Operations Manager

Be the leader that powers safe, reliable delivery

As our Operations Manager, you'll take the lead in delivering our mains replacement programme across East London, ensuring projects are completed safely, efficiently, and to the highest standards. You'll be responsible for leading the safe, efficient delivery of contracted works to time, cost, and quality, while managing all aspects of project delivery including planning, budgets, risks, and resources.

From embedding a strong safety and process safety culture across teams and partners, to providing first‑line assurance across all operational and contractual activities, this role sits at the heart of driving performance and compliance. You'll produce accurate monthly reporting across SHE, financials, and programme delivery, while challenging teams to deliver innovative, efficient, and fit‑for‑purpose solutions.

Working closely with internal teams, strategic partners, and contractors, you'll ensure robust contractual governance across all delivery partners, build strong stakeholder relationships, and support community engagement on major infrastructure schemes. You'll also play a key role in driving awareness of regulatory requirements (RIIO) across engineering teams, ensuring we consistently deliver against business and regulatory expectations.

Why you'll love this role

Lead with Purpose

Take ownership of a major infrastructure programme with an annual value of circa £50m, shaping delivery and performance across multiple teams and partners.

Safety First, Always

Champion a proactive safety culture, embedding process safety and ensuring compliance with all operational and engineering standards.

Customer at the Heart

Drive a customer‑first mindset—ensuring inquiries and complaints are handled effectively and continuously improving the customer experience.

Influence & Improve

Lead investigations, share best practice, and drive continuous improvement across SHESQ and project delivery.

Collaborative Delivery

Work closely with strategic partners, supply chain, and internal stakeholders to deliver projects efficiently and to specification.

Make an Impact

Support innovation, new systems, and smarter ways of working—helping to shape the future of how we deliver infrastructure projects.

What you'll bring

• Proven project or contract management experience within a complex operational environment
• Strong understanding of engineering or infrastructure project delivery
• Solid commercial acumen and ability to manage budgets and contracts effectively
• A passion for customer experience and service excellence
• Strong leadership skills with experience managing teams (direct and indirect)
• Knowledge of Cadent procedures (or similar frameworks) is advantageous

Qualifications:

• Degree (or equivalent experience)
• Membership of a relevant professional body (desirable)

What's In It for You

• Private Medical Insurance for you, your partner and your family available through MyChoices, our flexible benefits programme, with access to a 24 hour Bupa HealthLine
• 25 days' holiday, plus 8 statutory days and an option to buy or sell holiday days
• An Annual Performance Bonus of up to 15% of your salary
• A generous pension scheme where the company double matches your contributions up to 12% i.e. if you contribute 6% a month, the company will contribute 12%
• A competitive salary that's reviewed each year against the market median salary for your role, skills, knowledge and experience
• Generous family policies and flexible benefits
• A free Employee Assistance Line where you can get support and advice on any of the challenges you're facing, completely confidentially
• Support to help you cover the cost of professional membership subscriptions, course fees, books, examination fees and time off for study leave - so long as it's relevant to your role
• Plus many more benefits that help you join the dots between your work and home life!

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