Interim Operations Manager

People Group Limited; Greater London; On-site; GBP 83,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

People Group Limited in East London is seeking an interim Operations Manager to lead heat networks and utility operations across multiple energy centres for a 3-6 month period. The role focuses on keeping critical services running safely and reliably while delivering practical improvements.

You will coordinate engineering and maintenance teams, manage contractors, and prioritise PPM and urgent repairs. A strong emphasis on safety, compliance and cost control is essential during the cover period.

Qualifications

• Proven operations or engineering management experience in district heating or utilities.
• Strong maintenance background with boilers, heat exchangers, CHP.
• Experience coordinating multi-site teams and contractors.
• Sound safety and compliance knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily energy centre and heat network operations to maintain supply.
• Coordinate shift, maintenance teams and contractors, prioritising PPM and repairs.
• Maintain permits to work, RAMS and safe systems; lead incident responses.
• Monitor plant performance and implement improvements within the assignment.
• Provide updates on service, risks and maintenance priorities.
• Ensure smooth handover of outstanding actions at contract end.

Skills

Operations management

Maintenance background

Safety and compliance

Education

Engineering qualification

NEBOSH or equivalent

Job description

Role: Interim Operations Manager - Heat Networks / Utilities

Location: East London (Stratford)

Contract: 3-6 months

Rate: £(Apply online only) per day

The Client

Our client develops and operates low-carbon district heating, cooling and power networks, supplying residential and commercial customers across the UK.

The Opportunity

An opportunity for an experienced Operations Manager to make an immediate impact on a 3-6 month assignment covering three energy centres in East London. You will provide practical leadership to the existing engineering and maintenance teams, keeping critical services running safely and reliably throughout the cover period.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee daily energy centre and heat network operations, maintaining continuity of customer supply.
• Coordinate shift teams, maintenance teams and contractors, prioritising PPM, urgent repairs and plant availability.
• Maintain site compliance, permits to work, RAMS and safe systems of work; lead the response to operational incidents.
• Monitor plant performance, resolve immediate reliability issues and implement practical improvements within the assignment.
• Control operational expenditure and provide concise updates on service, risks and maintenance priorities.
• Coordinate essential operational input to ongoing works and provide a clear handover of outstanding actions at the end of the contract.

Experience and Qualifications

• Proven operations or engineering management experience within district heating, power, utilities or industrial plant.
• Strong maintenance background, ideally with a mechanical bias and experience of boilers, heat exchangers, CHP or similar plant.
• Confident coordinating operational teams and contractors across multiple sites, with sound safety and compliance knowledge.
• Able to assess priorities quickly, manage service issues and work effectively with limited familiarisation.
• Engineering qualification advantageous; NEBOSH or equivalent desirable.

Working Arrangements

Primarily site-based across the East London portfolio. Candidates with availability for a 3-6 month assignment are encouraged to apply