Operations Manager

Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers; Linwood-Central-Heathcote Community; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company vehicle

Phone and laptop

Direct access to Directors

Autonomy in leadership

Job summary

Force1 Traffic is seeking a commercially driven Operations Manager to own the day-to-day operations and drive growth. You will work with Directors, lead the team, and ensure workforce capability aligns with client demand and growth in a Canterbury-based labour-hire business.

You'll identify opportunities, build client relationships and shape the future of the company through practical leadership and strong operational governance.

Qualifications

• Experience leading teams and driving operational performance.
• Strong commercial and financial understanding.
• Proactive leadership with accountability.
• Experience in a labour-hire, civil or infrastructure setting is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of day-to-day operations and performance.
• Lead the team, set expectations and accountability.
• Identify, approach and win new clients.
• Build a strong pipeline of new business opportunities.
• Strengthen relationships across civil, infrastructure and related sectors.
• Oversee health & safety systems and compliance.
• Provide reporting to Directors and manage day-to-day decisions.

Skills

Leadership

Business development

Operations management

Health & Safety

Client relationship

Financial acumen

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Force1 Traffic is looking for a commercially driven, hands-on Operations Manager to take ownership of the day-to-day operations of the business and help drive our next stage of growth.

As our Directors step back from daily operations to focus on ownership, governance and strategy, you'll be trusted with genuine responsibility for our people, operational performance, clients and growth.

You'll be supported by an established Recruitment & Client Relationship Manager, administration systems and an experienced field workforce.

This isn't a role for someone who simply wants to maintain what's already there. We're looking for someone who can see opportunity, create it and turn it into sustainable growth.

If you're looking for the opportunity to genuinely influence, grow and help shape a business, this could be it.

What you'll be responsible for

Take ownership of the day-to-day operations and performance of Force1

Lead the team, set clear expectations and create accountability

Actively identify, approach and win new clients

Build a strong pipeline of new business opportunities

Strengthen and grow relationships across civil, infrastructure and other sectors

Identify opportunities to expand Force1 into additional areas of labour hire and new regions

Drive workforce utilisation, operational performance and high levels of client service

Work closely with our Recruitment & Client Relationship Manager to ensure workforce capability aligns with client demand and growth

Strengthen and oversee Force1's Health & Safety systems, ensuring they are practical, effective and properly implemented

Oversee competency, training, incidents, corrective actions and client compliance requirements

Understand and manage revenue, margins, labour costs, pricing and client profitability

Ensure growth is commercially sound and sustainable

Work closely with the Directors, providing clear reporting while confidently managing day-to-day business decisions

About you

We're less interested in a particular job title and more interested in what you've achieved.

You'll ideally bring:

A proven ability to generate new business and win clients

Strong commercial instincts and financial understanding

Confident, practical and proactive leadership

Experience leading teams and holding people accountable

Sound Health & Safety knowledge

Strong relationship-building and negotiation skills

The ability to spot opportunities and turn ideas into action

The confidence to make decisions and take genuine ownership

A hands-on approach - you're equally comfortable talking strategy with the Directors, meeting a prospective client or working through an operational issue with the team

Experience within traffic management, civil construction, infrastructure, labour hire or a related industry would be valuable, but commercial drive, leadership ability and the right mindset are just as important to us.

About Force1

Force1 Traffic is a Canterbury-based labour-hire business currently specialising in Temporary Traffic Management.

We've built an established workforce and strong relationships across the civil and infrastructure sectors. Now we're ready for the next stage - growing our existing business, developing new client relationships and expanding into additional areas of labour hire.

For the right person, this is an opportunity to come into an established business with strong foundations and have a real say in where it goes next.

What we offer

Key leadership role with genuine autonomy

Direct access to and support from the Directors

Opportunity to shape the future direction of the business

Company vehicle with reasonable private use

Phone and laptop

Christchurch-based role