Operations Manager – HV Substation Projects
Location: Blantyre, Scotland
Employment: Permanent or Contract
Contract: Outside IR35, subject to assessment
Salary/Rate: £600-£650 per day
The Opportunity
We’re looking for an experienced Operations Manager / Head of Operations to lead the delivery of 7+ concurrent HV substation projects across Scotland.
This is a portfolio leadership role, providing direction to Project Managers and overall responsibility for operational performance, delivery standards, commercial performance, resources and client relationships.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead operational delivery across 7+ concurrent HV substation projects, supporting and challenging Project Managers.
- Provide senior leadership to ensure projects are delivered safely, on programme, within budget and to required quality standards.
- Manage, coach and develop Project Managers and wider delivery teams.
- Establish consistent delivery standards, processes and governance.
- Review programmes, milestones, resources and risks, implementing recovery plans where required.
- Oversee portfolio-level turnover, margin, CVRs, forecasts, cash flow and cost-to-complete.
- Work with QS and Project Management teams to identify commercial risks, opportunities and recovery actions.
- Oversee NEC compliance, Compensation Events, Early Warnings, programme impacts and commercial strategy.
- Act as senior escalation point for client, commercial, technical, programme and operational issues.
- Maintain senior relationships with ScottishPower / SP Energy Networks.
- Coordinate people, plant, subcontractors, materials and specialist engineering resources across projects.
- Oversee effective design, procurement, construction, commissioning and handover interfaces.
- Maintain strong focus on HSQE, safe systems of work and statutory/client compliance.
- Monitor performance through KPIs, dashboards and regular operational reviews.
- Lead operational reviews with Project Managers and senior management.
- Support tendering, work winning and mobilisation of new opportunities.
- Drive productivity, standardisation and delivery improvements across the framework.
- Develop the wider team and support the strategic growth of the Scottish substation business.
What We’re Looking For
- Significant senior delivery/operations experience within HV substations, utilities, power or electrical infrastructure.
- Proven experience overseeing multiple concurrent projects through Project Managers.
- Strong leadership and team-development experience.
- Good understanding of HV substation delivery from design through to commissioning and handover.
- Strong commercial understanding, including CVRs, margin, forecasting, cash flow and cost-to-complete.
- Strong working knowledge of NEC contracts.
- Experience with major utility clients, ideally ScottishPower / SP Energy Networks or a comparable DNO.
- Strong HSQE, stakeholder management and problem-solving skills.
- The confidence to challenge performance, drive accountability and implement recovery strategies.
A high-impact senior leadership opportunity to shape the delivery of a significant HV substation portfolio and play a key role in its continued growth.
