Operations Director - Civil Engineering

Reference: OPSDHH_
Posted: May 7, 2026

Operations Director - Water Utilities / Infrastructure / Civil Engineering

Hertfordshire HQ London & South East Projects Hybrid Working

Excellent Salary + Bonus + Car Allowance + Private Medical Insurance

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Operations Director to lead the delivery of a major water infrastructure and utilities programme across London and the South East.

This senior leadership role is ideal for candidates with a strong background in water utilities, civil engineering, highways, infrastructure, pipeline installation, or planned works delivery who are looking to take ownership of a flagship operational programme with significant long term investment and growth.

The successful candidate will oversee the delivery of a large scale water mains replacement programme involving over 150km of critical infrastructure works, managing operational performance, commercial delivery, safety, client relationships, and multidisciplinary teams across multiple live projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead operational delivery across major water, utilities, highways, or civil engineering projects
• Manage large planned works and infrastructure programmes valued in excess of £35m annually
• Drive productivity, programme performance, and operational efficiency
• Oversee installation and commissioning activities for water mains and linear infrastructure
• Ensure compliance with highways regulations, permitting, HSEQ, and industry standards
• Lead and develop large operational and project delivery teams
• Build strong client, stakeholder, and supply chain relationships
• Support continuous improvement, Lean delivery, and programme optimisation

Candidate Requirements

We are seeking an Operations Director, Contracts Director, Framework Director, Programme Director, or Senior Operations Manager with experience in:

• Highways
• Utilities frameworks
• Planned maintenance or capital works programmes

Ideal experience includes

• Leading large scale operational delivery teams
• Managing multi site utilities or infrastructure programmes
• Water mains replacement or pipeline projects
• Commercial and budget management responsibility
• Strong stakeholder and client management capability

Desirable Qualifications

• Engineering degree or equivalent
• NEBOSH Construction or General Certificate
• Temporary Works knowledge/certification
• Lean, Agile, or continuous improvement experience

Package

• Attractive basic salary
• Performance related bonus
• Private medical insurance
• Long term secured workload
• Senior leadership opportunity within a growing infrastructure business

Based from a modern Hertfordshire headquarters, this role will involve regular travel to projects across London and the South East.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a senior infrastructure or utilities professional to play a key role in one of the UK's most significant water network upgrade programmes.