Strategic Operations Director

Annual salary: up to £

Salary: £120,000 per annum, plus £7,800 car allowance, and company benefits.

Location:

Hybrid Role, with travel as required.

Contract:

Permanent, full time (Monday - Friday).

Mears Group is seeking a Strategic Operations Director to join a newly established central specialist team. This team plays a pivotal role in enhancing contract performance, strengthening commercial outcomes and supporting the successful resolution of complex contractual matters across the organisation. This is a senior, high‑influence role designed for an experienced operational leader who understands how complex, long‑term service contracts work in practice.

• Providing hands‑on support within complex or evolving contracts to identify commercial, contractual and operational improvement opportunities
• Translating financial and contractual insight into clear, practical action plans that leaders and teams can execute on site
• Driving margin improvement through operational efficiency, cost control and service optimisation, without compromising service quality or client relationships
• Supporting pricing reviews, contract variations, procurement, mobilisation, re‑tendering and commercial negotiations, including dispute resolution where necessary
• Interpreting contractual frameworks and advising on risk, compliance and obligations in a proportionate, operationally grounded way
• Acting as a senior escalation point for commercial, contractual and client‑related matters, providing calm, balanced and solutions‑focused leadership
• Contributing to bids, tenders and growth initiatives, ensuring robust and deliverable commercial and contractual positioning
• Strengthening governance, reporting, risk management and performance oversight, supporting consistency and good practice across the organisation

This role is specifically suited to a senior operational leader who has led complex services and understands the commercial and contractual realities that sit behind them. You will bring:

• Senior leadership experience within housing, property services, facilities management, infrastructure, logistics or similarly contract‑led environments
• Proven experience owning or significantly influencing P&L performance and contract profitability
• A strong track record of improving performance and margin within complex, regulated or multi‑stakeholder service environments
• The ability to bridge operational delivery, commercial finance and contractual requirements, bringing clarity and direction to complex issues
• Experience managing long‑term contracts and senior client relationships
• Exposure to procurement, mobilisation, service improvement or re‑tendering activity
• Practical contractual expertise, with the confidence to interpret and apply contractual frameworks in real‑world operational settings
• A collaborative, values‑led leadership style, aligned with Mears’ commitment to people, communities and long‑term partnerships

• Family friendly policy to include enhanced maternity/paternity leave and much more
• Generous Pension Scheme
• Sick Pay
• Refer a friend scheme (total award £1000)
• Share saver scheme
• Eye test vouchers
• Employee Assistance Programme (Access to Free counselling service)
• Wellbeing service (Access to trained mental health & wellbeing advisors)
• Mears Annual Family Fun Day for you and your family to places like Blair Drummond Safari Park, M&Ds Theme park, fully paid for including lunch
• Mears Rewards – A performance recognition platform whereby you can be rewarded in high street vouchers
• Volunteering Leave – Mears supports employees to undertake volunteering in the community, in support of our social value commitment
• Excellent training and development opportunities
• 25 days holiday entitlement along with bank holidays

All our roles require candidates to have the entitlement to work within the UK, Mears does not currently offer visa sponsorship. To drive a Mears vehicle, you must be aged over 21 have held your licence over 3 months and have less than 9 points. Candidates should be aware that all our roles are subject to relevant Background, Identity & Security checks before commencement of…