Role Purpose
Responsible for the overall performance and sustainable growth of J T Mackley & Co Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Van Oord, which operates at arm’s length. The Managing Director (MD) is a statutory director and chairs the Mackley Board with full accountability for operational, commercial, and financial results including for any related Joint Ventures.The MD operates independently within applicable Group policies and procedures (to an independent, accredited management system) and reports to a Supervisory Board within Van Oord. Your line manager is the Deputy Managing Director Dredging and Infrastructure, who chairs this Supervisory Board.
The MD develops and owns the medium-term strategy, translates it into annual business plans and budgets approved by the Supervisory Board, and represents the face of Mackley to clients and stakeholders. You identify knowledge gaps within your business unit, ensuring continuous development of commercial and market expertise. You leverage your extensive network to represent and promote Mackley’s value-add services, building long-term relationships with clients and stakeholders. As MD you motivate, develop, coach, facilitate and supervise the team towards optimal performance and in accordance with Mackley’s guidelines.
Mackley turnover in FY 2026 is forecast to approach £90m having grown from £37m in 2021 under the outgoing MD.Ambitions for growth remain strong and the company vision is to establish asustainable position with turnover of £100m and margins of 6% plus. In 2027, you have a total organisation of approaching 250 people plus temporary site staff to manage peaks in activity.
Your Leadership Team comprises the following roles:
- Operations Director (Mackley Board member)
- Chief Financial Officer (Company Secretary)
- Commercial Manager
- Pre-contract Manager
- Growth Director
- HR Manager
- Area Managers (West, Central and East) – responsible for projects and nominated clients.
In addition, the Head of IT and Digital Transformation is a direct report, as is the Head of Technical Services, as they support across the business.Certain of the above roles report to the Operations Director, who also manages the Head of HSEQ.You lead this team who support you in fulfilling the following key responsibilities.
1. Strategic
- Retain the culture of Mackley as a company with a 100-year heritage, caring, grounded in community, and delivering interesting projects with technical excellence.
- Develop and own the medium-term strategy.
- Translate the strategy into annual business plans, budgets, and priorities, taking full accountability for outcomes.
- Set meaningful objectives for the Leadership Team to deliver the strategy.
- Identify, evaluate, and pursue opportunities to drive sustainable growth and profitability.
- Actively engage Van Oord as strategic partners, leveraging expertise, systems and resources to support Mackley growth.
- Identify and manage strategic risks, escalating to the Supervisory Board as required.
2. Operations
- Be an ambassador for the highest health & safety standards.
- Manage operations, resources, and staffing, taking full accountability for delivery and results and client satisfaction.
- Lead key personnel, ensuring clarity of roles, responsibilities, and decision‑making authority across the organisation.
- Design, implement, and monitor operational processes and ways of working that are appropriate for the UK market, while operating in alignment with relevant Group policies, delegated authorities, and compliance requirements.
- Develop and maintain a BSI accredited Quality Management System, which is nimble, supports profitable business, and implements effective risk management.
- Deploy Parent Company resources to add value, while retaining full accountability for execution, outcomes, and operational risk management.
3. Commercial
- Maintain and grow relationships with strategic clients and partners.
- Make commercial decisions within delegated powers and escalate others for Supervisory Board approval.
- Secure approval for performance bonds, bid bonds, guarantees, or other Parent Company support at tender stage.
- Ensure that contractual commitments remain within insurance coverage, Group risk appetite, and accepted practice.
- Oversee appropriate internal reviews for contracts, ensuring that risks are understood, recorded, mitigated and managed.
- Escalate residual contractual terms with high liability – including fitness‑for‑purpose, indemnities, reliance clauses, unlimited liability, consequential loss – to Supervisory Board.
4. Finance & Control
- Prepare budgets, forecasts, and P&L reports.
- Ensure accurate financial reporting and compliance with UK regulations, whilst supporting Group reporting requirements.
- Monitor financial performance, control expenses, and manage financial risks.
- Escalate material financial impacts to the Supervisory Board in a timely manner.
- Ensure full cooperation with audits initiated by the Parent Company, including timely provision of documentation, explanations, and access to relevant systems.
5. HR & Organisation
- Foster a high‑performing, safe, and positive organisational culture aligned with company values.
- Recruit, develop, and retain talent including succession planning for key roles.
- Develop and maintain an organisational design aligned with the medium‑term strategy and operational needs.
- Manage the annual pay and performance cycle, ensuring full compliance with local regulations and company policies.
- Obtain Board approval for major reorganisations or the appointment or termination of Directors.
6. IT
- Accountable for effective IT usage to support business operations and project delivery.
- Deploy Parent Company–provided enterprise platforms (Microsoft suite, AutoCAD) in accordance with corporate architecture and security policies.
- Take responsibility for the selection, acquisition, licensing, implementation, and management of business‑specific IT solutions and software (e.g. HR, finance, payroll, plant, CRM, engineering, project management tools). Data hosting and security requirements need to align with Group policy and local market requirements.
- Maintain Cyber Essentials or other comparable market standard.
What Makes You Successful in This Role
- Decisive and accountable – takes ownership of outcomes and acts confidently.
- Strategically minded – able to develop and execute the medium-term strategy, anticipating opportunities and risks.
- Business-savvy – understands local market and client dynamics to drive sustainable, profitable growth.
- Operationally focused – drives execution, manages resources effectively, and ensures disciplined delivery in alignment with policies and standards.
- Strong leader and influencer – inspires, develops, and engages teams while fostering collaboration.
- Excellent communicator and networker – builds trusted relationships across clients, partners and internal stakeholders.
- Resilient and adaptable – navigates complexity and uncertainty while maintaining focus on strategic objectives.
About you
- Chartered with the Engineering Council and a Member or Fellow of a relevant professional body.
- Experience as a statutory director and awareness of fiduciary responsibilities.
- An established and varied track record of senior management responsibility for construction projects, portfolios or business units at scale.
- Experience and personal profile in one or more of the core markets of water, ports, coastal or flood risk management.
- A proven ability to grow business and win profitable work within appropriate risk parameters.
- Leader of large teams, creating an inclusive and open environment where people enjoy coming to work and contributing to success.
