Head of Operations

Universal Gas Solutions; Baldock; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company vehicle or car allowance

Performance-related bonus

Company pension

Funded ongoing training and quals

Job summary

Universal Gas Solutions is seeking a Head of Operations to take ownership of safe delivery, technical compliance, engineer productivity and client satisfaction across all divisions. You will lead Operational Supervisors and report to the Board of Directors.

Accountable for resource planning across 40+ engineers and 30+ vehicles, this role oversees HSEQ delivery, audits, and cost control, while guiding recruitment and HR matters in a growing renewables-enabled multi-utility contractor.

Qualifications

• Gas Safe ACS qualified with commercial competencies
• Extensive domestic and commercial plumbing/heating experience
• Hands-on renewables delivery with MCS certification
• Minimum 10 years' management experience at Ops Manager level or above
• NEBOSH General Certificate (or IOSH Managing Safely)
• Commercial literacy—budgets, job costing, margin and subcontract management
• Full UK driving licence and right to work in the UK
• Electrical background (18th Edition, 2391, NICEIC/NAPIT)
• ISO 9001/14001/45001 experience and ILM/CMI Level 5+

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Operational Supervisors, setting KPIs and standards for each division.
• Own resource and workload planning across 40+ engineers and 30+ vehicles against the forward order book.
• Run the operational review cycle and act as senior escalation for complex faults and emergencies.
• Own HSEQ delivery in the field — Gas Safe, MCS, F-Gas, CDM, NICEIC and the company's own procedures.
• Lead the audit programme and close out non-conformances.
• Control operational cost, job costing and margin by contract and division.
• Manage recruitment, performance, and first-line HR matters across the operation.

Education

Gas Safe ACS

NEBOSH General Certificate

IOSH Managing Safely

MCS Certification

ILM/CMI Level 5+

NICEIC/NAPIT

Job description

Universal Gas Solutions Ltd · Hinxworth, Hertfordshire SG7 · £70,000–£80,000 a year

Full time · Permanent · Plus vehicle or car allowance and performance bonus

Universal Gas Solutions is a Gas Safe registered and NICEIC certified multi-utility engineering contractor based near Baldock, Hertfordshire. We provide gas, plumbing and heating, renewables, electrical, air conditioning, LPG and oil works across the UK with a team of 40+ engineers and a 30+ vehicle fleet. As we grow our renewables division, we're looking for a Head of Operations to take ownership of how we run and improve our Operational delivery.

The role

You’ll be the senior operational authority in the business — accountable for safe delivery, technical compliance, engineer productivity, client satisfaction and margin across every division. Operational Supervisors will report into you, and you’ll be the escalation point for every live job, incident and audit. This is a leadership appointment with a direct reporting line to the Board of Directors.

What you’ll do

• Lead and develop the Operational Supervisors, setting KPIs and standards for each division.
• Own resource and workload planning across 40+ engineers and 30+ vehicles against the forward order book.
• Run the operational review cycle and act as senior escalation for complex faults and emergencies.
• Own HSEQ delivery in the field — Gas Safe, MCS, F-Gas, CDM, NICEIC and the company's own procedures.
• Lead the audit programme and close out non-conformances.
• Control operational cost, job costing and margin by contract and division.
• Manage recruitment, performance, and first-line HR matters across the operation.

Essential experience — you must have your main experience in:

• Gas Safe — ACS qualified, with commercial competencies and a thorough understanding of Gas Safe registration.
• Plumbing and heating — extensive domestic and commercial experience, including plant rooms and HIUs.
• Renewables — hands‑on heat pump delivery and direct experience of the MCS certification scheme.
• Minimum 10 years’ management experience, with time at Operations Manager level or above.
• Proven accountability for a multi-disciplinary field operation of comparable or larger scale.
• NEBOSH General Certificate (or IOSH Managing Safely with willingness to complete NEBOSH).
• Commercial literacy — budgets, job costing, margin and subcontract management.
• Full UK driving licence and right to work in the UK.
• Electrical background or qualifications (18th Edition, 2391, NICEIC/NAPIT).
• Air conditioning and refrigeration experience with F-Gas Category 1.
• MCS Nominated Technical Person or Competent Person / Qualified Supervisor status.
• ISO 9001/14001/45001 experience and a management qualification (ILM/CMI Level 5+).

What we offer

• Company vehicle or car allowance
• Performance-related bonus
• Company pension
• Funded ongoing training and qualifications
• A senior role in a growing multi-utility business with an expanding renewables division