Director of Engineering And Operations

United Infrastructure Ltd; Rochdale; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

United Infrastructure Ltd seeks an experienced Operations Director to lead delivery and drive performance across the organisation. You will translate business objectives into practical operational plans, ensuring safe, efficient, high-quality delivery and strong client relationships.

You will work with senior leadership to optimise resources, develop growth-ready teams, and monitor KPIs to sustain margins. This senior role shapes the company’s operational strategy and growth trajectory.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in a senior operational leadership role.
• Proven track record of managing teams and complex operational environments.
• Strong commercial and financial awareness.
• Experience managing client relationships at a senior level.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across the business.
• Develop and implement operational strategies aligned with objectives.
• Set clear objectives and KPIs for operational teams and monitor performance.
• Lead, develop and support operational teams to create a high-performance culture.
• Own operational budgets and collaborate with finance to maximise profitability.
• Build strong relationships with clients, suppliers and internal stakeholders.

Skills

Senior leadership

Operations management

Commercial and financial awareness

Stakeholder management

Job description

United Infrastructure is seeking an experienced and commercially focused Operations Director to lead and oversee operational delivery on behalf of United Infrastructure Systems.

This is a senior leadership position responsible for ensuring that operational activity is delivered safely, efficiently and to the highest possible standards. The successful candidate will provide strategic direction while maintaining strong oversight of day-to‑day performance, people, commercial outcomes, client relationships and operational excellence.

Working closely with the leadership team at United Infrastructure Systems, the Operations Director will be responsible for translating business objectives into effective operational plans and ensuring consistent delivery across the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across the business.
• Develop and implement operational strategies aligned with United Infrastructure Systems' objectives and United Infrastructure's wider business goals.
• Establish clear operational standards, processes and performance expectations.
• Ensure projects and operational activities are delivered efficiently, on time and to agreed quality standards.
• Identify opportunities to improve productivity, efficiency and scalability.
• Lead, develop and support operational teams, creating a high-performance and accountable culture.
• Ensure the organisation has the right people, structure and capabilities to support growth.
• Work closely with senior leadership on recruitment, workforce planning and succession.
• Set clear objectives and KPIs for operational teams and ensure performance is consistently managed.
• Take ownership of operational budgets, costs and financial performance.
• Work closely with commercial and finance teams to maximise operational efficiency and profitability.
• Monitor resource utilisation, productivity and operational expenditure.
• Identify and implement opportunities to improve margins and reduce unnecessary costs.

Client & Stakeholder Management

• Build strong working relationships with United Systems and other key stakeholders.
• Act as a senior operational point of contact, ensuring expectations are clearly understood and consistently delivered against.
• Provide regular reporting on operational performance, risks, opportunities and strategic priorities.
• Develop trusted relationships with clients, suppliers, partners and internal stakeholders.

Performance, Quality & Compliance

• Establish robust KPIs and reporting mechanisms across operations.
• Monitor delivery against agreed targets and take corrective action where required.
• Ensure appropriate health & safety, quality, compliance and governance standards are maintained.
• Identify operational risks and implement effective mitigation plans.
• Drive a culture of continuous improvement and operational accountability.
• Support the development and execution of the company's growth strategy.
• Identify opportunities to enhance service delivery, processes and customer experience.
• Lead operational transformation and improvement initiatives.Introduce systems, processes and reporting that enable the business to scale effectively.
• Ensure the operational infrastructure is capable of supporting future growth.

About You

We are looking for an experienced operations leader who combines strategic thinking with strong commercial and operational execution.

You will ideally have:

• Significant experience in a senior operational leadership role.
• A proven track record of managing teams and complex operational environments.
• Strong commercial and financial awareness.
• Experience managing client relationships at a senior level.
• A demonstrable track record of improving operational performance and efficiency.
• Excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• The ability to operate strategically while remaining close to the detail when required.
• Strong organisational and problem-solving skills.
• A proactive, accountable and solutions-focused approach.
• Experience within infrastructure, construction, engineering, utilities or a related environment would be advantageous.

What Success Looks Like

In this role, success will be measured through:

• Consistent and high-quality operational delivery.
• Strong client and stakeholder relationships.
• Improved operational efficiency and profitability.
• High-performing, engaged and accountable teams.
• Effective management of operational risk and compliance.
• Clear and reliable operational reporting.
• Successful implementation of continuous improvement initiatives.
• The ability to scale operations in line with business growth.

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to take a senior leadership role within United Infrastructure, working closely with United Infrastructure Systems and having a significant influence on operational performance, growth and long-term success.

The successful candidate will have the autonomy and accountability to shape how operations are delivered, develop high-performing teams and help drive the next stage of the organisation's growth.