Director of Operations

Hall Recruitment; Leinster; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company pension

25 days annual leave

Company car or car allowance

Performance bonus 20%

Job summary

Hall Recruitment is seeking a Director of Operations – Mechanical & Electrical (M&E) Hard Services to lead a national portfolio in Ireland. The role reports to the Managing Director and oversees 80–100 mobile engineers, with operational management, scheduling and contract support teams.

The successful candidate will bring significant senior operational leadership, strong technical credibility in M&E Hard Services, and the ability to drive improvements in performance and profitability.

Qualifications

• Significant senior operational management experience within a Mechanical & Electrical Hard Services, technical facilities management or engineering services company.
• Strong technical understanding of mechanical and electrical building services, including HVAC.
• Proven experience managing multi-site engineering operations and large technical teams.
• Experience overseeing mobile engineering workforces and subcontractors.
• Experience managing budgets, financial forecasting and contract P&L performance.
• Experience managing planned maintenance, reactive maintenance and statutory compliance.
• Record of improving operational efficiency, contract profitability and engineering productivity.
• Knowledge of Irish health and safety requirements and technical compliance.
• Experience using CAFM or computerised maintenance management systems.
• Excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Operational Leadership: Lead national M&E and Hard FM service delivery with consistent standards and accountability.
• Commercial Management: Manage operational budgets, P&Ls, forecasts, margins and costs.
• Engineering Operations: Oversee mobile engineering teams, scheduling, resources, and subcontractors.
• Technical Services: Ensure delivery of M&E, HVAC, PPM, reactive maintenance and statutory activities.
• Health & Safety: Maintain compliance with Irish health and safety legislation and governance.
• Business Improvement: Identify inefficiencies and drive productivity and reporting improvements.
• Customer Relationships: Manage senior client relationships and contract performance.
• Contract Mobilisation: Lead mobilisation of new contracts and support tenders.
• People Leadership: Develop operations managers and foster a culture of accountability.

Skills

Senior leadership

Operational management

Budgeting

P&L oversight

Stakeholder management

Health & safety knowledge

CAFM/CMMS familiarity

Education

Relevant degree

Tools

CAFM/CMMS

Job description

Director of Operations – Mechanical & Electrical Hard Services

Ireland | €120,000–€130,000 + 20% Bonus | Senior Leadership

Hall Recruitment is recruiting a Director of Operations – Mechanical & Electrical Hard Services for an established national engineering and technical facilities management business.

This is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious, commercially astute senior operational leader with a proven background in Mechanical & Electrical (M&E) Hard Services who is ready to progress into a director-level position.

Reporting directly to the Managing Director, you will take responsibility for the operational performance of a national engineering services portfolio, overseeing approximately 80–100 mobile engineers, supported by operational management, scheduling and contract support teams.

The business delivers mechanical, electrical, HVAC, planned and reactive maintenance, statutory compliance and specialist technical services.

We are looking for someone with strong leadership presence, technical credibility and commercial judgement who can challenge established processes constructively, introduce positive operational change and deliver measurable improvements in business performance.

Previous experience holding a Director of Operations title is not essential, provided you can demonstrate the senior management experience and capability required.

Key Responsibilities

• Operational Leadership: Lead national M&E and Hard FM service delivery, ensuring consistent standards, operational accountability and performance across multiple contracts.
• Commercial Management: Take responsibility for operational budgets, contract P&Ls, financial forecasting, margins and cost control.
• Engineering Operations: Oversee mobile engineering teams, workforce scheduling, resource allocation and specialist subcontractors.
• Technical Services: Ensure effective delivery of mechanical, electrical, HVAC, planned preventative maintenance (PPM), reactive maintenance and statutory maintenance activities.
• Health & Safety: Maintain compliance with Irish health and safety legislation, statutory maintenance obligations and technical governance requirements.
• Business Improvement: Identify inefficiencies, improve engineering productivity and introduce practical changes to operational processes, reporting and CAFM systems.
• Customer Relationships: Manage senior customer relationships, oversee contract performance and support retention, renewals and business development.
• Contract Mobilisation: Lead the mobilisation of new technical services contracts and support major tenders.
• People Leadership: Develop operational managers, strengthen team performance and establish a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

Essential Experience & Requirements

To be considered, applicants must demonstrate:

• Significant senior operational management experience within a Mechanical & Electrical Hard Services, technical facilities management or engineering services company.
• Strong technical understanding of mechanical and electrical building services, including HVAC.
• Proven experience managing complex, multi-site engineering operations and substantial technical teams.
• Experience overseeing mobile engineering workforces and specialist subcontractors.
• Significant responsibility for operational budgets, financial forecasting and contract P&L performance.
• Experience managing planned preventative maintenance, reactive maintenance and statutory compliance.
• A proven record of improving operational efficiency, contract profitability and engineering productivity.
• Strong knowledge of Irish health and safety requirements and technical compliance.
• Experience using CAFM or computerised maintenance management systems.
• Excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• The confidence and ability to challenge existing processes constructively and lead operational improvements.
• A relevant degree or equivalent senior operational experience.

A professional background in M&E Hard Services is essential. Experience exclusively within Soft Facilities Management will not meet the requirements of this position.

Desirable Experience & Qualifications

• Experience within a national M&E engineering or Hard FM services provider.
• Leadership of substantial mobile engineering teams.
• Experience managing complex technical contracts across multiple sites.
• Experience within pharmaceutical, life sciences, manufacturing, data centres, healthcare, commercial property or public-sector environments.
• Successful mobilisation of major engineering or Hard FM contracts.
• Experience leading operational improvement or business change programmes.
• Qualifications in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Building Services, Facilities Management or Operations Management.
• Chartered status or recognised professional membership within an engineering or FM discipline.

Who Should Apply?

We are particularly interested in experienced professionals currently working as:

• Senior Facilities Manager – Hard Services
• Head of Hard Facilities Management
• Head of Mechanical & Electrical Services
• Senior Operations Manager – M&E
• General Manager – Technical Services
• Regional or National Operations Manager – Hard FM
• Head of Engineering Operations
• Senior Technical Services Manager

You do not need to have previously held a Director of Operations title.

The ideal candidate will have a proven record of managing substantial engineering operations, leading experienced technical teams, taking responsibility for commercial performance and delivering measurable business improvements.

You will be confident engaging with senior executives and customers, technically credible with engineering teams and capable of taking ownership of a national operational portfolio.

Salary & Benefits

• Basic Salary: €120,000–€130,000 per annum, depending on experience
• Performance Bonus: 20%, subject to the employer's bonus arrangements
• Pension: Company pension benefit
• Annual Leave: 25 days
• Vehicle: Company car or car allowance
• Reporting To: Managing Director
• Operational Scope: National M&E Hard Services portfolio

The specific office location, travel requirements and working arrangements will be discussed during the recruitment process.

Right to Work Requirements

Applicants must already hold the legal right to live and work in Ireland on a permanent, full-time basis without requiring employer sponsorship.

Candidates must also be able to meet the travel and attendance requirements associated with a national operational leadership position.