Operations Manager in Manchester

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Overview

Operations Manager – Highways, Civils & Urban Developments

Location: Manchester

Sector: Civil Engineering / Highways / Groundworks / Urban Regeneration

Project Values: Up to £3m

We are working in partnership with a well-established civil engineering contractor to recruit an experienced Operations Manager to oversee the delivery of highways, civils, groundworks, and urban centre development projects across the region.

This is a senior operational role with responsibility for multiple projects up to £3m in value, offering the opportunity to influence operational performance, delivery standards, and future business growth.

The Role

Reporting to the Operations Director, the Operations Manager will take overall responsibility for the successful planning, coordination, and delivery of multiple civil engineering projects. You will oversee Contracts Managers and site teams, ensuring projects are delivered safely, on programme, and within budget while maintaining strong client relationships.

Key Responsibilities

• Operational Management
  • Support the Operations Director in delivering the business plan and operational strategy
  • Oversee the delivery of highways, civils, groundworks, and urban centre projects up to £3m
  • Manage multiple live projects concurrently
  • Ensure compliance with company systems, policies, and procedures
  • Produce regular operational and financial performance reports
  • Represent the business with clients, local authorities, and key stakeholders

• Health, Safety & Compliance
  • Promote and maintain a strong safety-first culture
  • Ensure full compliance with H&S legislation, standards, and company procedures
  • Carry out audits, inspections, and reviews, driving continuous improvement

• Project Delivery
  • Ensure projects are delivered safely, on time, and within agreed budgets
  • Monitor programme, cost, quality, and risk across all projects
  • Oversee procurement strategies and subcontractor performance
  • Resolve delivery issues, defects, and delays efficiently
  • Optimise labour, plant, materials, and supply chain resources

• Planning & Pre-Construction
  • Support tender handovers and convert tenders into robust delivery programmes
  • Contribute to buildability reviews, risk assessments, and resource planning
  • Coordinate with designers, consultants, utilities, and suppliers
  • Support early-stage planning on urban and live-environment projects

• People Management
  • Lead, manage, and develop Contracts Managers, Site Managers, and engineers
  • Manage resourcing, performance, welfare, and development
  • Support recruitment, mentoring, and succession planning

About You

• Proven experience in an Operations Manager or Senior Contracts Manager role within civil engineering
• Strong background in highways, civils, groundworks, and urban centre developments
• Experience managing multiple projects up to £3m
• HNC/HND, Degree, or NVQ Level 6/7 in Civil Engineering or Construction Management
• Strong leadership and people management capability
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• Commercially aware with strong planning and risk management skills
• Track record of delivering projects safely, on programme, and profitably

Seniority level

• Not Applicable

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Other

Industries

• Civil Engineering and Construction

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