Field Operations Manager (South East) in London

Places for People, we hire People, not numbers. So, if you like the sound of one of our jobs, please apply – you could be just who we’re looking for. Experience and track record are important, but we’re more interested in hiring someone that embodies our People Promises – someone who does the right thing, is enthusiastic and motivated to grow, believes in community spirit, is respectful and enjoys their work. As the UK’s leading social enterprise, we’re dedicated to creating inclusive and thriving communities for both our customers and colleagues.

In this role you will lead and manage a team conducting regular 1:1s, performance reviews and coaching, while identifying training needs and addressing underperformance. You will ensure all work meets high-quality standards and customer expectations, resolve complaints and promote a customer-first culture. You will support the operational delivery and optimisation of workforce systems, monitor job allocation and completion rates, undertake technical inspections, and provide guidance to meet delivery standards. You will analyse performance data to identify trends and inefficiencies, recommend process improvements and ensure compliance with KPIs and SLAs. You will maintain a strong health and safety culture, ensuring adherence to legislation and company policies through site visits and audits. Finally, you will collaborate with other managers and stakeholders, share best practices and contribute to service improvement initiatives and the mobilisation of new contracts or services. For this role you will be covering the South East region.

Essential Criteria

• Proven experience managing field-based teams in a multi-trade or technical environment.
• Experienced leader in coaching and people management skills.
• Previous experience in interpreting data and driving improvements.
• Experience with workforce management or scheduling systems.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel nationally.
• Experience in managing HR processes and performance management.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience within a gas environment.

More About You

You will have proven experience managing field-based teams in a multi-trade or technical environment, with strong leadership, coaching, and people management skills. You will demonstrate an excellent customer service ethos, strong communication abilities, and an analytical mindset to interpret data and drive improvements. You will be experienced in workforce management or scheduling systems, confident in handling HR processes and performance management, and hold a full UK driving licence with the willingness to travel nationally. You will be resilient, adaptable, and solutions-focused. Ideally, you will also have experience in the housing, facilities management, or utilities sectors, knowledge of relevant compliance standards, and familiarity with mobile workforce technology and optimisation tools, including SOR.

Benefits

• Competitive salary with regular annual review.
• Car allowance.
• Pension with matched contributions up to 7%.
• Bonus scheme for colleagues at 2%.
• 35 days holiday (including bank holiday) with option to buy or sell days.
• Healthcare cashback plan for everyday medical costs – up to £500 savings per year.
• Access to wellbeing support such as counselling and flu jabs.
• Private GP and health support services available.
• Access to a rewards platform with retail and lifestyle discounts.
• Savings on groceries, travel, shopping and home products.
• Ongoing training and development opportunities.
• Access to professional qualifications and career progression.
• Internal development programmes and learning support.
• Recognition schemes such as Star Awards and Colleagues Awards.
• Strong focus on inclusion, wellbeing and colleague engagement.
• Free membership to Places Gyms.

Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application or interview experience, please let us know – we’re happy to work with you to ensure you have the opportunity to perform at your best. As part of our commitment to diversity and inclusion, we offer a guaranteed interview to candidates who are disabled, neurodiverse, or have served in the Armed Forces, provided they meet the essential criteria for the role. If you would like to be considered under this scheme, please indicate this in your application.

Safeguarding

At Places for People, safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. We are committed to creating safe communities for our customers and colleagues by protecting children, young people, and adults at risk from harm, abuse and neglect. We follow robust safeguarding policies and procedures, ensuring all employees, volunteers and contractors uphold the highest standards of safeguarding and accountability. Our recruitment process includes pre-employment checks, including Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks where applicable, to promote a safe and secure working environment.

Armed Forces

We are proud to support the Armed Forces Covenant. Places for People will guarantee an interview for any candidate who is serving or has formerly served in the Armed Forces, as a reservist, armed forces veteran (including the wounded, injured and sick), cadet instructor and military spouse/partner and who meets the essential criteria for the vacancy.

Disability Confident

We are proud to be a member of the Disability Confident scheme certified as Level 2 Disability Confident Employer. Disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for a vacancy will be guaranteed an interview.

Neurodivergent

Neurodiverse individuals have highly valuable skills, and we recognise that a traditional interview process sometimes works against them and doesn’t allow them to self-advocate. Neurodiverse applicants who meet the criteria for a vacancy will be guaranteed an interview.