Construction Director
Executive Leadership Role | Utility Infrastructure Delivery
The Opportunity
A rare and senior leadership opportunity has arisen for an experienced Director of Construction to take full operational responsibility for a regional utility infrastructure business spanning Somerset, Wiltshire, Dorset and Hampshire.
Reporting directly to the CEO and operating as part of the Executive Team, this role will lead the company’s in-house construction division, overseeing end-to-end infrastructure delivery across rural counties.
This is a high-impact, execution-driven role responsible for ensuring construction programmes are delivered safely, efficiently and at pace while maintaining strict capital discipline and operational performance. You will lead a sizeable direct labour workforce and senior leadership team, translating corporate strategy into clear, deliverable construction programmes.
The Business
Our client is a family owned utility infrastructure business delivering large-scale network construction across rural communities. With significant capital investment and ambitious growth plans, the organisation is scaling its construction capability to deliver complex utility infrastructure programmes at pace while maintaining operational discipline, cost control and delivery certainty. This role will play a critical part in shaping how the construction division evolves as the business grows.
The Role
As Construction Director, you will take full accountability for the division, overseeing a team of circa 150 staff from management to their direct labour force. Key responsibilities include:
Construction Strategy & Delivery
- Develop and implement construction strategies aligned with company growth and capital deployment plans
- Ensure delivery models are practical, scalable and capable of operating at pace
- Identify opportunities to strengthen the long-term value of the construction operation
Leadership & Organisational Development
- Provide visible leadership across geographically dispersed construction teams
- Lead and develop senior operational leadership including Heads of Construction and Delivery
- Build scalable organisational structures as delivery volumes increase
Programme Performance & Control
- Establish clear programme governance, delivery KPIs and operational reporting
- Maintain transparent dashboards tracking progress, cost and risk across delivery programmes
- Drive a culture of accountability, pace and execution across construction teams
Capital Management & Cost Discipline
- Maintain strong capital governance across construction delivery
- Manage cost efficiency, resource utilisation, fleet performance and delivery productivity
- Work closely with the CEO, CFO and commercial finance teams on CapEx deployment and forecasting
Operational Improvement
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives to increase productivity and delivery predictability
- Optimise operational systems, processes and delivery structures
Executive Leadership
- Contribute to strategic decision making as part of the Executive Team
- Provide the Board with clear insight on delivery performance, risk and investment requirements
- Support strategic planning including scaling delivery capacity as market conditions evolve
Measures of Success
Performance in the role will be measured against clear delivery and operational outcomes, including:
- Infrastructure delivery achieved on time and within agreed budgets
- Delivery teams operating at 20–30% margin against benchmark rate cards
- Reliable and predictable programme forecasting
- Strong capital efficiency and cost-per-customer metrics
- Effective utilisation of labour, plant and contractor resources
- Excellent safety and quality performance
- Clear and trusted reporting to the Executive Team and Board
The Ideal Candidate
We are seeking a senior infrastructure leader with strong operational and commercial capability who can drive large-scale delivery programmes.
You will bring:
- Senior leadership experience within a utilities contractor – Water, Power, Gas, Solar or Telecoms
- Proven track record delivering multi-site infrastructure programmes at scale
- Strong understanding of CapEx management, construction cost control and delivery governance
- Experience building and leading large operational teams
- Ability to operate confidently at Executive and Board level
- Eye for detail – strong analytical capability and operational systems thinking
- Passion for the countryside and rural communities
Salary and Package
- Salary: £120k – £150k
- Bonus: up to 30%
- Travel allowance
- Accommodation allowance
- Pension, Vitality Healthcare
Interested?
Apply now to discuss this opportunity in confidence and more detail
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