Operations Director - Extraction Systems

Bennett And Game Recruitment; Cumbernauld; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus (£10,000)

Company vehicle or car allowance

Private healthcare (BUPA)

Company pension (3%)

Significant autonomy in leadership

Long-term career progression

Job summary

Bennett And Game Recruitment is seeking an Operations Director to lead a specialist engineering business in Cumbernauld. You will oversee workshop production, installation teams and subcontractors across the UK, driving commercial performance and operational excellence.

The role requires senior leadership experience in HVAC/LEV, with hands-on management of tendering, procurement, commissioning and final accounts. Regular travel UK-wide is expected.

Qualifications

• Senior operational or technical-commercial experience within HVAC, LEV, industrial ventilation or related engineering.
• Proven ability to lead tender through final account and post-contract work.
• Strong estimating, commercial and contractual awareness.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary engineering teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead operational management of workshop production, installation teams and subcontractors.
• Review inquiries, specifications, BoQs and contract terms to drive margins.
• Prepare and approve quotations for fume cupboards, extraction systems and ductwork.
• Oversee risk assessment, programme allowances and project profitability.
• Manage pre-contract negotiations and subcontract reviews.
• Ensure projects are delivered safely, on time and within budget.
• Coordinate ductwork systems, airflow, controls and commissioning interfaces.
• Collaborate with CAD/Project Engineering to produce coordinated drawings.

Skills

HVAC senior leadership

LEV systems

Contractual awareness

Project management

Tools

CAD

Project coordination

Job description

Cumbernauld, Glasgow – Full-Time | Permanent

About the Role

We are recruiting for an Operations Director / Director of Extraction Systems & Associated Services to join a well-established specialist engineering company that designs, manufactures and installs laboratory furniture, fume cupboards and laboratory extraction systems across the UK. This is a senior leadership opportunity responsible for the operational, technical, commercial and contractual delivery of specialist laboratory ventilation and extraction projects from tender through to final account. Reporting directly to the company owners, the successful candidate will oversee the day-to-day operation of the business, leading workshop production, project delivery, installation teams and subcontractors whilst driving commercial performance and operational excellence.

This role is ideally suited to an experienced senior manager from within HVAC, LEV, industrial ventilation, specialist M&E contracting or a related engineering sector who possesses strong commercial awareness alongside hands-on operational leadership.

The position is based in Cumbernauld with regular travel to customer sites and projects throughout the UK.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the operational management of the business, including workshop production, installation teams, project delivery and subcontractors.
• Review client enquiries, specifications, drawings, Bills of Quantities (BoQs) and proposed contract terms.
• Prepare, review and approve quotations for fume cupboards, extraction systems, ductwork, fans, controls, commissioning and associated services.
• Assess technical and commercial risk, determining project margins, qualifications, exclusions and programme allowances.
• Lead pre-contract negotiations, subcontract reviews, letters of intent and contract execution.
• Oversee project managers and ensure projects are delivered safely, on programme and within budget.
• Coordinate the technical design of ductwork systems, airflow routes, fans, dampers, controls, discharge arrangements and service interfaces.
• Work closely with CAD and Project Engineering teams to produce and review coordinated drawings.
• Manage procurement of fans, ductwork, controls, dampers, supports and specialist subcontract packages.
• Oversee applications for payment, project variations, contra charges, final accounts and project profitability.
• Resolve major site, commissioning, performance and after-sales issues.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with contractors, consultants, suppliers and key clients.
• Drive continuous improvement across operational, commercial and reporting procedures.
• Support business development activities and assess suitable project opportunities.

Essential Requirements

• Senior operational or technical-commercial experience within HVAC, LEV, industrial ventilation, specialist M&E contracting, laboratory systems or a closely related engineering sector.
• Proven experience managing projects from tender through design coordination, procurement, installation, commissioning and final account.
• Strong understanding of ductwork, industrial fans, airflow systems, controls and commissioning.
• Experience reviewing technical drawings and coordinating mechanical building services.
• Strong estimating, commercial and contractual awareness.
• Experience negotiating subcontract terms and managing project variations, payment applications and commercial risk.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary engineering, workshop, installation and office teams.
• Practical leadership style with the technical knowledge to support engineers, estimators and subcontractors.
• Excellent communication and organisational skills.
• Full UK Driving Licence.
• Willingness to travel throughout the UK.

Desirable

• Experience with laboratory fume cupboards or laboratory ventilation systems.
• LEV (Local Exhaust Ventilation) testing or commissioning knowledge.
• Manufacturing, laboratory furniture or specialist fit-out experience.
• Previous experience as an Operations Director, General Manager, Senior Contracts Manager or similar leadership role.
• Existing relationships with UK main contractors, M&E contractors, consultants or laboratory-sector clients.

What We Offer

• Salary: £60,000 - £80,000 DOE
• Annual Bonus: £10,000
• Company Vehicle or £6,000 Car Allowance
• BUPA Private Healthcare
• Company Pension (3%)
• Opportunity to join a growing specialist engineering business in a senior leadership role.
• Significant autonomy to influence operational, commercial and project delivery performance.
• Long-term career progression within an established and expanding organisation.