Operations Director - Commercial Fit Out (Board Appointment) in City of London

The Shore Group have been appointed by a long‑established Workplace Fit Out contractor with more than 30 years of experience delivering projects within the London area. Our client is seeking to appoint a Board‑level Operations Director to provide strategic leadership across the delivery function and help shape the next phase of growth.

By design, the business has stayed largely out of the limelight within the London market, quietly building a highly credible, profitable and well‑run operation with an excellent reputation among clients, consultants and the supply chain. Projects are primarily delivered across London, with regular international commissions in support of long‑standing client relationships.

The company is now entering an exciting new phase, guided by a clearly defined growth strategy that reinforces its core Design & Build offering while deepening and broadening its existing Detail & Build / traditional contracting capability.

This is a strategic, delivery‑focused leadership position, responsible for setting the operational framework, delivery standards and project governance across a growing, multi‑discipline workplace fit out business. The Operations Director will ensure that Project Management best practice is consistently embedded, while enabling teams to deliver across Design & Build, traditional and hybrid procurement routes.

Key responsibilities include:

• Act as a Board Director, contributing to long‑term growth strategy, business planning and governance
• Translate strategic objectives into clear operational and project delivery plans
• Help shape the future operating model as the business expands into traditional contracting
• Hold ultimate accountability for the successful delivery of all projects, from pre‑construction through to handover and defects
• Set clear project management standards, processes and reporting disciplines across the business
• Champion a professional, consultant‑facing approach aligned with traditional contracting expectations
• Provide senior oversight and support to bid strategy and two‑stage tender submissions
• Ensure Project Managers are fully engaged at pre‑construction stage to:
• Act as senior operational presence in key pitches and consultant meetings
• Lead and resource the Project Management function, ensuring clear accountability, consistent controls and effective cross‑team collaboration
• Develop senior Project Managers and Project Directors, building leadership capability to support ongoing and future growth
• Work closely with commercial leadership to oversee project financial performance, cost reporting, valuations, final accounts and contractual risk across D&B and traditional contracts
• Ensure Project Managers operate within agreed commercial and legal frameworks

The Requirements

Due to the nature of the role, candidates will ideally demonstrate the following:

• Proven senior operational leadership experience within a Tier 1 traditional fit out contractor
• Experience operating across consultant‑led, traditional and hybrid procurement routes
• Comfortable operating at Board level, while remaining close to project detail and delivery
• Commercially astute, delivery‑driven and credible with both clients and professional consultants