Operations Manager - Air Hygiene in Colchester

PH Water & Air Technologies are looking for a results-driven Operations Manager within our Air Division to join our team. As the Air Hygiene Operations Manager, you will oversee all aspects of the department’s operations, from project delivery and client management to team leadership and compliance. You’ll ensure that every contract meets client expectations, health and safety requirements, and company standards, while driving efficiency and profitability across the business. You will play a pivotal role in liaising with internal departments, developing staff, maintaining supplier relationships, and supporting our sales and estimating teams.

What you receive for joining us: We offer a competitive salary of £40,000 to £50,000 per annum, depending on experience along with 25 days holiday per year plus Bank Holidays, company pension, private health insurance, company car/car allowance, loyalty bonus and lots more we’d be happy to tell you about. Working status is hybrid working from the office in Farnborough, at home and on site. 8am-5pm Monday to Friday. Most of our client sites are based within the Essex, Kent and London area so your ability to commute to these geographical areas is important.

Employee Referral Bonus Scheme: We believe great people know great people and we reward it. PH Water employees can earn generous referral bonuses of up to £1,500 when they successfully recommend someone who joins us in an eligible role and completes 12 months of service. The scheme covers a wide range of positions across the business and is a fantastic opportunity to be rewarded for helping us grow our team with top talent.

Here’s a look at some of the things you’ll be doing:

• Oversee and manage all air hygiene contracts and projects, ensuring safe, timely, and cost-effective delivery to specification while monitoring performance against KPIs and reporting to senior management.
• Plan, delegate, and monitor workloads across the operational team, providing leadership, mentoring, and performance appraisals to maintain a competent, compliant, and motivated workforce.
• Act as the primary client contact, maintaining strong relationships with customers, suppliers, and subcontractors to ensure high-quality service, satisfaction, and effective communication throughout project delivery.
• Manage budgets, tenders, quotations, and post-sale requirements; verify materials, labour, and expenditure against job estimates, and produce accurate monthly management and financial reports.
• Ensure full compliance with company policies, health and safety legislation, and industry standards by overseeing RAMS, verifying safe and suitable materials and equipment, maintaining audit-ready documentation, and quality-checking engineer reports via CAFM and Flow Mobile systems.

Can you show experience in some of these areas?

• Proven experience in an Operations or Contracts Manager role within the air hygiene sector, with strong leadership, communication, and people management skills.
• Good knowledge of air hygiene compliance standards, including Fire Damper Testing and relevant BS EN ventilation hygiene standards.
• A good understanding of Health & Safety at Work Act, COSHH regulations, and industry best practices to ensure full operational compliance.
• Skilled at interpreting technical information to deliver compliant, client-focused solutions while managing multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Holds a full UK driving licence with flexibility and willingness to travel nationally.

Introducing our organisation: PH Water & Air Technologies: We excel as an integrated provider. Trusted as compliance partners, we collaborate with clients in sectors such as Education, Health, Care Homes, Public Sector, Local Authority, Industry, Pharmaceutical, Hospitality, Leisure, Food & Beverage, Retail, and Media, to ensure risk reduction, safety improvement, and regulatory compliance.