At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and manage passive fire protection projects across the South West region.
- Company: Established firm with a strong growth trajectory in fire protection.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus potential, car allowance, and private healthcare.
- Other info: Strong career growth opportunities in a supportive environment.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team and make a real impact in fire safety compliance.
- Qualifications: Senior operational leadership experience in passive fire protection or construction.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 70000 £ per year.
Location: Bristol or Newport
Salary: up to £70,000 per annum + 25% bonus + car allowance + fuel card + private health
Job Type: Permanent, Full-time
Sector: Passive Fire Protection / Construction / Refurbishment
We are recruiting for an experienced Operations Manager / Branch Manager – Passive Fire Protection to lead a growing regional fire protection department covering Bristol, Newport, South Wales, Gloucestershire and North Somerset. This is a senior operational leadership role within the passive fire protection sector, with responsibility for fire stopping, compartmentation, compliance, project delivery, commercial performance, P&L management and direct labour team leadership.
The Role
- Oversee the safe, compliant and profitable delivery of passive fire protection works across the branch.
- Manage operational delivery, client relationships, programming, performance tracking, CVR / CBR reporting, forecasting and commercial control.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the safe, compliant and profitable delivery of passive fire protection works across the region.
- Take full P&L responsibility for branch performance, including margin, cost control and forecasting.
- Manage CVR / CBR processes, commercial reporting and operational performance tracking.
- Oversee passive fire works including fire stopping, compartmentation, door sets and tested solutions.
- Lead operations managers, contracts managers, technical surveyors, quantity surveyors and direct labour teams.
- Improve programming, labour productivity, delivery tracking and visibility of work in progress.
- Build strong client relationships across housing, local authority, care, education, healthcare and commercial sectors.
- Support new business growth and help diversify the branch into more private-sector passive fire work.
- Reduce reliance on subcontractors by strengthening in-house delivery capability.
- Ensure works are delivered in line with health, safety, quality and passive fire compliance standards.
- Mentor and develop operational managers, particularly around commercial awareness and contract performance.
- Support successful mobilisation of new passive fire protection projects and contracts.
About You
We are looking for a senior operational leader with strong commercial capability and experience in passive fire protection, fire stopping, construction, refurbishment, planned works or a closely related sector.
Essential Experience
- Senior operational leadership experience within passive fire protection, construction, refurbishment or planned works.
- Strong commercial acumen with P&L responsibility or significant budget accountability.
- Experience with CVR, CBR, forecasting, cost control and margin management.
- Experience managing multiple contracts, programmes and client relationships across a regional area.
- Experience leading direct labour teams or high-volume operational delivery teams.
- Strong understanding of productivity, pricing, programming and profitability.
- Excellent communication, organisation and leadership skills.
- Ability to mentor, develop and commercially upskill operational managers.
- Full UK driving licence.
Passive Fire and Compliance Knowledge
Passive fire protection experience would be highly advantageous.
What You’ll Be Joining
The branch has a strong platform for growth, with secured multi-year passive fire protection contracts across the region and an established in-house team. Existing work includes local authority, housing, care and residential environments, with further opportunities to expand into education, healthcare, commercial property and wider private-sector passive fire markets. The culture is operationally strong, with several internally promoted managers who understand the work well. The next stage is to add stronger commercial structure, performance tracking, mentoring and growth leadership.
Package
- £60,000–£70,000 DOE
- Car allowance
- Bonus opportunity up to 25%
- Private healthcare
- Standard company benefits
- Permanent, full-time role
- Immediate opportunity available
Operations Manager Fire Protection - South West employer: RecruitMe
Join a leading firm in the Fire Protection sector, where your expertise as a Quantity Surveyor will be valued and rewarded. With a competitive salary package, including a car allowance and bonus potential, we foster a supportive work culture that prioritises employee growth and development. Located in the vibrant East Anglia and Northern Home Counties, you'll enjoy a dynamic environment that encourages innovation and collaboration while making a meaningful impact in public sector projects.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Operations Manager Fire Protection - South West
✨Join Construction Networks
Get yourself involved in local construction networks or industry events. They often have job boards, and networking can lead to unadvertised positions. Plus, it’s a great way to meet potential future colleagues!
✨Show Off Your Skills on Site
If you’ve done any hands-on work, whether it's through internships or personal projects, make sure you can showcase it. Consider volunteering for local construction projects or getting involved in community build days; it’s a solid way to demonstrate your skills and build connections.
✨Utilise Construction Job Sites
Don't just rely on the big job boards. Look at niche construction job sites—many companies prioritise these for full-time roles. Apply through these sites, but don’t forget to reach out directly to companies you admire, like RecruitMe, to express your interest!
✨Tailor Your Application for Full-Time Roles
Make your application stand out by tailoring it specifically for full-time positions. Highlight how your previous projects align with the company's work. At StudySmarter, we encourage you to demonstrate your commitment and long-term interest in the industry when applying for roles like Operations Manager Fire Protection - South West at RecruitMe.
We think you need these skills to ace Operations Manager Fire Protection - South West
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Relevant Experience:In the construction industry, it's essential to highlight any hands-on experience you have. Whether it’s past projects you've worked on or specific roles you've held, make sure your CV emphasises your practical skills and contributions to construction sites.
Include Certifications and Qualifications:Don’t forget to list any certifications relevant to construction, like CSCS cards or other safety qualifications. These can really set you apart from other candidates and show that you’re serious about health and safety on-site.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Construction:When writing your cover letter for a construction role, focus on your problem-solving capabilities and teamwork. Construction relies heavily on collaboration, so mention how you’ve worked successfully with others to complete projects on time and within budget.
Adapt Your CV Format to the Field:Ensure your CV is clear and easy to read, with sections dedicated to skills such as project management, technical abilities, and site supervision. Construction roles often require a blend of technical know-how and soft skills, so make sure both are highlighted effectively.
How to prepare for a job interview at RecruitMe
✨Brush Up on Technical Knowledge
For a construction role, it's crucial we have a solid grasp of industry standards, safety protocols, and specific tools used on-site. Make sure you're familiar with relevant regulations and can talk confidently about them, as these often come up in interviews.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Since this is a full-time position, be ready to discuss any previous construction projects you've worked on. Bring a portfolio or have detailed descriptions that highlight your role, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them—this’ll show you’re not just book-smart but also practically savvy.
✨Understand the Team Dynamics
Construction is all about teamwork, so prepare to discuss how you interact with different stakeholders like architects, engineers, and contractors. Maybe think of examples from past experiences to illustrate your ability to communicate and collaborate effectively.
✨Prepare for On-the-Spot Problem Solving
Be ready for some practical questions or scenarios where you'll need to demonstrate your problem-solving skills. Interviewers might present you with a hypothetical construction issue to solve, so practice articulating your thought process clearly and logically—this could really set you apart!