Deputy Operations Manager

CRH plc; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Annual discretionary bonus

Life cover

Pension scheme

2× annual salary

Job summary

Hydro International, a CRH Company, seeks a proactive Deputy Operations Manager to support the Area Manager in delivering engineering projects, maintenance, and operational performance across our wastewater services. You will lead complex projects, supervise teams, and ensure safe, on-time delivery within budget.

You will deputise for the Area Manager, drive scheduling, manage budgets, mentor engineers, and prepare quotations with NEC3 awareness.

Qualifications

• Engineering degree or equivalent experience is required.
• Strong experience managing engineering projects from initiation to completion.
• Water industry or environmental sector experience is preferred.
• Proven leadership and people management abilities.
• Knowledge of industrial mechanical installation and maintenance.
• Experience delivering projects to tight deadlines and budgets.
• Understanding NEC3 contracts is advantageous.
• Excellent communication, customer service and organisational skills.

Responsibilities

• Deputise for the Area Manager during periods of absence.
• Drive operational performance, scheduling and utilisation of engineering teams.
• Lead planning, coordination and delivery of projects and repairs.
• Manage project budgets, costs and profitability.
• Develop engineering teams through effective leadership and mentoring.
• Carry out site visits, estimates and prepare quotations.
• Provide technical guidance and supervise contractual obligations.
• Produce project reports and programme plans with Gantt charts.
• Collaborate with internal departments to support objectives and improvements.
• Ensure compliance with Health & Safety, Quality and Environmental standards.
• Contribute to business growth with a consultative approach.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Communication

IT skills

Commercial awareness

NEC3 contracts

Engineering knowledge

Budget management

Education

Engineering degree or HND

Tools

Project planning software

Job description

We are looking for a proactive and experienced Deputy Operations Manager to support our Area Manager in the leadership and delivery of engineering projects, maintenance activities, and operational performance across our wastewater services business. This is a fantastic opportunity for an engineering professional with strong project management and leadership experience to play a key role in driving operational excellence and customer satisfaction.

The Role

As Deputy Operations Manager, you will act as second-in-command to the Area Manager, supporting the daily management of branch operations while leading complex engineering projects and supervising operational teams. You will work closely with customers, engineers, and internal departments to ensure projects are delivered safely, efficiently, on time, and within budget.

• Deputise for the Area Manager during periods of absence.
• Drive operational performance, utilisation, and efficient scheduling of engineering teams.
• Lead the planning, coordination, and delivery of engineering projects and repair activities.
• Manage project budgets, costs, profitability, and financial controls.
• Support and develop engineering teams through effective leadership, performance management, and mentoring.
• Carry out site visits, surveys, estimates, and prepare quotations for customers.
• Manage contractual obligations and provide technical guidance to operational teams.
• Produce detailed project reports and programme plans, including Gantt charts.
• Work collaboratively with internal departments to support business objectives and continuous improvement.
• Ensure compliance with all Health & Safety, Quality, and Environmental standards and procedures.
• Contribute to business growth through a consultative, customer-focused approach.
• Engineering qualification to Degree, HND level, equivalent, or significant relevant experience.
• Experience managing engineering projects from initiation through to completion.
• Water industry or environmental sector experience.
• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Knowledge of industrial mechanical installation and maintenance.
• Experience delivering projects to tight deadlines and budgets.
• Understanding of NEC3 contracts.
• Excellent communication, customer service, and organisational skills.
• Strong IT skills, including project planning and reporting tools.
• A solution-focused mindset with strong commercial awareness.

Desirable

• Confined Space Entry (City & Guilds).
• Manual Handling qualification.
• Knowledge of wastewater screening equipment and associated processes.

Additional Requirements

• Full UK driving licence.
• Ability to work on wastewater treatment and industrial sites.
• Willingness to undertake occasional overnight stays.
• Participation in the emergency call-out rota on a periodic basis.
• Ability to carry out physical site activities where required.

Hydro International, a CRH Company, is a leading global provider of advanced products, services and expertise to help municipal, industrial and construction customers to improve their water management processes, increase operational performance and reduce environmental impact. With over 40 years of experience and a reputation for engineering excellence, businesses, and public bodies all over the world rely on our products, services and integrated solutions to reduce flood risk, improve water treatment and protect the environment from water pollution. We have a network of over 80 distribution partners and serve customers in more than 40 countries. As part of CRH Infrastructure Products, we are leading the water management industry with innovative, sustainable solutions and a safety-first mindset.

CRH is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive work environment for all employees and actively encourage applications from all sectors of the community.

Benefits/perks listed above may vary depending on the nature of the employment with CRH and the country where you work. Please note that we cannot accept any applications submitted through email for GDPR purposes. Candidates must apply through our job portal.

What We Offer

We recognise that our people are our greatest asset and offer a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Competitive salary
• Annual discretionary bonus
• Life cover
• 2× annual salary
• Pension scheme
• Company sick pay
• Minimum 23 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Flu vaccinations
• DSE eye tests
• Mental Health First Aiders and wellbeing support
• Ongoing training and development opportunities

Why Join Us?

This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing business where you can make a real impact, lead talented engineering teams, and contribute to the successful delivery of critical infrastructure projects across the UK water industry.

What Hydro International Offers You A culture that values opportunity for growth, development, and internal promotion Highly competitive salary package Comprehensive secondary benefits Significant contribution to your pension plan Excellent opportunities to develop and progress with a global organization Connect your future to CRH We are curious to learn more about you. At CRH, we believe our mutual differences contribute to the healthy, productive, and enjoyable workspace we create.