Plant Department Operations Manager

Axians France; Ormskirk; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Bachy Soletanche in the United Kingdom seeks a senior Plant Department Manager to lead daily operations, promote safe systems of work, and drive continuous improvement across maintenance, logistics and stores. You will role-model safety leadership, manage change, and collaborate with site support functions to balance demand and capability.

The role requires proven operational-people leadership, strong organisational skills and a commitment to safety, reliability and efficiency across projects in

Qualifications

• Operational knowledge of driving maintenance, logistical and stores-based activities.
• Proven experience leading operational teams.
• Excellent organisational and time-management skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills at all levels.
• Ability to identify and deliver operational improvements.
• Desire to lead, mentor, and empower others.

Responsibilities

• Manage day‑to‑day Plant Department operations, ensuring safe, efficient and productive activities.
• Embed a strong culture of compliance with safe systems of work, ensuring risks are identified, controlled, and reviewed.
• Ensure all operational change is planned, assessed, authorised, communicated, and implemented safely.
• Lead and develop Plant Department teams (Maintenance & Electrical, Logistics, and Stores), ensuring appropriate staffing, competence, and capability.
• Monitor performance against KPIs, identifying risks and improvement opportunities.
• Lead continuous improvement to enhance safety, reliability, and efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with legal, company and industry requirements.
• Support audits and ensure actions and lessons learned are embedded.
• Work closely with Site Interface Manager and other support functions to balance demand and capability.
• Lead by example, promoting Plant Department values, commitments, and expected behaviours.

Skills

Operational knowledge

Team leadership

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Process improvement

Mentoring

Job description

To lead and manage the safe, efficient, and compliant operation of the Plant Department by overseeing and managing daily operations, ensuring efficiency and productivity, embedding a strong culture of following safe systems of work, and ensuring all operational change is planned and managed safely. The role provides clear people leadership and drives continuous improvement to meet business and project demands.

Key Tasks & Responsibilities

Operational Management

Manage day‑to‑day Plant Department operations, ensuring safe, efficient and productive activities.

Safe Systems of Work (HomeSafe)

Embed a strong culture of compliance with safe systems of work, ensuring risks are identified, controlled, and reviewed.

Act as a visible safety leader, reinforcing standards and challenging unsafe practices.

Management of Change (STORM process)

Ensure all operational change is planned, assessed, authorised, communicated, and implemented safely.

Provide assurance that change is controlled and does not introduce unmanaged risk.

People & Capability

Lead and develop Plant Department teams (Maintenance & Electrical, Logistics, and Stores), ensuring appropriate staffing, competence, and capability.

Promote accountability, engagement, and professional standards.

Performance & Improvement

Monitor performance against KPIs, identifying risks and improvement opportunities.

Lead continuous improvement to enhance safety, reliability, and efficiency.

Compliance & Assurance

Ensure compliance with legal, company and industry requirements.

Support audits and ensure actions and lessons learned are embedded.

Collaboration

Work closely with Site Interface Manager and other support functions to balance demand and capability.

Leadership & Culture

Lead by example, promoting Plant Department values, commitments, and expected behaviours.

Knowledge, Experience and Qualifications Required

• Operational knowledge of driving maintenance, logistical and stores‑based activities.
• Proven experience leading operational teams.
• Excellent organisational and time‑management skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills at all levels.
• Ability to identify and deliver operational improvements.
• Desire to lead, mentor, and empower others.

When you join the world’s largest specialist geotechnical contractor, you’re part of an international community of over 10,000 experts, based in 31 countries around the world. You’ll have the opportunity to contribute to prestigious, ground‑breaking projects, using the very latest tools and technology to solve complex problems, constantly learn new skills and take your career in any direction.

Bachy Soletanche is committed to equal opportunities in employment with the aim of ensuring that everyone who applies to work for us receives fair treatment. We positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion or belief and pregnancy/maternity.