Operations Director in Hertford

Office Location: Hertfordshire

Sector: Water

We are recruiting for a Tier 1 Main Contractor who have an opportunity for you to join them as the Operations Director for a fast paced Water Capital Delivery Framework in Hertfordshire.

Job Purpose:

The Operations Director will lead the delivery of a major water network upgrade, the client’s largest in 150 years. Responsible for a fast paced programme of water projects, you will direct a multidisciplinary team of around 150 people, ensuring safe, efficient, and high-quality execution. You will hold full operational and commercial accountability for delivering c.£40m per year, meeting performance targets, and achieving margins in line with budget.

Job Responsibilities:

• Client Leadership and Relationship Management
• Act as the primary senior representative, becoming the client’s trusted partner and championing 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 them 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.
• Programme Management & Assurance
• 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.

Standard Responsibilities:

• Code of Conduct
• Health & Safety
• Data Protection, privacy and use of IT resources
• Regulatory standards and probity
• Risks and internal controls framework
• Human Resources policies and procedures
• Equality and diversity

Person Attributes

Knowledge and Skills required:

• Strong understanding of highway working requirements, regulations, and industry standards, with the ability to ensure compliance across multiple operational sites.
• High degree of skill and usage of Microsoft platforms (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Experience required:

• 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.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Engineering Degree or equivalent.
• NEBOSH General and/or Construction Qualification.
• Appreciation of Lean or Agile methods of working.
• Temporary Works qualification and/or understanding.
• Appreciation of NEC and IChemE contracts and use of CEMAR or equivalent web-based tools for managing contracts.

To learn more and discuss further, please email an up to date word copy of your CV and a suitable mobile number to call, quoting reference number: #GPOPSDIRWAT21426.