Operations Director - Construction Projects

About the Role

Our client is a profitable, owner-operated contractor specializing in interior fit-out and modular new-build projects, mainly serving the private education sector. With a new CEO at the helm, the company is expanding its leadership framework and operational capabilities to support significant domestic and international growth over the next five years. The portfolio includes large modular new-build schemes alongside a rising number of fit-out projects abroad.

This role is based at the Hemel Hempstead offices with frequent travel across the UK. The Operations Director will take full ownership of project delivery from pre-construction through final handover and account settlement. This includes full responsibility for cost management, scheduling, quality, safety, and critically, achieving actual margin targets compared to tendered figures.

This is a senior commercial leadership position rather than an elevated site management role. The successful candidate must demonstrate comfort in financial oversight such as cost value reconciliations while also ensuring operational excellence on site, holding both internal teams and suppliers accountable.

Key Responsibilities

• End-to-end portfolio oversight ensuring all active projects are delivered safely, on schedule, and within budget.
• Manage the overall master delivery schedule; enforce realistic and adequately resourced individual project plans, promptly identifying delays and initiating remedial measures.
• Plan supply chain, labor, and materials strategically around peak summer delivery periods to optimize operations.
• Contribute to pre-construction stages including buildability reviews, method planning, scheduling, and risk evaluation to ensure projects are viable at the agreed price.
• Safeguard gross margin by rigorously managing monthly cost value reconciliation processes and explaining discrepancies between tendered and forecast margins.
• Exercise strict control over subcontractor scopes, procurement, contract variations, and project preliminaries.
• Ensure client and subcontractor variations are properly captured, priced, agreed upon, and invoiced.
• Maintain cash flow by driving timely valuation submissions, payment applications, final accounts, certifications, and retention management.
• Deliver accurate forecasts based on clear supply chain inputs and evidence-based cost-to-complete analyses.
• Lead, nurture, and where needed, strengthen the operational and site teams to meet quality and efficiency standards.
• Establish and enforce consistent delivery standards across the business.
• Develop and manage a robust supply chain aligned to significant expansion plans.
• Collaborate at the leadership level with CEO, CFO, and commercial heads on strategy, capital allocation, and growth initiatives.
• Manage health, safety, and environmental standards across all sites to ensure compliance and a safety-first culture.
• Oversee quality assurance and snagging processes to minimize defects and rework.
• Ensure full compliance with Construction (Design and Management) Regulations and specific requirements for working on school sites.

Candidate Profile

• Experience managing construction projects both within the UK and internationally.
• Proven senior operational experience with refurbishment or interior fit-out main contractors.
• Strong track record handling multiple concurrent projects spanning design, pre-construction, build, and maintenance phases.
• High commercial proficiency in cost value reconciliations, contract management, cost forecasting, valuations, variations, retentions, and final account settlements.
• Demonstrated ability to protect or improve profit margins on live projects beyond on-time delivery.
• Experienced in leading multi-site, multi-project delivery teams successfully.
• Committed to exemplary health and safety standards with a genuine safety-first mindset.

Compensation and Benefits

• Annual salary ranging from £90,000 to £120,000.
• Performance-related bonuses.
• Car allowance and comprehensive benefits package with potential for longer-term incentives.