Location: Aberdeen
Employment: Full-time, permanent
Sector: Construction and civil engineering
THE OPPORTUNITY
We are recruiting an experienced Operations Manager to lead a portfolio of construction and civil engineering projects in Aberdeen and the surrounding area.
This is a senior, hands-on leadership position with responsibility for the safe, efficient and commercially successful delivery of multiple projects. You will provide direction and support to operational teams, ensuring projects meet programme, quality, cost and client expectations.
Working closely with senior management and pre-construction, commercial, design, procurement and site teams, you will help turn business objectives into consistent operational performance.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead projects from pre-construction handover through mobilisation, construction, commissioning, handover and defects close-out.
- Set clear expectations for health and safety, programme, quality, cost, customer service and project reporting.
- Provide visible leadership to Contracts Managers, Project Managers, Site Managers and operational support teams.
- Review resource requirements and coordinate the effective deployment of people, plant, subcontractors and operational support.
- Chair regular project and operational performance reviews, ensuring risks, decisions and actions are recorded and managed.
- Work closely with the commercial team to protect margin, manage change, maintain accurate forecasts and support strong financial performance.
- Monitor project programmes, procurement schedules and short-term plans, introducing recovery measures where required.
- Maintain strong relationships with clients, consultants, local authorities, suppliers and subcontractors.
- Act as a senior escalation point for operational, contractual and client-related matters.
- Support tendering and pre-construction activities by providing input on buildability, logistics, programme, resources and delivery risk.
- Promote consistent use of company procedures, digital systems, lessons learned and continuous-improvement initiatives.
HEALTH, SAFETY, ENVIRONMENT AND QUALITY
- Provide visible health and safety leadership and promote a culture in which unsafe working practices are challenged.
- Ensure projects comply with relevant legislation, client requirements, approved plans and company management systems.
- Review inspections, audits, incidents and performance indicators, ensuring corrective actions are completed promptly.
- Promote right-first-time delivery, effective inspection and test planning, environmental responsibility and high-quality handovers.
- Ensure operational teams and supply-chain partners maintain the required standards throughout project delivery.
COMMERCIAL AND PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT
- Establish and maintain realistic project programmes, procurement schedules and recovery plans.
- Work with commercial colleagues on cost-value reconciliation, cash performance, risk and opportunity management, change control and final accounts.
- Ensure project reporting is accurate, timely and focused on future risks and required decisions.
- Identify portfolio-level constraints and opportunities before they affect critical milestones or client commitments.
- Balance programme, quality, commercial and customer priorities when making operational decisions.
PEOPLE AND SUPPLY-CHAIN LEADERSHIP
- Coach and support operational leaders, setting measurable objectives and clear standards of performance.
- Promote collaboration between operational, commercial, design, procurement and support functions.
- Support succession planning, professional development and performance management.
- Set clear expectations for subcontractors and suppliers, monitoring their performance throughout delivery.
- Support workforce planning and recruitment to ensure projects have appropriately experienced and competent teams.
ABOUT YOU
You will be an experienced construction professional with a strong record of leading complex projects or multiple project teams.
The successful candidate will demonstrate:
- Substantial operational leadership experience with a principal contractor, civil engineering contractor, developer or related organisation.
- A proven record of delivering projects safely, on programme, to the required quality and within commercial expectations.
- Strong knowledge of construction contracts, project controls, temporary works, design coordination, procurement, change management and handover.
- Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing senior relationships with clients, consultants and supply-chain partners.
- The ability to interpret operational and commercial information, identify trends and make timely decisions.
- A sound understanding of UK construction health and safety and environmental requirements, including CDM regulations.
- Strong communication, negotiation and problem-solving skills.
- A calm, accountable and commercially aware leadership style.
- The ability to travel regularly to project sites.
QUALIFICATIONS
- A relevant degree, HNC/HND, apprenticeship or equivalent construction experience.
- An appropriate health and safety qualification or training; SMSTS or equivalent is desirable.
- Membership of a relevant professional body, such as CIOB or ICE, would be advantageous.
- A full UK driving licence is required.
WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE
Success in this position will include:
- Strong and consistent health and safety performance.
- Reliable achievement of project milestones.
- Accurate forecasting and effective margin protection.
- High-quality delivery with reduced defects.
- Positive client feedback and effective resolution of issues.
- Capable, accountable and well-supported project teams.
- Measurable operational improvements across the project portfolio.
For further information please contact Perry Robinson on 07549729424 or perry@paxtonpersonnel.co.uk