Operations Director

Operations Director | Executive Leadership Opportunity - Multi-Site Operations

A highly successful and growing equipment rental and support services business is seeking an accomplished Operations Director to lead a significant regional operation across London and the Home Counties.

This appointment offers responsibility for multiple trading locations, substantial operational budgets, significant fleet assets, and the opportunity to influence strategic direction within a well-established organisation. The successful candidate will demonstrate a proven ability to improve operational performance, increase profitability, develop high-performing leadership teams, and deliver exceptional customer outcomes within a complex multi-site environment.

We are particularly interested in leaders who can evidence measurable achievements and business impact rather than simply describe responsibilities held.

Package

• £80,000 - £85,000 Basic Salary
• Performance-related Bonuses of circa 25%-40%+
• Company Vehicle
• Private Healthcare
• Pension Scheme
• Generous Holiday plus Bank Holidays, increasing with service
• Significant Autonomy and Executive-Level Decision-Making Authority
• Genuine Long-Term Career Progression Opportunities

The Opportunity

Reporting to the senior leadership team, the Operations Director will hold full accountability for the operational, commercial and financial performance of a regional network of depots and service locations.

The role requires a commercially astute leader capable of balancing strategic direction with operational execution. You will lead regional management teams, establish clear performance expectations, optimise operational efficiency, strengthen customer relationships, and drive sustainable improvements across revenue, profitability, service performance and employee engagement.

You will be expected to create a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and operational excellence while ensuring consistent standards are delivered across all locations.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership across a geographically dispersed, multi-site operation
• Deliver agreed revenue, profit and operational performance targets
• Lead, coach and develop regional and depot management teams
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across people, processes and performance
• Improve operational efficiency, productivity and service delivery standards
• Ensure optimal fleet availability, utilisation and return on investment
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key customers and stakeholders
• Produce, manage and deliver regional budgets and forecasts
• Analyse operational and commercial data to identify performance improvement opportunities
• Ensure compliance with all health, safety, quality and regulatory requirements
• Support strategic business initiatives, growth plans and operational development projects
• Promote consistency, accountability and best practice across all operational locations
• Enhance customer retention, service performance and overall customer experience

Candidate Profile

Applications are welcomed from senior operational leaders with experience gained within equipment rental, specialist asset rental, construction support services, industrial services, powered access, plant hire, tool hire, pump hire, fleet-based operations or other operationally intensive, asset-led, multi-site environments.

Successful candidates will demonstrate a track record of delivering measurable commercial and operational success within complex organisations.

Essential Experience

• Senior leadership experience within a multi-site operational environment
• Responsibility for operational, commercial and financial performance across multiple locations
• Full P&L accountability and budget management experience
• Proven success in improving revenue, profitability and operational performance
• Experience leading and developing management teams across geographically dispersed operations
• Strong commercial, financial and analytical capability
• Experience implementing operational improvement programmes and driving sustainable change
• Demonstrable success in managing customer relationships and service performance metrics
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills

Evidence of Achievement

Applicants are encouraged to provide specific examples and measurable outcomes relating to:

• Revenue growth delivered under their leadership
• Profitability improvements and margin enhancement
• Operational efficiency gains and cost reduction initiatives
• Service performance improvements and customer retention achievements
• Team development, succession planning and leadership progression outcomes
• Fleet utilisation, asset productivity or operational optimisation improvements
• Safety, compliance or quality performance enhancements
• Successful implementation of business improvement, transformation or growth projects

Applications that clearly demonstrate the scale of responsibility held, budgets managed, team sizes, operational scope and commercial impact achieved will be viewed particularly favourably.

Personal Attributes

• Strategic thinker with strong operational execution capability
• Data-driven decision maker
• Highly credible leader capable of influencing at all organisational levels
• Commercially astute and results focused
• Committed to developing high-performing teams and future leaders
• Passionate about continuous improvement and operational excellence

Why Apply?

This is an outstanding opportunity for an accomplished operational leader seeking broader strategic responsibility, greater autonomy and the opportunity to influence the performance and growth of a substantial regional business.

You will join a successful organisation with ambitious growth plans, strong market presence and a genuine commitment to investing in its people, operations and future development.

Application Process

Selection will be based on demonstrable evidence of leadership impact, commercial performance, operational improvement and people development outcomes.

Applicants are encouraged to highlight specific achievements, measurable business results and examples of lasting business impact within their application.