Operations Director - Project Management

Mace; Preston; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; 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

Job summary

Mace combines construction expertise with consultancy to unlock potential in every person or project and redefine the boundaries of ambition. Our values shape the way we consult and define the people we want to join us on our journey.

Operations Director - Project Management in Cumbria leads a Defence programme, driving delivery, governance and strategic direction with senior client stakeholders. SC clearance eligibility is required and hybrid working is offered across a major long‑term

Qualifications

• Experience delivering major projects, programmes or accounts in construction, infrastructure or consultancy environments.
• Experience leading large multidisciplinary teams with significant accountability (commercial, operational, reputational).
• Strong commercial acumen: financial management, procurement strategies, contract administration, profit plans and risk management.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction for a major Defence programme and ensure delivery against objectives, milestones, budget and quality targets.
• Serve as senior client contact, building trusted relationships with Defence, industry partners and leadership teams.
• Drive operational excellence across air systems, ensuring safety, efficiency and compliance with contracts and regulatory requirements.
• Develop organisational capability, succession planning and resource strategies to meet programme demands.
• Provide executive oversight of commercial performance, controls, risk management and delivery assurance across the portfolio.
• Support business growth through account development and identifying opportunities within Defence sectors.
• Champion innovation, digital delivery and data-driven decision-making to enhance performance and client outcomes.
• Collaborate with senior leaders to align programme delivery with Defence priorities and long-term capability objectives.

Skills

Leadership and people management

Stakeholder management

Strategic delivery

Financial management

Contract administration

Risk management

Business development

Innovation

Education

Degree in Project Management/Construction/Engineering or related

MCIOB/MAPM/MRICS/MICE membership

Job description

Mace combines construction expertise with consultancy to unlock potential in every person or project and redefine the boundaries of ambition. Our values shape the way we consult and define the people we want to join us on our journey.

Operations Director - Project Management

We are looking for a Talented Operations Director - Project Management to join our Defence team in Cumbria, 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.

This role requires SC Clearance or eligibility to get it.

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.

You’ll Need To Have

• 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.

What’s On Offer

• 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 + 1 additional day leave for every 2 years of service + 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.
• 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. Even if you feel you do not fulfil all the criteria, please apply as you may still be the best candidate for this role or another role within our organisation. We are also open to discussing part time, flexible, and hybrid working options if suitable with‑in the role.