Divisional Operations Manager

Mott MacDonald

Position location: All UK locations considered
Recruiter contact: Madeleine Phillips 

We’re a global engineering, management, and development consultancy.
Our purpose is to improve society by considering social outcomes in everything we do, relentlessly focusing on excellence and digital innovation, transforming our clients’ businesses, our communities and employee opportunities.

A fundamental part of this is respecting each person’s differences and striving to meet their needs.

Our values: Progress, Respect, Integrity, Drive, Excellence.

About the business unit  
We help conceive, drive, and implement transport solutions for cities, regions, and asset owners/operators around the globe. From preparing the business case and​ advising on related issues - such as revenue, procurement, and environmental legislation - to delivering the completed infrastructure and helping maintain it. Our planning, engineering, environmental and management skills cover the whole project cycle. We play a major role in developing and delivering the Global Transport Sector Strategy. 

Overview of role

This newly created Divisional Operations Manager role will be a member of the Divisional Executive.  The Operations Manager will oversee and optimise the delivery of projects in six market facing portfolios within our £70M business. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in leading and motivating diverse teams, managing complex projects, and influencing delivery and operational excellence. 

As the Divisional Operations Manager you will take ownership of the governance, delivery and commercial success of all portfolios in the division and be responsible for meeting operational revenue and profit targets and enhancing our competitive position by optimising our operating cost.   

The successful candidate will be expected to maintain a billable component, working on projects and with clients. Reporting to the Divisional General Manager, you will work effectively within an executive team to support the division to achieve its vision “to be recognised by the market, and our colleagues at Mott MacDonald, as renowned pioneers in our industry. To lead the way, as a connected centre of technical excellence, industry influence and innovation.”    

You may deputise for the Divisional General Manager internally and externally as required. 
Direct Reports: Market Portfolio Leaders 
Primary Interfaces: Resource Manager, Development Manager, Commercial Manager, Technical Officer, Safety Manager.

Key concerns of position: 
o    Health & Safety, Wellbeing and Our Code and PRIDE Values: Be a champion of diversity, safety and inclusion: Ensure adherence to policies and procedures. 
o    Leadership: Lead, coach and develop staff towards a high-performing delivery culture guided by the TMS vision, goals and principles to foster a thriving culture. 
o    Portfolio Management: Strategically manage and coordinate the delivery of six consulting engineering service portfolios and supporting services ensuring alignment with TMS Vision and Goals and Business Plan. 
o    Delivery Excellence: Lead and establish a culture of delivering with Excellence.  Drive continuous improvement, including:  
•    Establish a “TMS Operations Board” to provide oversight, coordination and governance. 
•    Digital to enhance efficiency, quality, and client satisfaction across the division. 
•    GDS: Lead the integration of GDS into a significant part of BAU for the division 
•    Project Controls and Information Management  
•    Contract Management and compliance with Mott MacDonald BMS (Step) (working with the Divisional Commercial Manager) 
•    Actively seek out lessons to learn by rapidly “recognising screw ups” and sharing  
•    Embed the key principles of Technical Excellence and Technical Governance into the delivery of the portfolios (working with the Divisional Technical Officer) 
•    Operationalise activities and processes needed to deliver the Business Plan 
o    Resourcing and People: 
•    Ensure that the portfolios are looking across all horizons to review the balance of teams and skills from time to time and ensure right person for right job 
•    Ensuring correct resource assignment and planning recruitment needs for pipeline and Business Plan (working with the Divisional Development Manager) 
•    Identify individual or team performance weaknesses and work with the Divisional Resource Manager to correct 
o    Financial Outcomes: Monitor, manage and report on project and portfolio budgets, ensuring profitability and financial sustainability.   
o    Major Projects: Identify major projects and governed with additional oversight .  
o    Collaboration: across the whole of our Divisional, Unit and global business and help us deliver the best of Mott MacDonald to our Clients 

Key Metrics:  
Performance will be measured across our usual financial, collaboration and people metrics, where success is defined as ‘smooth business operations and the removal of internal friction and non-value-add management time’.  

The primary objective of the role is to support governance, delivery and commercial success of all projects owned by the specific portfolio in a division: 

•    Governance: H&S, BMS & Commercial 
•    Profit: responsible for the delivery of a blended portfolio of profit %age to be agreed with DGM 
•    GDS Delivery: agree specific %age of revenue delivered via GDS with DGM but with an aim to exceed 25% of NR by the end of 2025. 
•    Efficient Delivery: Deliver improved efficiency in delivery by achieving a multiplier to be agreed with the DGM. 
•    Utilisation: Monitor utlilisation and minimise downtime as an outcome of efficient delivery

Experience and Capabilities preferred: 

• Experience in business leadership to senior/ executive level. 
• Experience in role modelling through culture change and leading in positive behaviours 
• Proven track record leading multidisciplinary engineering, or technical teams. 
• Experience leading the delivery of complex/ major engineering or programme management commissions within the UK and/or Europe. 
• Able to manage complexity by making sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.  
• Familiarity with Business Management Systems, Health, Safety & Wellbeing processes and corporate governance, informing good decision making at a senior level. 
• Strong communication skills and an ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with clients, stakeholders, colleagues, and the supply chain. 
• Ability to demonstrate a flexible approach to work. 
• Flexibility in working location and travel.

How to Apply
Alongside your application, please submit:

• An up-to-date CV
• A brief expression of interest of no more than 1 A4 pages which should set out the following:
  • How would you approach the role?
  • What does your 100 day plan look like?

Please note that this role will close at midnight on Monday 25th November 2024.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion 

We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.

Accessibility

We want you to perform your best at every stage in the recruitment process. If you are disabled or need any support to enable you to apply or attend an interview, please contact us at reasonable.adjustments@mottmac.com and we will talk to you about how we can support you.

Agile working 

Happy to talk Flexible Working and how we can support your responsibilities beyond the workplace.

We offer some fantastic benefits including:

• Pension matched up to 7%   
• Life insurance 
• An annual professional institution subscription   
• Continuous development opportunities – because we want you to thrive  
• Agile/flexible working – because life isn’t 9-5  
• Enhanced parental leave; shared parental leave policies – for parents and care givers  
• Annual bonus scheme  
• Flexible benefits that suit you, including ability to buy/sell annual leave entitlement, cycle to work & interest free season ticket loans 
• Wellbeing support including access to an independent Employer Assistance Scheme, wellbeing champions and access to learning and support resources 
• Access to our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability and parents/carers communities 
• The opportunity to make a difference; learn more about our social outcomes

Apply now, or for more information about our application process, click here.