continuous improvement to support sustainable business growth.

Core Responsibilities

• Operational Leadership & Integration
  • Provide overarching leadership across core operational areas, ensuring consistent performance and alignment.
  • Act as the central coordination point to unify different operational functions into a cohesive, high-performing environment.
  • Work closely with departmental leads to ensure priorities, resources, and workloads are aligned with business goals.
  • Oversee operational readiness, including workforce capability, systems, infrastructure, and equipment.
  • Lead decision-making across operational matters, resolving challenges and removing barriers to delivery.
  • Encourage a culture centred on accountability, collaboration, and ongoing improvement.
• Project Delivery Support
  • Collaborate with operational and project managers to ensure seamless alignment between operational support and project requirements.
  • Contribute to tender preparation, pricing submissions, and client engagement activity where required.
  • Identify and mitigate operational risks that may impact timelines, productivity, or delivery outcomes.
  • Facilitate clear communication across teams throughout all project stages.
• Performance & Continuous Improvement
  • Track and evaluate operational performance, including efficiency, utilisation, productivity, and cost control.
  • Implement initiatives aimed at optimising performance, reducing inefficiencies, and improving output.
  • Support the evolution of operational processes, systems, and reporting frameworks.
  • Provide meaningful operational insights and recommendations to senior leadership.
  • Strengthen resource planning, capacity management, and workflow coordination to enable scalability.
• Health, Safety, Quality & Compliance
  • Champion a strong culture around health, safety, environmental and quality standards (HSEQ).
  • Partner with internal stakeholders to ensure compliance with regulatory and company requirements.
  • Promote accountability in managing risks, closing corrective actions, and maintaining operational standards.
  • Encourage a proactive and preventive approach to risk management and continuous improvement.
• Strategic Alignment & Growth
  • Support senior leadership in delivering strategic initiatives and long-term business objectives.
  • Contribute to operational planning and future growth strategies.
  • Ensure operational capability evolves in line with business expansion and market demands.
  • Provide leadership that supports resilience, efficiency, and long-term sustainability.

Experience & Background

• Proven experience in a senior operations role within fabrication, marine, offshore, engineering, or heavy industrial sectors.
• Strong background in complex, project-driven environments with cross-functional team leadership.
• Solid understanding of operational planning, resource management, project delivery, and HSEQ frameworks.
• Track record of driving operational improvements and supporting organisational growth.

Key Skills & Attributes

• Effective leader with strong communication and organisational capability.
• Collaborative approach with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Commercial awareness combined with strong analytical and decision-making skills.
• Comfortable managing multiple priorities within a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Proactive, solution-oriented mindset with a focus on delivering improvements.
• Able to balance strategic thinking with hands-on operational involvement.

Expected Impact

• The Head of Operations will play a critical role in:
• Improving alignment and integration across all operational functions.
• Enhancing communication and collaboration across teams.
• Increasing efficiency, utilisation, and planning effectiveness.
• Strengthening delivery capability across projects.
• Driving greater accountability and consistency.
• Improving operational visibility and decision-making insights.
• Building a scalable operational framework to support long-term growth.

If you are an experienced operational leader looking to make a meaningful impact within a growing and ambitious organisation, we would be delighted to hear from you. This is a unique opportunity to shape operational performance, influence strategic direction, and play a key role in delivering long-term success. Apply now to explore how you can contribute to the next phase of growth.