Part of the VolkerWessels UK Group, VolkerStevin is an industry-leading civil engineering business, providing complex and innovative engineering solutions across a wide range of sectors including maritime, flood risk management, defence, energy, water and regeneration. Collaborating with, and drawing on the specialist skills of the group’s business units we deliver a truly integrated, multidisciplinary service.
We have a fantastic opportunity for an Operations Manager to join our specialist energy division at VolkerStevin.
Volker Stevin Group has a long history of delivery of EHV cable projects and complex major HDD schemes. The Volker Infra brand previously used to deliver these works has now been rebranded as Volker Stevin Energy.
In recent years we have transitioned from delivering Tier 2 works for National Grid and Tier 1 works for offshore wind farm clients to being in a tier 1 position across the regulated and non-regulated sectors, with schemes up to £100m in civils value being delivered.
As the Energy sector in Volker Stevin grows, we have an exciting opportunity to expand our team with a new Operations Manager of the EHV electricity transmission projects.
The role, reporting to the Sector Director for Energy, would be responsible to leading delivery across all EHV cable projects in the regulated and non-regulated sectors.
Projects vary from full EPC schemes in the regulated sector for National Grid, to civils only in the regulated and non-regulated sectors acting in a tier 1 Principal Contractor role and in a tier 2 sub contractor role.
Our projects are situated all over the UK and the successful candidate must be prepared and able to lead sites teams across this geography. We have head offices in Preston and central London with area offices elsewhere in the UK and a new dedicated Energy division office to be opened in 2025, which the successful candidate will be involved in the decision-making process on location.
With steady controlled growth contained with out business plan out to 2030, the role will be forefront in expanding the success existing team into a significant contactor in the market.
About you
Operational Performance
- Lead, develop and implement clear strategy for successful delivery performance.
- Work with Energy Operations Director to drive success for the division.
- Develop training strategy for upskilling resources reallocated from other business unit sectors to become skilled in delivering EHV works as revenue grows.
- Provide accurate and timely Board reporting and guide the Operations Director in dealings at Board level.
- Lead implementation of appropriate project controls to enable accurate forecast positions on schedule, cost, and value across the portfolio.
- Ensure effective planning at all stages in accordance with IMS and commercial plans
- Set clear, measurable targets for performance expectations across projects and hold teams to account for meeting these.
Team leadership and development
- Oversee the EHV operations Team.
- Ensure clear roles and responsibilities are understood throughout the team and hold people properly accountable for their work.
- Develop training strategies among the various levels and disciplines within your team to ensure succession planning is possible and expansion of the team as revenue increases.
Solution Development
- Provide technical input and leadership in the conclusion of technical challenges in project development stages
- Drive ownership of the ECI process to provide project certainty ahead of the delivery phase.
- Engage with ECI phase to define clear solutions. Mitigate and allocate risk through this phase.
- Drive innovation and challenge standards to deliver best value.
Financial and Commercial Performance
- Work closely with and support the Commercial colleagues.
- Ensure Commercial management is fully integrated across the lifecycle of projects.
- Ensure that risk and change is proactively identified and timeously raised.
- Identify and advise Operations Director and Procurement Manager of supply chain partners and assist in bringing new business into our supply chain to support projects
Delivery Management
- Early engagement with solution development.
- Accountability through whole lifecycle (ECI to Completion).
- Set and oversee delivery of clear project strategies and encourage integration across the Value Chain.
Business Growth
- Strong collaboration with clients and other delivery partners to maximise success of each project.
- Support growth in the business unit with recruitment of new staff and onboarding of new supply chain..
- Strong team management experience with ability to lead and work in a motivated, high-performing, multi-discipline team covering the end-to-end project lifecycle.
- Experience in a similar or related role with previous involvement through the two-stage project delivery.
- Experience of collaborating with and influencing customers, key stakeholders, partners, suppliers and staff at all levels.
- Commercially astute with understanding of how business decisions impact the bottom line.
- Inclusive with ability to build a culture of innovation, embrace new ideas, continuously improve ways of working and step outside comfort zone.
- Experience of implementing and engendering a leading-edge health, safety, environmental and quality culture.
- NEC ECC experience is essential with FIDIC appreciation preferred.
- Degree or equivalent in civil or electrical engineering preferred
- Professional accreditation e.g. chartership preferred
Why work with us?
VolkerStevin is under the umbrella of VolkerWessels UK which is a multidisciplinary contractor that delivers innovative engineering solutions across the civil engineering and construction sectors including rail, highways, airport, marine, energy, water, and environmental infrastructure.
By utilising the specialist skills of each business unit within VolkerWessels UK, VolkerStevin are able to ensure our staff provide unrivalled resources and expertise to our clients.
We offer competitive rewards and benefits, recognising the value we place on our employees.
We offer a range of benefits, including:
- Competitive salary
- Competitive annual leave and an additional day off on your birthday
- Private medical care
- Pension
- Life Assurance
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Shopping and restaurants vouchers, rewards, and discounts
- Training and development opportunities-comprehensive skills-based training
- Family friendly polices including enhanced maternity benefits
- Employee Assistance programme
- Mental health, physical health, and financial support
- 24/7 Virtual GP service
Fairness, inclusion and respect
We believe in pushing boundaries in the pursuit of fairness, inclusion and respect. So, our teams can be comfortable that, whatever their background, VolkerWessels UK is a place where they can be themselves and thrive.
If you need support with your application, please contact us at careers@volkerwessels.co.uk
Additional information
Note for Recruitment Agencies:
Our preference is to hire directly, and we will reach out to our Preferred Supplier List (PSL) agencies if this particular role qualifies for release.
We kindly request that you refrain from sending speculative CVs. In the event of speculative CV submissions, no fees will be applicable, and we kindly ask that all inquiries to be directed to careers@volkerwessels.co.uk
VolkerWessels UK is committed to maintaining healthy, safe and productive working conditions for its entire staff and therefore a drugs & alcohol screening is mandatory for all.
