Operations Director – Construction Projects

About the role

Our client, a profitable owner‑managed contractor specialising in interior fit‑out and modular new‑build projects for the private education sector, is seeking an Operations Director to lead delivery across its UK and international portfolio. Based in Hemel Hempstead, you will own the end‑to‑end delivery of projects from pre‑construction through handover, ensuring cost, programme, quality, safety and margin targets are met.

Key responsibilities

• Delivery and programme portfolio ownership – ensure safe, on‑time, on‑budget delivery of all live projects.
• Programme control – maintain the master portfolio programme, sequence project plans and trigger recovery actions when slippage is identified.
• Seasonal planning – coordinate supply‑chain, resources, labour and materials around peak delivery periods.
• Pre‑construction input – contribute to buildability, method, programme and risk assessments at bid stage.
• Margin protection – drive monthly CVR process, reconcile tendered versus realised gross margin.
• Cost control – manage subcontractor packages, procurement, variations and preliminaries.
• Change and claims – capture, price, agree and bill client and subcontractor variations.
• Cash management – oversee valuations, applications, final accounts and retention.
• Forecasting – provide reliable cost‑to‑complete forecasts and supply‑chain input.
• Leadership – lead, develop and, where required, strengthen operational and site teams.
• Standards – set and enforce delivery standards across the business.

Required profile

• Commercially literate leader with strong financial acumen.
• Proven ability to hold supply‑chain partners and internal teams accountable for operational performance.
• Experience managing large‑scale construction or modular building programmes.
• Comfortable analysing cost‑value reconciliations and driving margin improvement.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.

Required skills