Director of Operations (Environmental Consultancy)

Novo Executive Search; England; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading environmental consultancy in the UK is seeking a Director of Operations to oversee and develop the operations strategy. The ideal candidate will have experience in environmental or engineering consultancy, with strong leadership skills and a focus on operational excellence. This role involves managing daily operations while ensuring compliance and performance across the business.

Qualifications

• Current Operations Manager or Head of Operations experience in environmental or engineering consultancy.
• Track record in leading and managing teams, focusing on deliverables and wellbeing.
• Experience with budget responsibility for major projects.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and develop operations strategy and day-to-day operations.
• Ensure operational excellence and enable business performance.
• Build strong relationships across the organisation.

Skills

Operational Excellence

Strategic Operations

Project Management

Team Management

Budget Management

Stakeholder Management

Problem Solving

Job description

Director of Operations (Environmental Consultancy)

Location: Flexible, UK

Client: Fast‑growing award‑winning modern environmental consultancy dedicated to creating sustainable cities, towns and areas, addressing climate and biodiversity crises.

Role – Purpose

The Operations Director will oversee and develop the operations strategy and day‑to‑day operations of the business, ensuring that internal systems, processes and teams deliver operational excellence and enable the business performance in the short and long term. The role reports to the Company Board and operates as a member of the Management Board.

Core Responsibilities

• Operational Excellence, Performance and Strategy
• Operational Structuring and Operating Model
• Property
• Health & Safety
• Quality Management and Environmental Management
• Administrative and Bid support
• GDPR

Objective & Fit

This role requires a highly organised person who is able to track a wide range of issues simultaneously and build strong relationships and credibility across the organisation. The role primarily focuses on cycles of activity relating to strategy, compliance, audit and risk management.

Experience Needed

• A current Operations Manager or Head of Operations with a track record of ideally working for either environmental or engineering consultancy businesses
• Suitable candidates may have also worked for other professional services consultancy businesses or possibly even contractor companies
• Experience of having had responsibility for a budget on a major programme or at a functional level.
• Experience of leading and managing a team, with responsibility for their deliverables as well as their personal wellbeing and career progression.
• Experience with delivery of major projects or implementation of new systems.
• Optimisation of systems through a positive attitude to change and the proficient use of technology.
• Ideally demonstrable awareness and experience of utilising technology as an enabler within a business.
• Experience of coordinating or delivering training to support take‑up and embed new systems or tools with consistency across the company.
• Professional experience in areas such as efficiency, project management and strategic operations would be looked on favourably.

The Person

• The ability to communicate complex matters clearly and concisely, to assist the business in applying them to the commercial context and to set implementable and measurable strategic objectives.
• Strong people management and stakeholder management skills, to lead and motivate operational teams, as well as achieve buy‑in across the wider business.
• Engaging with colleagues to understand specific needs and experience as they relate to tools and policies such as project management, QMS/EMS in our project work.
• Project management demonstrated in relevant contexts such as operating model projects, office refits, implementation of new systems or standards (e.g. ISO standards / accreditation). Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Budget management with strong numeracy and spreadsheet skills to ensure operational costs are well understood and controlled.
• Problem‑solving and decision‑making. This role is in large part about identifying possible problems and responding to actual problems.
• An organised and efficient approach to completing work within tight deadlines and/or on a strict compliance schedule.

Interested applicants: please email George Woodward from Novo Executive Search.