Operations Director

Wood is currently looking for an Operations Director to join one of our key service lines within our Operations Business Unit - Operated Assets. The Operated Assets Service Line is an exciting and expanding area of our business, providing critical operations services to the energy sector – including duty holder, managed service and TAR delivery. If you are looking for a role where the secured pipeline of work is extremely stable and are a strong people leader with great inter-personal communication and influencing skills then this could be an opportunity for you. What Wood can provide is an opportunity to develop internally with clear development goals which put you in the driving seat. We can also offer Hybrid working to suit your needs with a minimum of 2 days of your working week being able to be WFH if you so wish. The role will predominantly be based in Aberdeen with occasional travel to various sites or platforms within your area of responsibility.

What we would wish from you in return is extensive experience working with and for Operators in the UKCS. We would need someone who is comfortable dealing with senior stakeholders, both internal and external and someone who is comfortable in the Duty Holder and Managed assets space. A keen interest in energy transition an entrepreneurial approach to what this can bring to Wood.

The ideal candidate will direct and guide the growth, development and delivery performance across region, supporting the development of strategy and delivering related business plans. You will be accountable for safety, technical and financial performance across region, assuming budgetary and P&L responsibility where required and demonstrating clear safety leadership; achieving monthly and annual targets and embedding company values. You will provide guidance and direction to management and support teams in the day to day management of delivery, ensuring appropriate controls and governance are in place and ensuring Wood is working to the highest possible standards of integrity, safety, quality and operational excellence. You will produce solutions to complex strategic, contractual, technical, commercial, operational and personnel related challenges which impact on customer service and performance. Manages ongoing business, responsible for budget setting and delivery, contracts, capacity and resource management, and capability management. May be delivering a number of services and capabilities, may manage a single major office or facility or multiple smaller offices / facilities.

The key delievery aspects of the role fall under the following 3 headers:

Operational Delivery

Product Lead for the Duty Holder business, delivering consistent development and deployment of the Wood solution.  Act as pursute lead on new opportunities targted by Wood Duty Holder business.  Owner of Regulation 5 gap action plan, and then Management of all aspect there after.  Champion of Continuous Improvement within the Duty Holder Business  P & L responsibility with associated commercial and financial accountability including revenue delivery, margin and overhead management, budget and forecast determination and attainment, risk and opportunity reviews, cost controls, accounts payable/billing and cash collection Deliver performance management objectives, agreed business plans, budget and targets and report on both opportunities and risks impacting on the business.  Provides mid-term direction to operational management team(s) in order to meet business plan goals Maintain operational integrity and excellence, ensuring robust governance, subcontractor management, and performance reporting. Work with business grouping leadership teams and operational managers to improve delivery performance and maximise delivery opportunities throughout Country/Region and wider business where required. Ensures robust business continuity and disaster recovery plans are in place and takes lead role in their activation and implementation as required With broad strategic direction, establishes annual business goals and strategies and prepares business plan for assigned location Ensures financial, safety, and quality controls and compliance to company policies. Establish and implement policies, and ensure appropriate governance mechanisms for continuous monitoring of their proper implementation Participate in technical audits and peer reviews Actively identifies, pursues and develop opportunities for innovation, such as digitalisation and technology use, work share and high value engineering centres, to bring value to Wood and customer Tracks risks and opportunities via registers and mitigation of current or emerging risks across country/Region to maximise performance. Ensure our people and the worksites at which they operate are safe and well managed. Ownership of HSSEA matters across assigned area: ensure HSSEA values are delivered and adhered to at all times, proactively leading and demonstrating safety behavioural values. Lead and focus the team to attain all HSE plans, supporting continuous improvement and ensuring legislative compliance. Support resolution of any legal claims in collaboration with legal and other relevant functions. Ensures robust Management of Change and builds a learning culture

Business Growth

Deliver growth in the areas of responsibility through close collaboration with Business Development. Develop and own business plan, and drive sales, bid and tender activity. In support of continued growth, ensure that the organisation develops responsive, dependable and cost effective services, servicing target markets, collaborating across business units and business groupings, and actively leveraging Wood solutions to address customer needs Foster and enhance customer relationships with open, honest and effective communications. Work with customer-facing teams to improve scope of work/offering, understand and deliver customer required level of services.  Oversees proposals and call-offs (may be individual projects) within delegation of authority, ensuring compliance with contracting policy and standards of ethical conduct.

Leadership

Is a champion and role model for ethical behaviour and compliance with applicable laws and policies. Ensure operations maintain a continued alignment with overall corporate policy, strategy and direction. Responsive to customer needs whilst ensuring the Company operates with the utmost integrity, in line with Code of Conduct, Company values and all applicable laws and policies. Facilitate open and effective communication to optimise delivery of objectives, maximise team performance and achieve continuous performance improvement, working closely with other areas of operation outwith assigned country/region to promote and enhance collaboration. Generate team spirit, enthusiasm and passion and pursue the eradication of unproductive practices and negative mind-sets to create a vibrant culture of positive thinking and attitudes. Overall accountability for effective recruitment, selection and retention of talent within assigned area Identify and support development of talent, effective performance and capability management of teams and direct reports, dealing with underperformance in a prompt, professional manner Responsible for ensuring employees within remit are competent to carry out assigned duties. Assume directorship appointments of legal entities within remit, executing Directorship accountabilities and responsibilities. Passionately pursue and support, demonstrate and embed company values.

Qualifications: 

Degree qualification in Engineering, Scientific Discipline, or related technical field OR degree qualified in a commercial/business discipline with significant experience in a technical organisation. Recognised and accredited management qualification

Knowledge, skills and experience:

Must have held Duty Holder position for a Safety Case or COMAH site.  Extensive track record of successful operational and strategic delivery within relevant industry sector  Broad and deep understanding of the industry and strong networking and relationship building capability  Experience of customer facing communication Strong relevant technical expertise or commercial/business management applied in a technical organisation Understanding of management systems  Knowledge of current HSSEA and other legislation as applicable in the industry  Team building skills – motivating people, proactively enabling cross functional best practice Ability to lead change programmes The ability to influence and challenge others to behave in ways consistent with the interest of the organisation Business awareness and commercial acumen to contribute to the competitive advantage of the business

Personal Attributes

Strong influencer, negotiator and mediator Flexible to respond and adapt to changing internal and external context Decisive, with ability to make decisions and follow through, ensuring learnings are captured Exceptional communicator both verbally and written Strong team builder, listens to needs of team, and capable of identifying and adopting best practices to engender a spirit of cooperation and energise people towards optimum performance Pragmatic in approach with a strong commercial bias and ability to balance commerciality with operational excellence  Safety focused with an uncompromising approach to risk management. Places the welfare of both internal and customer employees at the top of the agenda. Customer focused – develops sincere and open relationships with customers, current and potential; listens to customer needs and constantly striving to exceed expectations and add value Entrepreneurial approach - ability to identify opportunities Flexible to respond in agile ways to changing customer needs Ability to make decisions and follow through, ensuring learnings are captured A motivated self starter, who can self-direct when required, able to use own initiative and have autonomy to make appropriate decisions but also know when escalation is required. Critical thinker with problem solving abilities 

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