Operations Manager London - Building Services

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A little bit more about your role...

The Operations Manager is responsible for managing day to day operational matters associated with their Discipline; you will support the Buildings Group Director in leadership of projects, and business performance.

The role of this Operations Manager is to embed a project culture around a technically robust and efficient delivery model, balanced with the need to satisfy client, staff and commercial expectations.

The Operations Manager will operate with moderate direct supervision from the Group Director and Operations Director. They will be expected to take appropriate action in all aspects of the role to meet the expectations of the business

Overall

• Support Building Services team by supporting and demonstrating a client and project centred culture and represent the business internally and externally as appropriate.
• Manage risk and opportunity through implementation of effective control and review measures.
• Operational overview/reporting and management on project, commercial, business risk and employee performance and development issues.
• Champion SHEQ (Safety, Health, Environment, and Quality) performance by promoting a positive culture, ensuring BMS (Building Management System) and policy compliance, supporting training and competency, and embedding SHEQ into project delivery and operational reviews.

Operational Management

• Responsible for the management and support of teams in day-to-day operational matters.
• Maintain an overview of workload, utilisation and associated resource requirements and work with team leaders as appropriate to ensure resources are fully utilised within technical capability.
• Support Project Management to ensure compliance with SHEQ management systems.
• Support and ensure the integration of UK wide best practice i.e. BMS, SHEQ.
• Ensure best practice relating to project reviews (technical and commercial).
• Interface with GCC (Gulf Capability Centre) and promote its effective use within the region.
• Ensure the correct level and complexity of reporting is in place to fit the business needs.

Projects Delivery & Financial Management

• Support effective implementation of commercial risk management controls, governance, reviews (bid, contract, project, business, etc), guidance and direction.
• Support collaboration and interface with the GCC commercial project management support team and ensure consistency of use and standard of commercial deliverables are maintained throughout the team over all projects
• Support budget / forecast build up at key touch points through the financial year.
• Ensure the correct protocol is followed when working on an intercompany basis across WSP UK and worldwide.
• Overview of monthly project portfolio financial performance and challenge exceptions with project leaders.
• Proactively encourage margin improvement within reason and challenge expectations with Project Directors and Project Managers
• Support Project Directors to achieve required levels of Project Reviews within each calendar month.
• Support Project Managers within the Horizon platform to troubleshoot and educate ensuring positive outcome for the business.

Commercial management

• Lead commercial performance and financial governance across major projects and frameworks, including oversight of project budgets, cost-to-complete forecasts, backlog management, working capital, profitability, and margin improvement initiatives to ensure delivery of business financial targets.
• Provide commercial leadership on client contracts and change management, supporting the negotiation, valuation, approval and recovery of variations, compensation events and contractual entitlements, whilst managing commercial risk and protecting project profitability.
• Drive robust project financial controls and assurance, overseeing forecasting accuracy, invoicing strategy, cash collection performance, contingency management, and financial reporting to ensure compliance with WSP governance requirements and audit readiness.
• Accountable for the commercial performance, financial governance and profitability of major projects and frameworks, ensuring effective management of revenue, backlog, cash flow, margins, working capital and project financial risk.
• Provide leadership and assurance on commercial strategy, contract management and change control, maximising recovery of variations, compensation events and additional services while protecting WSP's commercial position.
• Lead monthly project performance reviews and forecasting processes, challenging project teams on cost-to-complete, resource forecasts, contingencies, budget movements and financial recovery actions to drive improved project outcomes.
• Partner with Project Directors and client teams to deliver commercially successful projects, embedding best practice financial controls, governance, reporting and continuous margin improvement across the portfolio.

Human Resources

• Communicate, demonstrate and justify recruitment needs to meet project and budget targets / demands to the Group Directors and Operations Director.
• Provide operational leadership on employee performance and development across the Building Services team, working with Group Directors, Technical Leads and Team Leaders to set clear expectations, review performance, identify development needs and support timely intervention where performance, capability or conduct issues require attention.
• Support career development, succession planning and retention by encouraging group directors, technical leads and tea, leaders to actively practice coaching, mentoring, knowledge sharing and access to suitable project, technical and professional development opportunities.
• Ensure training requirements are understood, planned and monitored, including mandatory learning, SHEQ training, role-specific competency requirements, project-related training and refresher training; working with People Managers and project leaders to ensure employees have the information, instruction, training and supervision required to carry out their roles safely and effectively.
• Promote compliance with WSP’s SHEQ and BMS requirements within the team by ensuring competence, induction, Personal Risk Reviews and relevant HSEQ responsibilities are actively considered as part of resource planning, project mobilisation, day-to-day management and annual review processes.
• Drive effective Personal Development Reviews (PDRs) by ensuring people managers have meaningful conversations with employees and ensuring objectives are meaningful, aligned to business and project needs, reviewed regularly, and used to capture clear development actions, training needs, career aspirations and follow-up commitments between employees and their managers.

What we will be looking for you to demonstrate…

• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage teams, working effectively with colleagues and stakeholders across different business functions.
• Experience managing stakeholder relationships and coordinating the contributions of multidisciplinary teams to achieve agreed outcomes.
• Evidence of identifying and implementing improvements to processes, ways of working, or service delivery, including supporting teams through change initiatives.
• Able to communicate technical and non-technical information clearly to a range of audiences. Experience supporting the development of colleagues through coaching, mentoring, knowledge sharing, training delivery, workshops, presentations, or one-to-one learning activities.
• Proven ability to build and maintain productive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, contributing to positive client and business outcomes.
• Demonstrates a structured and logical approach to problem solving, applying appropriate methodologies to analyse issues, evaluate options, and deliver effective solutions in complex or ambiguous situations.
• Must be able to obtain UK vetting level of Security Check (SC)

Don’t quite meet all the criteria? Apply, and we can see how your experience aligns to this role and other opportunities within the team.

Imagine a better future for you and a better future for us all.

Join our close-knit community of talented individuals who share your passion for making a positive impact. Our global team includes more than 69,000 employees, working together to make a difference in communities both close to home and around the world.

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What’s In It For You?

Work-life balance

At WSP, we understand that work is just one aspect of your life. It’s important to make time for you, your family, friends, interests and your community.

Our hybrid working policy offers the flexibility to work from home two days a week, while also providing opportunities to collaborate in our modern offices across the UK.

Inclusivity & Belonging

We welcome applicants with varied backgrounds and experiences. We enable rewarding careers by encouraging people to bring their whole and authentic selves to work so that our work represents the fullest spectrum of society. We celebrate integrity and treat people with respect, supporting each other and embracing a culture of inclusion and belonging at WSP. We have our employee resource groups bring together employees and allies with different backgrounds to promote a culture of inclusivity.

Health & Wellbeing

We are committed to supporting our people, giving you the tools to make improvements to your health and wellbeing through our Thrive programme.

Our Virtual GP service gives you access to an NHS or Irish Medical Council GP at a time and place that suits you – giving you peace of mind and quick access to medical advice when you need it most. We also provide reasonable workplace adjustments for those in need. Additionally, you can benefit from the Gymflex scheme, which offers up to 40% off annual gym memberships through our WSP flexible benefits program, as well as a comprehensive menopause support package.

Flex your time

To enhance work-life balance, WSP offers the “WSP My Hour,” allowing you to take one hour each day for personal activities, with the flexibility to make up the time earlier or later that day.

We also provide part-time and flexible working arrangements, the option to purchase additional leave, and the ability to use your bank holiday entitlement to suit you.

Your development

We understand the importance of development and training to you. That’s why we foster a supportive environment that invests in your growth, whether through training, mentoring, or Chartership.

#WeAreWSP

Here at WSP we positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy or maternity/paternity. As a Disability Confident leader, we will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria, please let us know if you require any workplace adjustments in support of your application.