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- Tasks: Lead major water infrastructure projects and manage operational performance across multiple sites.
- Company: Dynamic infrastructure business with a focus on water utilities and civil engineering.
- Benefits: Attractive salary, performance bonus, car allowance, and private medical insurance.
- Other info: Hybrid working with regular travel to exciting projects across London and the South East.
- Why this job: Play a key role in significant water network upgrades and drive impactful change.
- Qualifications: Experience in water utilities, civil engineering, and managing large operational teams.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Operations Director to lead the delivery of a major water infrastructure and utilities programme across London and the South East. This senior leadership role is ideal for candidates with a strong background in water utilities, civil engineering, highways, infrastructure, pipeline installation, or planned works delivery who are looking to take ownership of a flagship operational programme with significant long-term investment and growth.
The successful candidate will oversee the delivery of a large-scale water mains replacement programme involving over 150km of critical infrastructure works, managing operational performance, commercial delivery, safety, client relationships, and multidisciplinary teams across multiple live projects.
Key Responsibilities- Lead operational delivery across major water, utilities, highways, or civil engineering projects
- Manage large planned works and infrastructure programmes valued in excess of £35m annually
- Drive productivity, programme performance, and operational efficiency
- Oversee installation and commissioning activities for water mains and linear infrastructure
- Ensure compliance with highways regulations, permitting, HSEQ, and industry standards
- Lead and develop large operational and project delivery teams
- Build strong client, stakeholder, and supply chain relationships
- Support continuous improvement, Lean delivery, and programme optimisation
We are seeking an Operations Director, Contracts Director, Framework Director, Programme Director, or Senior Operations Manager with experience in:
- Water utilities
- Civil engineering
- Infrastructure delivery
- Highways
- Pipeline installation
- Utilities frameworks
- Planned maintenance or capital works programmes
Ideal experience includes:
- Leading large-scale operational delivery teams
- Managing multi-site utilities or infrastructure programmes
- Water mains replacement or pipeline projects
- Commercial and budget management responsibility
- Strong stakeholder and client management capability
- Fast-paced, high-volume delivery environments
- Engineering degree or equivalent
- NEBOSH Construction or General Certificate
- Temporary Works knowledge/certification
- Lean, Agile, or continuous improvement experience
Attractive basic salary, performance-related bonus, company car or car allowance, private medical insurance, hybrid working, long-term secured workload, senior leadership opportunity within a growing infrastructure business. Based from a modern Hertfordshire headquarters, this role will involve regular travel to projects across London and the South East.
This is a fantastic opportunity for a senior infrastructure or utilities professional to play a key role in one of the UK's most significant water network upgrade programmes.
Operations Director - Civil Engineering in Hemel Hempstead employer: Fawkes & Reece London
Contact Detail:
Fawkes & Reece London Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Operations Director - Civil Engineering in Hemel Hempstead
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry professionals at events or online. We all know that who you know can sometimes be just as important as what you know, so don’t be shy about making those connections.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. We want you to show up ready to discuss how your experience in water utilities and civil engineering aligns with their goals. Tailor your answers to highlight your leadership skills and operational success.
✨Tip Number 3
Follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in keeping you top of mind. We recommend mentioning something specific from your conversation to remind them why you’re the perfect fit for the Operations Director role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Operations Director - Civil Engineering in Hemel Hempstead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Operations Director role. Highlight your experience in water utilities, civil engineering, and managing large-scale projects. We want to see how your background aligns with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of your leadership in infrastructure projects and how you’ve driven operational efficiency.
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements! Use metrics to demonstrate how you’ve improved performance or managed budgets effectively. We love seeing quantifiable success!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of applications and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Let’s get your application rolling!
How to prepare for a job interview at Fawkes & Reece London
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of water utilities and civil engineering. Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in infrastructure delivery and be ready to discuss specific projects you've worked on that relate to the role.
✨Showcase Leadership Skills
As an Operations Director, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to lead large teams and manage complex projects. Prepare examples of how you've successfully driven productivity and operational efficiency in past roles.
✨Understand Compliance and Safety
Be prepared to talk about your experience with HSEQ regulations and compliance in the context of highways and utilities. Highlight any certifications you have, like NEBOSH, and how they’ve helped you ensure safety on projects.
✨Build Relationships
Client and stakeholder management is key in this role. Think of instances where you've built strong relationships with clients or suppliers, and be ready to share how those relationships contributed to project success.