Operations Manager – Heavy Civils / Tunnelling

Location: Doncaster / UK Wide
Employment: Permanent
Salary: Up to £100,000 DOE
Package: Company Car / Car Allowance | 25 Days Holiday | Annual Company Bonus
Sector: Heavy Civils / Tunnelling / Infrastructure

J3A Recruitment are working in partnership with a major specialist civil engineering contractor to recruit an experienced Operations Manager to support and lead their UK-wide project delivery function.

Ideally based within a commutable distance of Doncaster, this is a senior operational appointment with responsibility for overseeing project delivery across multiple sites throughout the UK.

The business delivers technically challenging works across heavy civil engineering, tunnelling, shaft construction and underground infrastructure, and requires an experienced operational leader capable of maintaining high standards as the company continues to grow.

The successful individual will sit above individual project delivery, ensuring teams have the leadership, resources, systems and support required to successfully deliver projects.

The Role

As Operations Manager, you will have broad responsibility for operational performance across the business’s project portfolio, including:

• Providing leadership across multiple UK civil engineering projects
• Managing, supporting and developing Project Managers and senior site personnel
• Maintaining oversight of project mobilisation, delivery and handover
• Ensuring projects are appropriately resourced with labour, plant and management
• Reviewing programmes, operational performance and project forecasts
• Driving productivity and consistency across project teams
• Ensuring strong health, safety, environmental and quality performance
• Supporting teams in resolving complex technical and operational issues
• Maintaining visibility of project risks and ensuring early intervention where required
• Working closely with commercial teams to maintain strong project performance
• Building and maintaining senior client and stakeholder relationships
• Supporting recruitment, workforce planning and development of operational teams
• Improving operational processes and standards across the business
• Supporting senior leadership with business planning and future project requirements
• Ensuring lessons learned and best practice are shared across projects

About You

We’re looking for an experienced operational leader who understands heavy civil engineering from the ground up.

You may already be operating as an Operations Manager, Contracts Manager or senior construction professional with responsibility across multiple projects.

Experience within tunnelling, shaft sinking, underground infrastructure and technically challenging heavy civils would be highly advantageous.

You will ideally bring:

• Extensive heavy civil engineering experience
• Proven leadership across multiple projects and delivery teams
• Strong understanding of tunnelling, shafts and underground construction
• Experience managing and developing Project Managers
• Excellent resource and operational planning ability
• Strong commercial awareness
• Thorough understanding of temporary works and construction risk
• Strong HSEQ leadership
• Ability to manage senior client relationships
• Experience supporting business growth and operational improvement
• A hands-on leadership style with the ability to challenge and support teams
• Flexibility to travel extensively across UK projects

The Package

For the right individual, the business is offering:

• Salary up to £100,000, dependent on experience
• Company car or car allowance
• Annual company bonus
• 25 days annual leave
• Senior permanent position within a specialist civil engineering contractor
• UK-wide portfolio of major and technically challenging projects
• Opportunity to have genuine influence over operational delivery and future growth

This isn’t simply about overseeing individual projects. The business is looking for someone who can lead people, improve operational performance and help maintain delivery standards as the company continues to grow.

For further information, contact J3A Recruitment for a confidential discussion.