About the role:

The Operations Director will oversee and develop the operations strategy and the day-to-day operations of LUC, ensuring that our internal systems, processes and teams deliver operational excellence and enable our business performance in the short and long term. They will keep up to date with changing standards and legislation across the areas within their responsibility, while also leading the operations team and operating as a member of the Management Board, and reporting in turn to the Company Board on issues or progress. This is a highly visible senior leadership role in the company. The Operations Director will be the ‘Go To’ person for a wide range of issues and will represent operations with the business and through our corporate governance.

The main areas of responsibility for this role include:

Operational Excellence, Performance and Strategy

• Working with the Chief Executive Director to set the long-term approach to operational excellence, including finding inefficiencies, highlighting opportunities and monitoring performance.
• Formulating the processes and procedures that enable the business model, including developing tools to analyse efficiency and maximise impact in alignment with the strategy.
• Developing the operations strategy and the strategic objectives of the operations functions.

Operational Structuring and Operating Model

• Acting as owner of LUC’s organisational design principles and effecting and maintaining the operating model, continuing its ongoing improvement – and developing LUC’s approach to project and programme management at an enterprise level.

Property

• Overseeing the management of the portfolio of offices and all related support services, contracts and facilities.
• Sponsoring necessary proposals for the Management Board approval e.g. decisions on new leases, break clauses and rent reviews, as well as any other investment decisions.
• Overseeing and assuring the coordination of office moves, refurbishments and works, especially with the local office senior team and ICT.
• Working with the Management Board to identifying new locations, and as required managing lease requirements, negotiating with landlords, agents and third parties.
  

Health & Safety

• Overseeing LUC’s compliance and accreditation on a range of H&S systems and standards including OHSAS 18001.
• Ensuring LUC meets H&S obligations, legislation and high standards of Health, Safety and Wellbeing.
• Identifying and monitoring H&S risk, risk assessment and risk management systems.
• Sponsoring reporting on H&S matters internally and externally as required.

Quality Management and Environmental Management

• Overseeing LUC’s compliance and accreditation with ISO 9001 quality standards and ISO 14001 environmental management standards.
• Developing systems to align activities with quality standards and support continuous improvement and our environmental objectives.
• Sponsoring our reporting and strategy to ensure that QM and EM are aligned with our strategy and enabling our impact.

Administrative and Bid support

• Providing leadership to the administrative teams, covering all aspects of office, bid and project support.
• Evolving these functions to support the changing needs of the business.
• Identifying and developing relevant tools, systems and structures to support the business.
  

GDPR

• Overseeing compliance with GDPR legislation and standards, effective liaison with the business and the Information Commissioner and ensuring the provision of appropriate advice on GDPR within the business.
• The role includes the opportunity to share and participate actively in the management and ownership of the business through the Employee Ownership Trust, which places full ownership of the company with the employees.

The role can be based in any of LUC’s offices (London, Bristol, Cardiff, Sheffield, Manchester, Glasgow or Edinburgh). We work in a hybrid model with people being in the office a minimum of two days per week. There will also be travel required to visit sites, client offices and other office locations.

A full-time role is based on 37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday). However, LUC has a strong track record in flexible working, and we have been recognised for our flexible working culture, so we are happy to discuss a range of flexible working options for this role including part time hours (minimum 30 hours per week) if desired.

Salary: £65,000-£77,000 FTE, depending on experience (plus London allowance of £4,000 if applicable)

Experience and qualifications

This role requires a highly organised person who is able to track a wide range of issues simultaneously and build strong relationships and credibility across the organisation. The role will primarily focus on cycles of activity relating to strategy, compliance, audit and risk management. However, from time to time there will also be unpredictable and urgent demands for action, input or advice on matters relating to the areas of responsibility so flexibility to adapt to ever evolving needs is critical.

Experience and qualifications

Essential

Experience of leading directly at least some of the areas of responsibility listed above, combined with general management experience. Relevant experience may be from a similar operational management roles.

Responsibility for a budget on a major programme or functional level.

Leading and managing a team, with responsibility for their deliverables as well as their personal wellbeing and career progression.

Experience with delivery of major projects or implementation of new systems.

Optimisation of systems through positive attitude to change and the proficient use of technology.

Desirable

Experience of working within a professional services firm. This could be within our built environment sector or more generally such as law, accountancy, etc.

Demonstrable awareness and experience of utilising technology as an enabler within the business.

Experience of coordinating or delivering training to support take-up and embed new systems or tools with consistency across the company.

This role does not require a specific educational or professional qualification, but professional experience in areas such as efficiency, project management and strategic operations would be looked on favourably. Other relevant qualifications or professional memberships will be considered positively, but relevant experience and practical knowledge will be prioritised.

Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK.

Please apply by uploading your CV and covering letter via the above link

LUC is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and we actively encourage applications from under-represented groups. We value the differences, needs and contributions a diverse workforce represents, and we strive to embed equality, diversity and inclusion in all our people related activities.