Operations Manager - 18 month FTC

Operations Manager | Edinburgh | £77,000 | 18-month FTC The Opportunity Are you a proactive leader who thrives on building strong relationships and driving performance? We have an exciting opportunity for an Operations Manager to join our client\’s team in Edinburgh on an 18-month fixed-term contract. This is a pivotal, client-facing role where you will act as the key representative, building a strong, collaborative partnership and making a real impact on service delivery. You will lead a friendly and supportive team, driving both day-to-day operations and long-term strategic planning. This role offers you the autonomy to introduce improvements, shape workflows, and develop your leadership skills in a dynamic environment that values your transferable experience and proactive mindset. Responsibilities: Act as the primary on-site client representative, fostering a collaborative partnership and ensuring client satisfaction. Lead and motivate a multi-disciplinary team of engineers, managers, and technicians to meet and exceed contractual performance targets. Oversee the delivery of contractual services, monitoring performance against key performance indicators (KPIs) and managing budget expenditure. Balance proactive long-term planning with the ability to respond to day-to-day operational challenges. Coordinate between production, materials, and technical teams to ensure seamless service delivery. Conduct regular internal and external contract review meetings, escalating any disputes as necessary. Manage key project and business processes, including Health, Safety, Quality, and Environment (HSQE), training, and risk management. Support the client in commissioning programmes and oversee the initial mobilisation stages of the contract. Work with the HR Business Partner on recruitment needs and manage the employee appraisal process. The Candidate: We are looking for a decisive leader with a proven track record in a project or operational management role, particularly within a client-facing environment. While a technical engineering background is strongly desired, what\’s most important is your ability to lead, motivate, and strategically manage a team. Strong leadership skills: You can manage and keep a team cohesive and accountable. Excellent communication: You are adept at communicating clearly and persuasively with your team, managers, and key stakeholders, both internally and externally. Strategic thinker: You have the ability to balance reactive problem-solving with proactive long-term planning and know when to escalate issues. Adaptable: You have experience in asset, maintenance, or fleet management from a manufacturing industry. Commercially astute: You have a solid understanding of commercial contract management and financial procedures. Location: Edinburgh Salary: £77,000 About Ford & Stanley Group Ford & Stanley Talent Services Group are in the business of people and performance. Our mission is to create one million better workdays through facilitating great recruitment, leadership and occupational mental fitness. We support our clients in their most challenging business areas – recruiting, developing and retaining the best talent from shop floor to boardroom. Ford & Stanley TalentWise – Business specialising in blue collar trade & technical services – permanent and temporary. Ford & Stanley Recruitment – Business specialising in white collar spanning all company functions with specialist verticals within Digital, Rail Engineering, Civils & Infrastructure, General Manufacturing, Supply Chain & Logistics both permanent and contract. Ford & Stanley Executive Search – Business specialising in Executive Search & Executive Interim Solutions in the UK, North America, Middle East and Europe. Ford & Stanley Genius Performance – Performance is always accelerated when good people are coached, inspired, trained and focused in the right way. Ford & Stanley Talent Services Group Ltd is a Disability Confident employer that is committed to a policy of equal opportunities for all opportunity seekers. We shall adhere to such a policy at all times and will review on an on-going basis all aspects of recruitment to avoid unlawful or undesirable discrimination. We will treat everyone equally irrespective sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, age, disability, colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief or political beliefs and we place an obligation upon all staff to respect and act in accordance with the policy