Project Operations Manager

Crick, Northamptonshire
Impact Recruitment Services

Project Operations Manager

40,000 – 50,000 per annum, depending on industry experience
40 hours per week Office-based

We’re looking for an experienced Project Operations Manager to bring structure, control and coordination to a portfolio of live projects being delivered across the UK.

This isn’t a traditional Project Administrator or Project Coordinator role. You’ll have genuine ownership of the operational and commercial side of project delivery, making sure programmes, resources, procurement, costs, documentation and client communication are all properly controlled.

Working closely with the Project Delivery Manager, you’ll make sure projects are properly planned, resourced and commercially managed from start to finish.

While the Project Delivery Manager focuses on delivering the work in the field, you’ll be responsible for keeping everything behind the scenes organised, controlled and moving forward.

If you’re someone who enjoys schedules, forecasts, budgets, resource planning and solving logistical problems, you’ll feel right at home in this role.

The Role

You’ll oversee multiple live projects at different stages, keeping a close eye on programme, resources, costs and commercial performance.

You’ll be responsible for making sure the field teams have everything they need to deliver successfully, while providing clients and internal stakeholders with clear and accurate information throughout the project lifecycle.

You’ll also lead the project support function, managing and developing the Project Coordinator and Project Administrator and ensuring the wider team has the structure, direction and support needed to perform effectively.

You’ll be responsible for:

• Owning and managing project programmes, milestones and key deadlines across multiple live projects.
• Monitoring progress and putting recovery plans in place when projects begin to fall behind.
• Managing project budgets, costs, variations and overall commercial performance.
• Maintaining accurate project forecasts covering programme, resources, costs and expected project outcomes.
• Planning and allocating labour, plant, subcontractors, materials and other resources.
• Ensuring resources are available when required and identifying potential shortages or clashes before they affect delivery.
• Managing and developing the Project Coordinator and Project Administrator, providing clear direction, support and accountability.
• Providing coaching and development to support the continued growth of the project support team.
• Leading communication with clients and key stakeholders throughout project delivery.
• Managing procurement activities and ensuring materials, equipment and services are available when required.
• Working with suppliers and subcontractors to coordinate requirements and resolve issues.
• Identifying project risks at an early stage and implementing practical mitigation plans.
• Working closely with the Project Delivery Manager to ensure site teams have the information, resources and support required to deliver successfully.
• Providing accurate management information and reporting to support project and business decision-making.
• Monitoring project performance and identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, productivity and profitability.
• Ensuring projects remain organised, commercially controlled and aligned with agreed client commitments.

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for someone who enjoys being the person who keeps everything moving.

You might currently be working as a Project Manager, Project Operations Manager, Contracts Manager, Project Coordinator, Senior Project Coordinator or in another project-based operational role where you’ve had responsibility for programmes, resources, commercial performance and client management.

Your background could be in construction, engineering, infrastructure, telecoms, security systems or another project-led environment.

Ideally, you’ll have:

• Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously within a fast-paced environment.
• Strong experience managing project programmes, milestones and deadlines.
• Good commercial awareness, with an understanding of the relationship between programme, cost, resources and profitability.
• Experience managing budgets, variations, forecasts and project costs.
• Experience coordinating labour, subcontractors, plant, materials and other project resources.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple competing priorities.
• Experience managing, coaching or developing members of a project support or coordination team.
• The confidence to delegate work, set expectations and hold people accountable.
• Strong communication skills and the confidence to deal directly with clients and key stakeholders.
• A proactive approach to identifying risks and resolving issues before they become larger problems.
• Strong attention to detail without losing sight of the bigger picture.
• Good IT skills and confidence working with project management systems, spreadsheets, forecasts and reporting tools.
• Experience within construction, engineering, infrastructure, telecoms, security or a similar project delivery environment would be advantageous.

If you’re an experienced project professional who enjoys creating structure, managing competing priorities, solving problems and keeping projects moving, we’d love to hear from you.

Impact Recruitment are acting as an agency on behalf of our client.