Operations Manager

Fortem Solutions; West Midlands; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonus

Company car option

Pension scheme

Health benefits

Generous leave

Job summary

Fortem Solutions, a Willmott Dixon Group company, is seeking an Operations Manager for the Midlands and Southern region to deliver Capital and Retrofit works within social housing. You will lead project teams and partners to achieve safety, quality, and timely delivery on multi-million-pound schemes.

The role requires extensive end-to-end project management experience in capital and retrofit sectors, with strong leadership and collaboration across supply chains.

Qualifications

• Extensive end-to-end project management experience.
• Experience delivering capital and retrofit works in social housing.
• Preconstruction and construction experience essential.

Responsibilities

• Promote and maintain health, safety and environmental management.
• Lead and monitor capital and retrofit social housing refurbishment programmes within timescales.
• Develop relationships with client representatives, consultants and supply chain.
• Recruit, train and develop Fortem staff to deliver high levels of service.
• Provide leadership to promote the Fortem brand in the marketplace.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Health & safety

Stakeholder management

Budget management

Education

NVQ L6 (Construction)

SMSTS

First Aid at Work Certificate

Job description

Fortem's extensive growth throughout 2025 requires us to recruit an Operations Manager, working within our Capital and Retrofit Central and South division and delivering Capital and Retrofit Works within the social housing sector.

The Operations Manager will successfully manage project teams and works partners, to deliver compliant capital & retrofit works to the required quality standards, specification, budget and within agreed timescales.

The successful candidate will have:

• Extensive experience in the delivery of large scale projects, ideally capital and retrofit works, through subcontract /supply chain arrangements.
• Experience of project managing multiple projects with experience in works to mid and / or high rise buildings including external façade systems, roofing, fire remediation and fire protections systems, structural works , groundworks, concrete repairs, internal refurbishment etc.
• Extensive end to end project management experience gained in a similar environment. Preconstruction and construction experience is essential.

We expect applicants for this senior level, permanent role to live within the West Midlands region.

The Project

This will be working within our Midlands and Southern Projects division.

Duties and Reponsibilities

Reporting into the Head of Capital and Retrofit Central and South, the Operations Manager will:

• Promote and maintain the highest standards of health, safety and environmental management.
• Lead and develop critical Capital and Retrofit social housing refurbishment programmes, ensuring safe and effective operational delivery within required timescales.
• Lead and monitor project strategies to achieve the company's sustainability objectives.
• Identify and manage commercial risk
• Develop excellent relationships with client representatives, consultants, and other stakeholders.
• Develop excellent relationships with the supply chain.
• Recruit, train, develop, motivate retain high-quality Fortem staff to deliver high levels of operational service delivery.
• Provide technical support and advice to the client and project team.
• Ensure a robust strategy is in place for dealing with complaints and managing defects.
• Support our commitment to sustainability.
• Ensure robust strategy for delivering quality throughout project life cycle with Zero defects as a target on handover.
• Provide leadership and vision to promote the Fortem brand within our chosen marketplace

What you Will Need

Whether you are already working in the retrofit space or are keen to bring your skills to this increasingly important sector, the Operations Manager will be;

• Organised and proactive
• Committed to safety, quality, and sustainability
• Able to thrive in collaborative, fast-paced environments
• Passionate about improving existing housing stock and community outcomes
• Experience of delivering capital works and larger scale projects, through subcontract /supply chain arrangements.
• Experience of working within housing association/social housing contracts
• Experience of project managing multiple projects with experience in works to mid and / or high risk buildings including external façade systems, roofing, fire remediation and fire protections systems, structural works , groundworks, concrete repairs, internal refurbishment etc
• Experience of managing multi-million-pound construction projects
• Excellent leadership, communication and management skills
• Experienced leader with excellent communication skills
• SMSTS & knowledge of safe systems of work
• First Aid at work certificate
• NVQ L6 (Construction) or equivalent
• Valid UK driving licence Desirable Criteria
• Temporary Works Coordinator
• Experience within the Capital and Retrofit sector within social housing sector would be highly advantageous
• Experience of retrofit projects delivered to PAS2035 or similar standards

• Competitive salary based on experience
• Discretionary company bonus
• £4,000 motor expenditure allowance or company car
• Salary sacrifice company car scheme
• 25 days annual leave + bank holidays & your birthday off
• 26 weeks full pay maternity leave
• Company pension
• Discounted gym memberships at national and local gyms
• Up to £3,000 colleague referral fee
• Other benefits including dental care, private healthcare, cycle-to-work scheme, mobile phone provider discounts & more

Who We Are

Fortem are a Willmott Dixon Group Company. We benefit from the credibility and recognition associated with a large and long-established brand, whilst maintaining the flexibility to adapt our services to meet the unique challenges of the social housing marketplace.

Our success is due to our people. They are passionate, committed and care about what we deliver for our clients, partners, and residents. We take pride in developing our employees and supporting them to achieve their potential. For us, a sustainable future is about ensuring we continue to develop our people for our future needs and recruiting the right talent. Our culture, built around Courage, Care and Respect, ensures that we always deliver not only the job done but, most importantly, the job done in the right way.

We are Investors in People - Gold standard, we believe in equality, diversity, and respect for all and encourage applications from all sectors of the community.