Head of Operations

Location:

West Midlands, UK

Are you a hands-on leader ready to put your stamp on a business from top to bottom?

Having grown organically into a highly successful operation with over 60 staff, we are now preparing for our next phase of growth, which includes future business acquisitions. However, we have reached a critical inflection point: to successfully execute this next phase of growth, the Directors must back from daily operations.

We have outgrown our original processes. We are now looking for a pragmatic and organised leader to work with our talented team to professionalise our operations across the entire business.

This role comes with a clear, defined pathway to Operations Director (with future P&L responsibility) for the right candidate who proves they can successfully build and run this operational foundation.

• £55,000 - £75,000 basic salary (tailored to whether you are stepping up or already proven at this level).
• Performance bonuses tied to operational milestones.
• Company car allowance.

We are Ferris UK, a highly successful, family-run SME construction company specialised in servicing the insurance home claims industry. With circa 60 employees split across our office and trade teams, we pride ourselves on a close-knit, supportive culture coupled with an ambitious drive to succeed. Having experienced rapid growth over the past 10 years, our Directors are now focused on high-level strategy - meaning we are looking for you to drive our next phase of operational excellence.

This is a key leadership role within a fast-paced environment where you will have the autonomy to shape operations, influence our culture, and deliver meaningful change. You will lead and integrate 3 core areas of the business:
Construction Delivery, Customer Service, and Compliance. Strong communication and organisation skills, and the ability to build and manage robust processes is paramount.

• The "Tidy Up" (Process Implementation):
  Enforcing consistent processes across the business. You will take planned processes, communicate them clearly, secure buy-in from the team, and successfully embed them into daily routines so they become habit.
• Cross-Workforce Leadership:
  Bridging the gap between our site and office teams. You will manage and unify both construction (trade) and administrative (office) teams, acting as a visible, hands‑on manager rather than just issuing orders from a desk.
• Training, Onboarding and Retention:
  People are our most valuable asset. You’ll be tasked with overhauling, building, and managing robust staff induction and ongoing training programmes to ensure our high standards remain uncompromising as we grow, and our best people remain engaged and happy.
• Mentorship and Development:
  We have some incredibly talented rising stars currently in place. They have raw talent and drive, but need your seasoned management experience to mentor them, help them lead effectively, and reach their full potential.

Practical experience and cultural fit are prioritised over paper qualifications. To succeed here, you must be:

• SME Ready:
  You must be comfortable and effective working without massive corporate support structures.
• High Emotional Intelligence (EQ):
  Diplomatic but firm; capable of enforcing rules and holding staff accountable without creating unnecessary friction.
• Resilient & Consistent:
  Possesses the grit to follow up on the mundane details and repeatedly enforce standards until they become habit.
• A Broad Communicator:
  Capable of translating strategy from the Directors and breaking it down into practical, actionable steps for both a site foreman and an administrative coordinator.

• Health & Safety: IOSH Managing Safely or NEBOSH General/Construction Certificate.
• Leadership: ILM (Level 5+) or CMI management qualifications.
• Process Methodology:
  Lean Six Sigma (Yellow/Green Belt) or general project management certifications (e.g., PRINCE2, Agile) demonstrating a structured approach to work.

If you are an ambitious operations professional ready to put your stamp on our business and build the foundations for our next phase of growth, apply today and let’s have a sensible conversation.