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- Tasks: Lead a major water network upgrade and manage a multidisciplinary team of 150.
- Company: Join a leading company in the water delivery sector with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, excellent benefits, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a significant impact on London's water infrastructure while driving efficiency and safety.
- Qualifications: Experience in managing large-scale projects and knowledge of water mains installation required.
- Other info: Dynamic role with potential for career advancement in a fast-paced environment.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Salary: Competitive salary + excellent benefits
Type: Permanent, Full-time, 45hrs, 7.30-5.30pm
Department: Repetitive Delivery Division
Project Partners are now on the look out for an experienced Operations Director to head up the Water Mains Delivery Division. You will lead the delivery of a major water network upgrade, and you would be responsible for a programme replacing 150km of water mains across London and the Thames Valley. Directing a multidisciplinary team of around 150 people, ensuring a safe, efficient, and high-quality execution. You will hold full operational and commercial accountability for delivering over £35m per year, meeting performance targets, and achieving margins in line with budget. This role is key to supporting the companies secured order book and ensuring the programme is delivered with excellence and long-term value.
Job Role:
- Client Leadership & Relationship Management
- Act as the primary senior representative for the company, becoming the client’s trusted partner and championing our brand and values.
- Drive innovation by identifying and promoting new ways of working that enhance programme efficiency and delivery performance.
- Provide clear, evidence-based feedback to support informed and timely client decision-making.
- Support the management of external stakeholders to ensure programme objectives and client targets are met.
- Ensure full compliance with client governance frameworks, securing approval through all project milestones and stage-gates.
- Offer technical insight and guidance to client departments, including Asset Management and Engineering.
- Lead or attend key client meetings as part of the monthly reporting cycle and represent the company at wider contractor forums when required.
- Operational Leadership & Delivery Excellence
- Ensure all works are delivered to the highest standards of health, safety, and environmental performance.
- Work collaboratively with internal functions including HSE, Planning, Environmental, Training & Development, Streetworks, and Quality to lead improvement initiatives and resolve any areas of non-compliance.
- Maintain optimal resource levels across the programme, proactively managing workforce capacity, peaks and troughs in workload, and annual leave.
- Monitor the pipeline of planned works against actual build rates to ensure programme alignment with client targets.
- Identify barriers to delivery at an early stage, develop targeted mitigation plans, and engage teams effectively to achieve full commitment to the solution.
- Support site teams and internal departments in navigating external stakeholder requirements as needed.
- Ensure all operational sites are fully resourced and equipped to meet programme demands.
- Participate in regular performance reviews, operational forums, and monthly commercial meetings.
- Support the Tactical PMO to maintain accurate, transparent, and high-quality programme data.
- Conduct thorough reviews of all programme data prior to submission, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and alignment with contractual reporting requirements.
- Lead programme submissions to the client in accordance with agreed reporting cycles, ensuring they accurately reflect progress, performance against budgets, and achievement of client targets.
- Review outputs from progressive assurance tools, addressing non-conformances and ensuring corrective actions are assigned to relevant contract leads.
Candidate Experience Required:
- Strong understanding of highway working requirements, regulations, and industry standards, with the ability to ensure compliance across multiple operational sites.
- Proven experience leading and managing large-scale, planned works programmes, ideally within a high-volume or complex highway environment.
- Significant construction experience with a solid understanding of methodologies used in the installation of water mains and associated infrastructure. This includes knowledge of commissioning processes and integration of new assets into live client networks without disruption.
- Demonstrated ability to maintain high levels of productivity and performance within repetitive, fast-paced delivery programmes, ensuring consistency, quality, and efficiency.
- Able to support with the formulisation of bids to support our continued delivery and capability in the sector.
- High degree of skill and usage of Microsoft platforms (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
Qualifications Required:
- Full clean UK driving licence
- Engineering Degree or equivalent. (desirable)
- NEBOSH General and/or Construction Qualification. (desirable)
- Appreciation of Lean or Agile methods of working. (desirable)
- Temporary Works qualification and/or understanding. (desirable)
- Appreciation of NEC and IChemE contracts and use of CEMAR or equivalent web-based tools for managing contracts. (desirable)
What’s included:
Competitive salary depending on experience and qualifications
Operations Director in England employer: Project Partners
Contact Detail:
Project Partners Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Operations Director in England
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry professionals on LinkedIn or at local events. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can land you that Operations Director role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. We want to see you shine, so come armed with insights about their water mains delivery division and how your experience aligns with their goals. Show them you’re the perfect fit!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! We recommend rehearsing how you’d present your leadership style and operational strategies. Be ready to discuss how you’ve successfully managed large teams and complex projects in the past.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged with our brand.
We think you need these skills to ace Operations Director in England
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Operations Director role. Highlight your experience in managing large-scale projects and leading teams, especially in the water or construction sectors. We want to see how your skills align 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 past successes in similar positions and how you can drive innovation and efficiency in our Water Mains Delivery Division.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: As an Operations Director, leadership is key. In your application, emphasise your ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage client relationships. We’re looking for someone who can inspire and motivate others while ensuring compliance and safety standards are met.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, it shows you’re keen to join our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at Project Partners
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you have a solid understanding of the water mains delivery process and the specific challenges that come with it. Brush up on your knowledge of highway working requirements and industry standards, as these will likely come up during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Be prepared to discuss your experience in leading large teams and managing complex projects. Think of specific examples where you've successfully driven innovation or improved efficiency in past roles, as this will demonstrate your capability to lead a multidisciplinary team effectively.
✨Prepare for Client Interaction
Since you'll be acting as the primary representative for the company, practice how you would build relationships with clients. Be ready to share examples of how you've managed client expectations and provided evidence-based feedback in previous positions.
✨Demonstrate Problem-Solving Abilities
Think about times when you've identified barriers to delivery and how you developed targeted mitigation plans. Highlight your proactive approach to resolving issues and ensuring compliance across operational sites, as this is crucial for the role.