Operations Manager in Portsmouth

Operations Manager – Major Civil Engineering JV (South of London)

Location: South of London
Salary: £85,000 - £95,000+ Car or Allowance + Bonus + Healthecare/ Life Inurance and Package

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join a major Joint Venture delivering one of the UK's most significant water & earthworks infrastructure schemes.

This flagship project, valued at approximately £500 million, will run through to 2029and includes over 3.5 million cubic metres of earthworks, alongside extensive heavy civils and infrastructure works. This is a career-defining opportunity to play a key leadership role on a nationally important project.

Reporting directly to the Project Director, you will act as hia number 2Operations Manager on the scheme, providing leadership across multiple workstreams while managing a team of experienced Contracts Managers and Project Managers.

The Role

• Support the Project Director in the successful delivery of a major water infrastructure project.
• Provide operational leadership across multiple concurrent work packages.
• Lead, mentor and develop Contracts Managers and Project Managers.
• Drive programme performance, safety, quality and commercial awareness across the project.
• Coordinate construction activities to ensure delivery against programme and budget.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with the client, designers and supply chain.
• Identify and manage project risks while driving continuous improvement.
• Promote collaborative working across the Joint Venture and wider project team.

What We’re Looking For

• Proven experience operating as an Operations Manager or Senior Contracts Manager within heavy civil engineering.
• Strong background delivering major infrastructure projects, including earthworks, highways, water, rail or large-scale ground engineering.
• Demonstrable leadership experience managing multiple project teams simultaneously.
• Commercial awareness with a sound understanding of NEC contracts.
• Excellent client-facing and stakeholder management skills.
• A collaborative leader who thrives in a high-performing project environment.

The Opportunity

This is more than just another Operations Manager role—it's an opportunity to become part of the senior leadership team delivering one of the UK's largest civil engineering projects. You'll have genuine influence over project delivery, work alongside an experienced Project Director, and play a pivotal role in shaping the success of a landmark infrastructure scheme.

Due to the confidential nature of this appointment, further information regarding the Joint Venture and client will be discussed with suitable applicants.