Operations Manager / Contracts Manager (Gas Infrastructure)

Location: Warrington (North West)

Employment Type: Permanent or Freelance

 We are seeking an experienced Operations Manager or Contracts Manager to lead a significant portfolio of infrastructure projects for a leading main contractor based in Warrington.

 This is a senior leadership position with full operational responsibility for a portfolio valued at approximately £30–40 million, overseeing projects from pre-construction and tender award through to successful delivery and final completion.

Key Responsibilities

• Take full ownership of a £30–40 million portfolio of works, ensuring projects are delivered safely, on programme, within budget, and to the highest quality standards.
• Provide strategic leadership across multiple concurrent projects from front-end engagement and contract award through to project completion and handover.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, stakeholders, supply chain partners, and internal departments.
• Drive operational performance, commercial success, programme delivery, and continuous improvement across the portfolio.
• Work closely with pre-construction, estimating, commercial, and planning teams to ensure successful mobilisation and delivery of new projects.
• Ensure full compliance with health, safety, environmental, and quality standards.
• Manage project risk, resource planning, forecasting, and financial performance across the portfolio.
• Identify opportunities for business growth and support future work-winning activities.

Candidate Profile

• Proven experience as an Operations Manager, Contracts Manager, or Senior Project Leader within a main contractor environment.
• Demonstrable experience managing large-scale infrastructure or utilities portfolios valued at £30–40 million or more.
• Strong leadership capability with experience managing teams of around 100 people across multiple projects.
• Track record of delivering projects from pre-construction through to completion.
• Excellent commercial awareness with a strong understanding of NEC and/or other standard forms of contract.
• Exceptional stakeholder management, communication, and organisational skills.
• Ability to lead strategically while maintaining operational excellence across a diverse portfolio.

Desirable Experience

• Strong background within the gas sector or wider utilities industry.
• Experience delivering gas transmission, gas distribution, energy infrastructure, or other major utility projects.

 If you are interested please do reach out with your CV [email protected]