Operations Manager

Operations Manager

Location: Birmingham

Salary: £58k + Car/Car Allowance
 

We are currently recruiting on behalf of an established and growing grounds maintenance business for an experienced Operations Manager to join their Operations Team.

This is a hands-on role responsible for overseeing the successful delivery of grounds maintenance contracts across multiple client sites throughout the UK. You will play a key role in planning resources, managing teams and subcontractors, maintaining strong client relationships and ensuring all contracted works are delivered safely, efficiently and to a consistently high standard.

This is a fantastic long-term opportunity for someone looking to progress their career, with a clear pathway to develop into a Director-level position as the business continues to grow.

The Role

You will be responsible for the day-to-day management and coordination of grounds maintenance operations, working closely with clients, contract managers, site teams, operatives, subcontractors and the wider Operations Team.

Key responsibilities include:

* Liaising with client sites and managers to understand their grounds maintenance requirements and ensure works are planned and delivered to agreed specifications.
* Planning and coordinating grounds maintenance schedules across multiple client sites, ensuring all scheduled works are completed within agreed timescales.
* Organising labour, subcontractors, plant, machinery, vehicles and equipment to ensure contracts are resourced effectively.
* Managing operational teams and ensuring operatives are working efficiently and maintaining the required standards across all sites.
* Regularly visiting client sites throughout the UK to monitor standards, productivity and contract performance, with occasional overnight stays and flexibility around working hours.
* Carrying out site inspections and audits to ensure grounds maintenance standards are being consistently achieved.
* Managing seasonal workloads and ensuring resources are effectively planned around peaks in demand, including grass cutting, hedge maintenance, pruning, leaf clearance and winter works.
* Managing operatives, subcontractors and suppliers, ensuring works are completed safely, efficiently and to the required standard.
* Supporting Health & Safety requirements, including site inspections, accident, incident and near-miss reporting.
* Monitoring timesheets, overtime and labour utilisation to ensure working hours are accurately recorded and managed effectively.
* Ensuring job records, site paperwork, photographs and supporting evidence are completed accurately and on time.
* Monitoring contract performance and addressing any service issues quickly and professionally.
* Maintaining high standards of grounds maintenance, presentation, quality and environmental compliance across all client sites.
* Ensuring plant, machinery and vehicles are properly maintained, available when required and downtime is minimised.
* Working closely with clients to resolve issues, respond to changing requirements and maintain strong long-term relationships.
* Identifying opportunities for additional works and upselling, helping to increase revenue from existing contracts.
* Supporting the commercial performance of contracts by monitoring labour, resources and operational costs.
* Identifying opportunities to improve operational efficiency, productivity and service delivery as the business continues to grow.

About You

The successful candidate will have experience in a grounds maintenance, horticultural or similar operational environment, ideally with previous experience managing commercial grounds maintenance contracts and teams.

You will need:

* Strong knowledge of commercial grounds maintenance operations.
* Experience managing multiple sites, contracts and operational teams.
* Strong people-management skills with experience managing operatives, subcontractors and suppliers.
* Excellent organisational and planning abilities.
* Good knowledge of seasonal grounds maintenance requirements and the ability to plan resources accordingly.
* Strong commercial awareness, including the ability to manage labour, resources, costs and additional works.
* Good understanding of Health & Safety requirements within a grounds maintenance environment.
* Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
* The ability to manage multiple contracts, sites and priorities effectively.
* A proactive, hands-on approach to operational management.
* A flexible approach to travel, including regular UK site visits and occasional overnight stays.
* A full UK driving licence.

Career Progression

This role offers genuine long-term career progression for the right individual.

As you establish yourself within the business and take greater ownership of operations, clients, teams and commercial performance, there is a clear pathway towards a Director position.

The opportunity would suit an ambitious Contracts Manager, Operations Manager or Senior Contract Manager who wants to grow with the business, take on increasing responsibility and ultimately play a key role in its future direction.

You will have the opportunity to develop the operational side of the business, improve systems and processes, build high-performing teams, strengthen client relationships and contribute directly to continued growth.

The Opportunity

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Grounds Maintenance Contracts Manager, Operations Manager, Senior Contract Manager or Senior Site Manager to join a growing business where there is genuine scope to develop your career.

If you are commercially minded, highly organised and enjoy managing people, clients and operational teams within the grounds maintenance industry, this could be an ideal next step — particularly for someone with ambitions to progress into a senior leadership and ultimately Director-level role.

If you are ready to take the next step in your grounds maintenance career and grow with an ambitious business, we would like to hear from you.