Operations Manager – Enabling works (Delivery & Construction Mgmt.)
Department: Delivery
Employment Type: Permanent
Location: Milton Keynes
Description
East West Rail is one of the UK’s most significant infrastructure projects, a new railway connecting Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge. The communities along this corridor contribute around £111 billion to the national economy each year, and EWR has the potential to unlock a further £78 billion, supporting new homes, new towns, and regeneration across the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor.
Committed to in full in the Autumn 2024 Budget and the 2025 Spending Review, this is a programme with Government backing, long-term funding certainty, and real national significance. Work is under way, and the pace is building.
Role Summary:
If you are an experienced construction professional who wants to see their work genuinely matter, this is a rare opportunity. As the Operations Manager for Enabling Works, you will be EWR Co’s eyes and ears on the ground, responsible for the Delivery and Construction Management of enabling activities that open up the route for main construction on one of the UK’s most watched infrastructure programmes.
This is not a desk role. You will be on site, making decisions, holding contractors to account, and solving the kind of complex delivery problems that only experience teaches you to anticipate. At the same time, you will be a trusted client representative, connecting site operations to the wider programme and bringing the credibility that comes from knowing exactly what is happening and why.
You will carry the NEC ECC Supervisor role, supporting our project managers in administering contracts and managing compliance with rigour. Setting the standard for health and safety across your workstreams, you will work alongside H&S and CDM advisors to maintain a culture where safety is never negotiable.
It is a substantial role, and a visible one. The work you do here directly shapes when and how main construction can begin.
Key Responsibilities
What You’ll Do
- Coordinate and oversee on-site operational teams delivering surveys, utilities works, and advance enabling activities, ensuring delivery is safe, on programme, and to the required quality.
- Act as EWR Co’s client-side enabling construction manager for all packages of work in scope of the enabling function.
- Fulfil the role of NEC ECC Supervisor, monitoring works, verifying compliance with the Works Information and Scope, and managing the defects process (supported by EWR’s Engineering teams).
- Monitor contractor(s) performance against scope, programme, and quality requirements, providing assurance through regular office and site engagement.
- Identify operational risks affecting delivery, including programme, logistics, land access, safety, and ecological constraints, and develop practical mitigation measures.
- Contribute to procurement and supplier management activity, bringing on-the-ground construction experience to inform strategy.
- Provide regular reporting on site progress, risks, and operational performance to the project leadership team.
- Maintain a strong health and safety culture in line with CDM requirements, working alongside H&S and CDM advisors.
- Serve as the operational interface between contractors, designers, environmental teams, and project management functions.
Skills Knowledge and Expertise
What We’re Looking For
You will be someone who has done this before and done it well. The combination of NEC contract supervision, CDM knowledge, and operational delivery experience is not a nice-to-have: it is what the role demands from day one. Beyond the technical grounding, we are looking for someone who brings calm authority to a complex environment and communicates clearly whether they are on site or in a programme meeting.
Essential
- Substantial experience managing construction operations on complex infrastructure projects, with a strong understanding of site operations and contractor management at programme scale.
- Proven NEC ECC experience, with the ability to fulfil the role of Supervisor.
- SMSTS or equivalent site management safety qualification.
- HNC, HND, or degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Surveying, or a related discipline.
- Strong working knowledge of CDM regulations and their practical application on construction sites.
- Clear, confident communication skills and the ability to engage effectively across contractor, designer, and client teams.
Desirable
- Experience in the rail sector, including familiarity with railway-specific delivery constraints and standards.
- Management of ecological, land access, or utilities coordination constraints in a construction environment.
Benefits
- Competitive salary that reflects your skills and experience
- Up to 12% employer pension contribution to support your future
- 36 days annual leave (including bank holidays) plus the option to buy up to 2 extra days
- 2 volunteering days, a chance for you to give back to the community
- Enhanced family-friendly policies to support you and your loved ones
- Life assurance (4x your annual salary) for peace of mind
- Employee Assistance Programme for confidential support when you need it
- Access to Perkbox for a wide range of discounts and wellbeing benefits
- Recognition programme, including on-the-spot and annual awards
- Advanced learning and development opportunities to help you grow.
Diversity and Inclusion: At East West Railway Company, we’re committed to building an inclusive railway for all. We believe that to do that, we must nurture a diverse team that represents the UK communities that we impact. Our approach is simple – to create an environment where everyone is welcome and able to be themselves. We celebrate diversity and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, encouraging applications from all backgrounds and experiences.
If you want to connect lives and unlock the future, then we’d love to hear from you.
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