Are you an experienced operational leader from either the water or gas utilities industry, ready to take on a strategic role with national impact?
Our client is a well-established operational services company delivering specialist pipeline engineering, gas and water network services across the UK. They're looking for an experienced Head of Operations to lead their operational teams and drive consistent, safe and profitable delivery across all service lines.
This is a senior leadership role with end-to-end accountability for operational service delivery. You'll translate commercial commitments into safe, compliant and profitable outcomes by leading planning, mobilisation, execution and close-out across multiple work types and regions. You'll work across field-based teams, customer relationships and internal functions to drive efficiency, reduce reactive delivery and support the company's growth within regulated utility frameworks.
Responsibilities:
- Own end-to-end service delivery, ensuring all projects are completed safely, on time and to the highest standard within agreed scope.
- Develop and implement short, medium, and long-term operational plans to improve efficiency and profitability.
- Govern all programmes and projects, leading review meetings to monitor progress, manage risks, and ensure commercial targets are met.
- Collaborate with commercial and finance departments to ensure accurate forecasting, robust cost control, and profitable delivery.
- Act as a visible leader across the business, championing a strong safety culture and driving high performance.
- Maintain effective working relationships with key customers and framework partners, supporting professional communication and issue resolution.
- Support the development and resilience of operational teams through effective succession planning and management.
Who They’re Looking For:
- Senior operational leadership experience within utilities, infrastructure or pipeline services.
- Strong understanding of gas and/or water network operations.
- Proven experience managing field-based, multi-disciplinary delivery teams.
- Strong commercial awareness with demonstrated ability to control operational cost and margin.
- Ability to plan, govern and deliver work within regulated environments.
- Confident communicator able to operate effectively at site, customer and senior management level.
- Track record of driving operational efficiency and standardisation.
Desirable:
- Familiarity with AMP and RIIO regulatory frameworks
- Experience with trenchless methods, flow‑stopping operations, drilling, or pipeline rehabilitation techniques
- Knowledge of NEC3 or NEC4 contract environments
- Background working within a group‑based or matrix‑structured organisation
Benefits
- Car or car allowance
- Bonus scheme linked to profitability targets
- Fully expensed national travel
- Health Cashback Scheme
- Life Assurance
- 25 days holiday + bank holidays increasing 1 day per year
- High Street Discounts portal
- Pension scheme with matching contributions of up to 5%.
- Health and Wellbeing programme & Employee Assistance Program
- On-site parking & subsidised canteen
- Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Pay
If you have senior operational leadership experience in utilities or infrastructure and want to take on a strategic role with real impact, this opportunity offers genuine scope to shape how services are delivered.