Habitats Operations Manager

Keystone Environmental Ltd.; Tetbury; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

CIEEM membership paid

Hybrid working

25 days holiday

Job summary

Keystone Habitats, part of Origin Enterprises, seeks an experienced Habitats Operations Manager to lead the delivery of habitat creation, restoration and mitigation projects. You will coordinate resources, manage contracts and ensure safety, quality and environmental performance while supporting business growth.

The role reports to the Head of Habitats, with responsibilities spanning mobilisation to close-out, budgeting, tender support and client liaison.

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing habitat restoration, landscaping, ecological enhancement or environmental projects from inception to completion.
• Strong project management skills with ability to deliver safely, on time and within budget.
• Excellent leadership and people management capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate operational delivery across the Habitats portfolio from mobilisation to completion.
• Manage Contracts Managers and the delivery team with clear priorities and escalation.
• Ensure projects are delivered safely, on time, within budget, and to high-quality standards.
• Coordinate site teams, subcontractors, plant, and resources to meet programmes.
• Oversee workload, labour, plant, equipment, materials and subcontractors across projects.
• Lead habitat restoration, landscaping and ecological mitigation projects as needed.
• Support quotations, tenders, and proposals to secure new work.
• Build strong client relationships and pursue new opportunities.
• Provide technical guidance to clients, teams and stakeholders.
• Review project documentation and ensure QA and legislative compliance.
• Monitor financial performance and invoicing; report on commercial targets.
• Mentor Habitats team members and support recruitment and progression.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Health & Safety

Stakeholder management

Client liaison

Budget management

Job description

At Origin Enterprises, we are dedicated to championing sustainable land use, and our Environmental teams support a diverse range of clients and projects—from land management and development to restoration and conservation.

Joining us means becoming part of a collaborative, purpose driven community where our collective expertise enables us to deliver high quality, fully integrated solutions and contribute to meaningful environmental outcomes across the UK and Ireland.

About Keystone

As a growing ecological and arboricultural consultancy and contracting business, we are an SME with a practical, intelligent and pioneering approach to advising our clients. We blend traditional ecological services with innovation, hands-on habitat creation, restoration and compliance solutions. With over 24 years’ experience, we have established a reputation as one of the few end-to-end service providers in the UK.

Since 2022, we have proudly operated as an Origin Enterprises company, an international agronomy services group focused on sustainable land use through integrated and innovative solutions. Our Origin connection provides our clients and employees with the benefits and opportunities associated with being part of a global leader in sustainability, including wider geographic, a broader service offering, and continued investment in research and development.

At Keystone we pride ourselves on a professional family feel that attracts clients and employees alike. We share Origin’s values, People, Community, Partnerships, Integrity, and Innovation, which are reflected in all that we do and lie at the very core of our business.

We operate across a comprehensive range of sectors for public and private sector clients including supporting a number of the UK’s largest Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.

Having established a first-class reputation for habitat creation, restoration, and mitigation, we specialise in conservation driven projects that focus on nature restoration and Biodiversity Net Gain at scale.

The Habitats Team

With an intelligent and sensitive approach to project planning, our Habitats team rapidly mobilise resources to deploy effective mitigation, habitat clearance, creation, restoration, and management solutions that deliver strong conservation outcomes while minimising environmental impact and delivering value for our clients.

Keystone Habitats is known for its sensitive approach to protected habitats and species as well as offering strong practical and technical knowledge, an up-to-date range of equipment and a resourceful approach to deploying it in complex and challenging situations.

The role will include:

The Habitats Operations Manager is a senior operational leadership role within the Habitats Team, supporting the coordination and successful delivery of our portfolio of habitat creation, restoration, mitigation and land management projects from our head office and operational yard.

The Habitats Operations Manager reports to and supports the Head of Habitats and is expected to take a department-wide view of workload, resources and operational performance, helping the team achieve its annual targets whilst maintaining Keystone’s ethos, values, standards, and approach to risk and quality management.

They play an active role in departmental planning, resource coordination, project management and client liaison. They will be tasked with quoting for work and working with the Head of Habitats and Bid Manager to bid for more complex tenders, undertaking contracts management as required upon award.

The role combines operational leadership with project and commercial management. The Operations Manager will maintain oversight of existing contracts, support the mobilisation of new projects and provide visibility of programme, resource and financial performance across the department.

One of the key requirements of the role is to lead and coordinate the Habitats Contracts Managers and wider delivery team to plan and coordinate delivery of both existing and upcoming works, ensuring that the necessary resources, plant, tools, and materials are procured and deployed in a timely fashion to deliver projects on time and within budget.

The Operations Manager will also play an important role in supporting and developing the Habitats management team, maintaining high standards of health, safety, quality and environmental performance, and driving continual improvement in the systems and processes through which the department operates.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead and coordinate operational delivery across the Habitats portfolio, ensuring projects are appropriately planned, resourced and supported from mobilisation through to completion.
• Manage and support Contracts Managers and the wider operational team, providing clear priorities, guidance and escalation where required.
• Ensure projects are delivered safely, on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards.
• Coordinate site teams, subcontractors, plant, and resources to achieve successful project outcomes.
• Maintain oversight of current and upcoming workload, coordinating labour, plant, equipment, materials and subcontractors to meet project programmes and operational priorities.
• Lead and manage habitat restoration, landscaping, ecological mitigation and enhancement projects directly where required, particularly those that are complex, high‑value or strategically important.
• Support the preparation of quotations, tenders, and proposals to secure new work and maintain business growth.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships, driving repeat business and identifying new opportunities.
• Provide technical guidance and high-level advice to clients, project teams, and stakeholders.
• Produce and review project documentation, including reports, method statements, risk assessments, construction phase plans, programmes, and quality records.
• Monitor project performance, financials, and invoicing to ensure commercial targets are achieved.
• Working alongside the Head of Habitats, monitor wider operational and commercial performance, including labour utilisation, procurement, variations, forecasting, invoicing and project close‑out.
• Conduct quality assurance, health & safety inspections, and ensure compliance with relevant legislation and industry standards.
• Support the development, mentoring, and performance management of Habitats team members.
• Support recruitment, succession planning and the development of clear progression opportunities across the Habitats team.
• Collaborate with internal teams to maintain operational standards, client satisfaction, and continuous improvement.
• Work closely with Ecology, Arboriculture & Forestry, and other companies in group and other Origin Environmental elements to support integrated project delivery and business growth.
• Represent the business professionally with clients, industry partners, and at networking or industry events.

Key Requirements:

• Proven experience managing habitat restoration, landscaping, ecological enhancement, or environmental projects from inception to completion.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to deliver projects safely, on time, within budget, and to high-quality standards.
• Experience coordinating site teams, subcontractors, plant, and resources across multiple projects.
• Experience managing or supporting operational managers and delivery teams across a portfolio of concurrent projects.
• Commercial awareness, including experience supporting quotations, tenders, proposals, budgeting, and project financial management.
• Ability to build and maintain strong client relationships, identify opportunities, and contribute to business growth.
• Strong technical knowledge of habitat management, ecological works, landscaping, and relevant industry best practices.
• Experience producing and reviewing project documentation, including risk assessments, method statements, reports, construction phase plans, programmes and quality records.
• Sound understanding of health & safety legislation, quality assurance processes, and regulatory compliance requirements.
• Strong leadership and people management skills, with experience mentoring, developing, and supporting team performance.
• Ability to plan workload and resources across multiple projects and respond effectively to changing operational priorities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to provide expert advice and represent the business professionally.
• Collaborative approach with the ability to work effectively across operational, commercial, and technical teams.
• A pragmatic approach with the ability to balance operational, commercial, environmental and client requirements.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel to project sites.

Why work for us?

We offer a competitive and supportive rewards package designed to help you thrive both professionally and personally. This includes private medical insurance, access to our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), and paid professional memberships such as CIEEM. We’re committed to continuous development, offering a blend of internal and external training opportunities to help you grow your skills and advance your career.

As part of our inclusive culture, you’ll have the opportunity to join our monthly Neurodiversity Café, take part in community action days, and benefit from our family friendly policies, including enhanced family leave options. While we value time spent together in our offices to collaborate and stay connected, most roles offer hybrid working and open conversations around flexibility.

You’ll also enjoy 25 days’ holiday, regular performance and development reviews, and the chance to collaborate across the wider Origin Group, especially within our growing family of Environmental businesses.

We actively encourage applications from all backgrounds and are proud to be building a diverse, inclusive team where everyone can grow, contribute and feel valued.

Visit our website to learn more — and grow with us.