Operations Manager, Projects Division
Finnmark Location: Spennymoor, County Durham (with travel to project sites nationwide)
Salary: £45,000 – £50,000 DOE + benefits
Contract: Full-time, permanent
Reports to: Managing Director, Projects Division
About the Role:
Finnmark's Projects Division delivers high-end, design-led installations for clients across the UK.
The division is currently staffed by 28 team members across 5 departments, and as Operations Manager you'll work directly alongside the Managing Director as their right hand - their eyes and ears across the division - owning, honing and continuously improving our processes across all five departments, from the initial point of sale right through to aftersales care.
This is a role for someone who thrives on structure, accountability and standards.
You'll ensure department heads stay on top of all compliance relating to SHEF (Safety, Health, Environment and Fire) and project delivery timelines, attend live construction sites to oversee SHEF in practice, and report directly to the MD on operational performance across the full project lifecycle.
Key Responsibilities:
- Act as the Managing Director's trusted second, providing honest, accurate visibility of operational and compliance performance across the division
- Own, refine and continuously improve operational processes across all 5 departments - Sales, Design, Project Coordination, Workshop and Installations - spanning the full journey from point of sale through to aftersales
- Lead SHEF compliance across the division, ensuring health & safety, fire safety and environmental standards are embedded in everything we do
- Attend live construction sites to oversee on-site SHEF compliance, conduct inspections and ensure safe systems of work are being followed
- Hold the 5 department heads accountable for compliance obligations and project delivery timelines, providing structured oversight and support across a 28-strong team Develop, maintain and report on KPIs covering operational performance, compliance status and project milestones
- Support the business through ISO firststage (Stage 1) audit preparation and ongoing management system development
- Conduct internal audits and risk assessments across live projects nationwide Investigate incidents and near-misses, driving corrective actions and lessonslearned back into our processes
- Act as the central point of coordination between departments, removing bottlenecks and ensuring smooth handovers at every stage
- Champion a culture of quality, safety and continuous improvement across the division
What We're Looking For:
Essential:
- NEBOSH General Certificate (or equivalent) in Health & Safety
- NEBOSH Fire Safety Certificate (or equivalent fire risk management qualification)
- SSSTS as a minimum (SMSTS strongly preferred) for on-site construction SHEF oversight
- Environmental management knowledge and practical experience (e.g. IEMA or equivalent)
- Experience preparing for and supporting ISO certification audits, particularly Stage 1, ideally across ISO 9001, 14001 and/or 45001
- Proven background in high-end construction, fit-out or project management with national coverage
- Demonstrable experience owning and improving cross-departmental processes end to end
- Strong reporting skills; comfortable building dashboards, compliance registers and management reports for director level
- Exceptionally organised, with the confidence to hold senior colleagues to account on compliance and deadlines
- Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel to sites nationwide
Desirable:
- SMSTS (Site Management Safety Training Scheme)
- Internal auditor qualification (ISO 9001 / 14001 / 45001)
- CSCS card
- Knowledge of the joinery industry
- Experience in premium or design-led product installation environments
Who You Are
You're highly organised and process-driven, but pragmatic with it. You improve systems because they make projects run better, not for the sake of paperwork.
You're trusted implicitly: the MD needs someone whose reporting they never have to second-guess. You're comfortable challenging department heads constructively, keeping compliance and delivery timelines front of mind without slowing the business down, and equally at home in the Spennymoor office or walking a live site in your boots.
What We Offer
- £45,000 – £50,000 depending on experience
- Mileage and expenses paid for site travel, or use of a company pool van
- Dog-friendly office
- Statutory holiday entitlement with buy-back scheme
- Flexi-time, company pension, salary sacrifice program, health and wellness facilites
- A genuine seat at the top table, working directly with the MD to shape and own the operational backbone of a growing, quality obsessed projects division
How to Apply
Apply directly via Indeed, sending your CV and a short covering note telling us about a process you've improved and the difference it made.
Finnmark is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates.
Pay: £45,000.00-£50,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
