Operations Manager

Story Contracting Limited; Carlisle; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Training and development opportunities

Company car/allowance

Health cash plan and wellbeing support

Working from home (1 day per week)

Two paid volunteering days each year

Job summary

Story Contracting Limited is seeking an experienced Operations Manager for the North West division, based in Carlisle or Chorley. You will lead a multi-disciplinary team and oversee operational planning, assurance and safe, efficient project delivery.

The role focuses on workforce capability, compliance and continuous improvement, ensuring access arrangements and processes meet standards with on-site leadership and strong stakeholder engagement.

Qualifications

• Degree in Construction/Engineering is required.
• Excellent leadership and multi-disciplinary team management experience.
• Strong understanding of rail/infrastructure regulations and standards.

Responsibilities

• Monitor processes and ensure on-site delivery, safety and quality standards.
• Lead audits, deep-dive reviews and roll-out of new processes.
• Direct resource team to allocate competent staff for projects.
• Forecast workforce demand and plan mitigation for peaks and gaps.
• Develop workforce capability and early careers routes for site teams.
• Oversee track access planning to ensure compliant access.

Skills

Leadership

Regulatory knowledge

Attention to detail

Innovative solutions

Education

Degree in Construction/Engineering

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Operational leader in the rail or infrastructure sector to join our North West division based in either our Carlisle or Chorley office. We are looking for an individual with the experience and drive to challenge standards and build capability to ensure our projects are delivered safely and efficiently as our work bank and client base grows over the coming years.

The Role:

As Operations Manager, you will lead a team and be accountable for operational planning and assurance across the North West division, ensuring the right resources, access arrangements and operational processes are in place to safely and efficiently deliver our projects. You will drive workforce capability, compliance and continuous improvement, while providing independent oversight of operational performance.

Key Responsibilities:

• Drive operational performance by independently monitoring adherence to processes and procedures, maintaining a visible on-site presence, and holding project teams accountable for operational delivery, health & safety, and quality standards.
• Support continuous improvement and project readiness through audits, deep-dive reviews, and the development, implementation, communication, and post-launch evaluation of new processes and procedures.
• Lead the resource team to ensure suitably competent resource is allocated for all projects.
• Maintain short, medium and long-term workforce demand forecasts, identifying peaks, gaps and applying the appropriate mitigation plans as required.
• Own workforce development by; ensuring performance and competence is managed, identifying talent for progression and developing and leading an early careers route for site teams.
• Lead the track access planning team to secure appropriate access, ensuring applicable standards and procedures are followed.

What We’re Looking For:

• Extensive experience of leading and managing multi-disciplined operational teams.
• Excellent leadership skills, fostering a collaborative approach, with the ability to influence positive outcomes.
• Thorough understanding of standards and regulations across the rail and/or infrastructure civils industry.
• Excellent attention to detail and the ability to provide innovative, practical solutions.
• Degree qualified in a Construction/Engineering Discipline.
• Site Managers Safety Training Scheme, or equivalent CDM 2015 training.

Job Details

Company: Story Contracting Limited

Salary: Competitive plus car benefit

Hours: Full-time

Location: Burgh Road Industrial Estate, CA2 7NA

Working pattern: On-site

Job type: Permanent

Posting date: 6 Nov 2026

Closing date: 6 Dec 2026

Benefits

• Training and development opportunities
• Competitive salary, pension, and company car/allowance
• Health cash plan and wellbeing support
• Working from home (1 day per week) and agile working policies.
• Two paid volunteering days each year

Why Story Contracting?

Story Contracting is a privately-owned, award-winning infrastructure company who is financially secure and agile with a wide range of public, private and third sector clients who enjoy working with our talented and committed team. Our track record for delivery on time and to budget, safely and reliably, has meant repeat business from our clients, which is reflected in our motto of ‘Do It Right!’

Our values are at the heart of everything we do - the way we work and the behaviours we display. We believe that this is what makes Story Contracting and our people exceptional.

• GROUNDED – Everyone is equal at Story. We are down to earth and treat each other with respect.
• HARDWORKING – We all pull our weight and work hard for each other.
• PROUD – We are proud of our safety, our projects, our people, our clients and the success we create together.
• FAMILY – We nurture, train, develop and keep our people safe, just like a family. We are inclusive and do the right thing for the business and its people.
• TRUSTED – What we say is what we do. Our clients, our people and our communities trust us to do it right.
• WINNERS – We are hungry for success and want to be the best performing contractor for our clients, our people and our communities.

Find out more about what it’s like to be part of Team Story here. https://www.storycontracting.com/jobs/

Every Story Matters

We are proud to be a place where everyone can be part of the Story!

As part of our pledge to eliminate discrimination and encourage diversity among our Story Team, our ‘Every Story’ policy https://www.storycontracting.com/about-us/our-culture-values/ ensures all employees are a part of a diverse environment and always feel included.

All applicants will receive careful consideration for employment regardless of who you are, where you come from or what you believe in.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

Think you’d be a good fit?