Operations Director - Industrial Scaffolding

Collins McNicholas Recruitment; Dublin; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Life assurance

Education and professional development

Career progression opportunities

Long-service awards

Job summary

Collins McNicholas Recruitment is seeking an Operations Director to take overall responsibility for the performance and development of a multi-site industrial scaffolding operation.

The role combines operational leadership, commercial management and strong people leadership across locations, working with customers, site teams and senior management to ensure high standards of safety, service and financial performance.

Qualifications

• Senior operational leader with multi-site experience.
• Background in industrial services, scaffolding, or related sectors.
• Proven track record of improving operational and commercial performance.
• Full or significant budget/P&L responsibility.
• Strong commercial/financial understanding.
• Experience managing senior customer and stakeholder relationships.
• Experience operating in a safety-conscious environment.

Responsibilities

• Own operational performance across multiple sites and locations.
• Ensure work is properly planned, resourced and delivered to standards.
• Drive productivity, utilisation and efficiency; establish clear accountability.
• Manage budgets, monitor revenue, costs, margins and profitability.
• Build strong relationships with customers and stakeholders; act as escalation point.
• Promote a proactive safety culture and ensure compliance across locations.
• Lead and develop a large, dispersed workforce; plan succession and development.

Skills

Negotiation

Operations Management

Easily Adaptable

Operational Planning

Continuous Improvement

Customer Experience

Business Development

Succession

Job description

Our client has a new opportunity for an Operations Director to take overall responsibility for the performance and development of a multi-site industrial scaffolding operation.

This is a senior leadership position suited to an individual who can combine operational leadership, commercial management and strong people leadership. The successful candidate will oversee operations across a number of locations, working closely with customers, site teams and senior management to ensure consistently high standards of safety, service and financial performance.

The role requires a visible and hands‑on leader who is comfortable operating in a demanding industrial environment and who can translate business strategy into strong operational execution.

Responsibilities:

Overall Operations

• Take ownership of operational performance across multiple industrial and client locations.
• Ensure work is properly planned, resourced and delivered to the required standards.
• Improve productivity, utilisation and operational efficiency.
• Establish clear standards and accountability throughout the operational function.
• Identify operational risks and put effective controls in place.
• Drive a culture of continuous improvement.

Commercial Performance

• Have overall responsibility for operational budgets and financial performance.
• Monitor revenue, costs, margins and profitability.
• Ensure resources, labour, equipment and materials are used effectively.
• Work with senior management to identify opportunities for growth and improved profitability.
• Contribute to commercial negotiations, tenders and business development activity.
• Ensure customer commitments are translated into achievable operational plans.

Customer & Stakeholder Relationships

• Build strong working relationships with key customers and stakeholders.
• Act as a senior escalation point for significant operational issues.
• Maintain a clear understanding of customer requirements and expectations.
• Ensure operational teams consistently deliver a high-quality customer experience.
• Develop relationships that support long‑term customer retention and growth.

Safety, Quality & Compliance

• Provide strong leadership on health, safety, environmental and quality matters.
• Ensure all operations comply with relevant legislation, regulations and industry requirements.
• Promote a proactive safety culture throughout the organisation.
• Review incidents, trends and performance indicators and ensure appropriate actions are implemented.
• Maintain high standards of quality and compliance across all locations.

Leadership & People

• Lead and develop a sizeable, geographically dispersed operational workforce.
• Create a culture based on performance, accountability and teamwork.
• Develop operational managers and future leaders within the business.
• Identify training and development requirements.
• Support effective workforce planning and succession planning.
• Maintain strong communication between senior management, operational management and site teams.

Planning & Performance Management

• Establish clear operational objectives and measurable performance standards.
• Review performance regularly against agreed KPIs.
• Use operational data to identify areas requiring intervention or improvement.
• Ensure sufficient resources are available to meet current and future demand.
• Provide regular performance updates and recommendations to senior leadership.

What we are Looking For

You will be an experienced operational leader with a background in industrial services, scaffolding, construction, engineering, utilities or a comparable sector.

Ideally, you will bring:

• Proven experience operating at senior management/director level.
• Experience managing large teams across multiple sites or locations.
• A demonstrable record of improving operational and commercial performance.
• Experience with full or significant budget/P&L responsibility.
• Strong commercial and financial understanding.
• Proven ability to manage major customer and stakeholder relationships.
• Experience operating within a highly safety-conscious environment.
• Strong knowledge of operational planning and performance management.
• A recognised SHEQ, Health & Safety or equivalent professional qualification.
• A full clean driving licence.
• Flexibility to travel regularly between operational locations.

Remuneration & Benefits

A competitive senior management package is available, together with a range of benefits which may include:

• Competitive salary and overall package
• Pension scheme
• Life assurance
• Employee assistance programme
• Employee referral scheme
• Enhanced maternity benefits
• Education and professional development support
• Career progression opportunities
• Long-service awards

• Seniority Level

  Director

• Industry

  • Engineering Services
  • Construction

• Employment Type

  Full-time

• Skills

  • Negotiation
  • Operations Management
  • Easily Adaptable
  • Operational Planning
  • Continuous Improvement
  • Customer Experience
  • Business Development
  • Succession