Operations Director - Project Management

Mace; Lancashire; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

Hybrid working

Medical health cover

Life insurance

Income protection insurance

Pension scheme

Discretionary annual salary reviews

Family friendly policies

27 days annual leave + 2 Mace days + 3

Bank holidays

Job summary

Mace is seeking an experienced Operations Director - Project Management for its Defence team in Preston. You will lead a major defence programme, providing strategic direction across project teams while ensuring delivery aligns with client objectives, milestones and performance targets.

The role requires eligibility for UK Security Clearance and a start in early 2027. You will drive operational excellence, governance and risk management across a complex air systems environment, supporting

Qualifications

• Significant leadership and governance experience in defence/large-scale programmes.
• Experience delivering major projects in defence, construction, or consultancy environments.
• Strong financial acumen including budgeting, procurement and contracts.

Responsibilities

• Deliver a major Defence programme from Preston with strategic direction across multiple teams.
• Act as senior client contact, building trusted relationships with Defence and industry partners.
• Drive operational excellence and ensure safe, compliant programme delivery.
• Develop organisational capability, succession planning and resource strategies.
• Oversee commercial performance, programme controls, risk management and delivery assurance.
• Support business growth through account development and client relationship management.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Commercial acumen

Risk management

Strategic thinking

Communication

Negotiation

Executive influence

Education

Degree in Project Management/Engineering

Professional membership (MCIOB/MAPM/MRICS/MICE)

Tools

PM software (MS Project/Primavera)

Job description

We are looking for a Talented Operations Director - Project Management to join our Defence team in Preston, supporting a major long-term programme operating within air system and Defence environments. This senior leadership position will drive operational excellence, business growth, stakeholder engagement and high-performing project delivery, ensuring outcomes align with client objectives, organisational priorities and industry-leading standards. Please note:This requirement is expected to commence in early 2027. As a result, candidates may not be contacted immediately after applying; however, all applications will be carefully reviewed and considered. Due to the security requirements associated with the role, candidates must be eligible to obtain and maintain UK Security Clearance. You'll be responsible for:

• Managing the delivery of a major Defence programme in Preston, providing strategic direction across multiple project teams and ensuring successful delivery against client objectives, programme milestones, budget, quality and performance targets.
• Acting as the senior point of contact for key client stakeholders, building trusted relationships across Defence, industry partners and programme leadership teams while ensuring effective governance and decision making.
• Driving operational excellence across a complex air systems environment, ensuring programmes are delivered safely, efficiently and in accordance with contractual, regulatory and security requirements.
• Managing multidisciplinary project management teams, developing organisational capability, succession planning and resource strategies to support current and future programme demands.
• Providing executive oversight of commercial performance, programme controls, risk management, financial performance and delivery assurance across the portfolio.
• Supporting business growth through account development, identifying new opportunities within the Defence sector and strengthening long-term strategic client relationships.
• Championing innovation, digital delivery, data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance programme performance and client outcomes.
• Working collaboratively with senior leaders across Mace and the wider client organisation to align programme delivery with strategic Defence priorities, operational requirements and long-term capability objectives.
  Proven experience managing the successful delivery of major projects, programmes or client accounts within project management, construction, infrastructure or consultancy environments.
• Demonstrable experience managing large multidisciplinary teams and delivering complex projects with significant commercial, operational and reputational accountability.
• Strong commercial acumen, including experience with financial management, procurement strategies, contract administration, profit plans, fee structures and advanced risk and opportunity management.
• Exceptional stakeholder management, communication, negotiation and presentation skills, with the ability to influence executive-level clients, senior leadership teams and key project partners.
• Extensive experience developing strategic business relationships, supporting account growth, market development and securing successful project outcomes.
• Degree qualification (or equivalent professional experience) in Project Management, Construction, Engineering or a related discipline, supported by significant leadership and management experience.
• Professional membership with a recognised industry body such as MCIOB, MAPM, MRICS, MICE or equivalent, together with a strong understanding of consultancy and/or construction environments.
• Experience driving innovation, digital delivery, sustainability and net zero carbon initiatives across major projects, programmes or portfolios, ideally on large-scale projects exceeding £500m in value.
  Integrity - Always do the right thing: We influence positive outcomes within our industry, while always aligning with our compliance obligations.

Create opportunity - For our people to excel: We champion a continuous improvement culture throughout all activities, inspiring our people and teams to develop. Mace is an inclusive employer and welcomes interest from a diverse range of candidates.

• Car allowance.
• Hybrid working.
• Medical health cover.
• Life insurance.
• Income protection insurance.
• Pension scheme.
• Discretionary annual salary reviews.
• Family friendly policies.
• 27 days annual leave + 2 Mace days + 3 days Christmas shutdown + Bank holidays.

Our values Safety first - Going home safe and well: We champion a safe, diverse and inclusive working environment, understanding the importance of wellbeing in every team. Client focus - Deliver on our promise: We own the quality of deliverables, strategic outcomes and build long term relationships with our clients.