Role Purpose
The Managing Director is responsible for the strategic leadership, operational performance and commercial success of the Legionella consultancy business. The postholder will lead the organisation in delivering compliant, high-quality water hygiene and Legionella risk management services across the UK, while ensuring strong governance, sustainable growth, financial control and excellent client service. The role carries overall accountability for legal and regulatory compliance, including the effective application of relevant UK guidance and duties relating to Legionella control, health and safety, and company director responsibilities.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic leadership: Set and deliver the business strategy, vision and objectives for the consultancy, ensuring alignment with parent company expectations.
- Commercial performance: Hold overall accountability for revenue growth, profitability, budgeting, forecasting, pricing strategy and financial performance.
- Operational management: Oversee day-to-day operations to ensure the consistent delivery of Legionella risk assessments, consultancy, monitoring, auditing, training and associated services.
- Compliance and governance: Ensure the company operates in line with applicable legal, regulatory and industry requirements, including company director duties, health and safety obligations, and relevant Legionella guidance such as ACOP L8 and HSG274.
- Technical assurance: Maintain oversight of technical standards, service quality, audit readiness and competence frameworks to ensure consultancy outputs are robust, defensible and client-focused.
- Leadership and culture: Lead, develop and inspire the senior leadership team and wider workforce, promoting a high-performance, safety-led and customer-focused culture.
- Client and stakeholder management: Build and maintain strong relationships with key clients, partners, regulators, industry bodies and other stakeholders.
- Risk management: Identify, assess and manage strategic, operational, financial, legal and reputational risks, ensuring appropriate controls and assurance mechanisms are in place.
- Business development: Drive market growth through new business acquisition, client retention, service diversification and strategic partnerships.
- Performance reporting: Provide regular and accurate updates to the Group COO on business performance, risks, compliance, resource needs and strategic opportunities.
Person Specification
Essential
- Significant senior leadership experience, ideally within Legionella consultancy, water hygiene, facilities compliance, environmental services or a related technical consultancy sector.
- Proven track record of leading business growth, operational performance and financial delivery at senior level.
- Strong understanding of UK Legionella control requirements and guidance, including the principles of ACOP L8 and HSG274.
- Experience of leading regulated, safety-critical or compliance-focused service operations.
- Excellent commercial acumen, including budget ownership, contract oversight and strategic planning.
- Strong people leadership skills, with experience of managing senior managers and developing high-performing teams.
- Excellent communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to balance strategic thinking with operational delivery and continuous improvement.
- Understanding of corporate governance, risk management and the legal duties of company directors in the UK.
Desirable
- Degree or professional qualification in engineering, environmental health, building services, health and safety, business management or a related discipline.
- Membership of a relevant professional body.
- Experience working with public sector, healthcare, education, housing, FM or industrial sector clients.
- Knowledge of wider water safety, compliance, audit and assurance frameworks.
Key Competencies
- Strategic leadership and decision-making
- Commercial awareness and financial stewardship
- Operational excellence and accountability
- Risk-based thinking and governance
- Technical credibility and quality focus
- Relationship management and client focus
- Team leadership, coaching and succession planning
- Resilience, judgement and integrity
Working Arrangements
This role will predominately based at the company’s South Central head office, in addition to client and service team meetings. The postholder will be expected to act as a visible leader for the business, uphold professional standards, and represent the company credibly with clients, regulators and industry stakeholders.
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