Our client is a worldwide leader in project management, manufacturing, installation of building envelope systems, and engineering services.
They are seeking a Director of Operations for the US, who will provide strong, visible commercial leadership across the US embedding a commercial strategy in line with business plans, aims, and objectives. The candidate can be in the Greater Minneapolis, MN area OR the Greater Hartford, CT area.
The Director of Operations will maximize the financial effectiveness and profitability of the business area through the diligent application of agreed contractual and commercial practices and with the careful management of risk from the tender stage through to completion. They will support the group's drive to create profitable and sustainable growth, generating a positive cash flow and maintaining an equitable trading risk profile.
Key Position Responsibilities • Fully establish, develop, and deploy an effective commercial service with clear accountabilities, key priorities, and an organizational design/team, governance structure, and consistent approach. • Provide technical excellence, training, and support to the team, developing a highly effective and knowledgeable commercial skillset with the blend of experience and capability to meet project needs. • Implement the "Commercial Playbook" - a set of guiding principles, processes, and governance that are consistently deployed across the Group, bringing greater commercial control and risk management to the business. • Provide a transparent risk and opportunity schedule for the US that brings greater focus and leadership accountability for managing the key strategic and operational issues. • Provide greater assurance to high-risk projects with a commercial strategy and accountable leadership plan to close out in line, or ahead of budgeted expectations. • Embed a robust project review process across all projects, including project-level risk and opportunity schedules and accurate cashflow forecasts. Identify early warnings and take quick and appropriate action to protect the group's position. • Ensure commercial reporting across all projects is accurate, consistent, and provided promptly to support the preparation of monthly management accounts information. • Provide leadership in driving early projects through to satisfactory contracts, and oversight in monitoring the financial performance of live projects. • Evaluate the challenges faced by the company, take actions to reduce risks, and develop opportunities. • Drive key performance indicators across all areas of the function to ensure that projects are delivered on cost and on time to the highest standards. • Working with Finance, put in place a cash leadership action plan with greater emphasis on project forecasting accuracy, cash collection, improved commercial [payment] terms, and improved reporting tools to enable clear ownership and accountability for positive cash generation. • Support the implementation of the group's digital transformation agenda. • Ensure contract documents are properly executed before project commencement and that from contract award a robust 'budget to build' is in place and a seamless handover from tender/work winning teams to project execution/delivery teams has taken place. • Establish equitable business terms with key customer groups including contract 'red-lines' / bonding strategy. • Embed a robust work-winning process across all tenders, including the negotiation of contract terms with an acceptable risk profile.
Position Specific Authorities • Speak on behalf of the company to external key stakeholders; develop and maintain industry-wide relationships. • Represent the company to customers. • Monthly sign-off of Project Reviews. • Subject to delegation of authority limitations:
(a) approve any financial costs and interim payments;
(b) execute contract documents;
(c) staff vacancies and appointments;
(d) approve final accounts in line with PR/budget position;
(e) purchase orders;
(f) employment of certain external advisors - commercial consultants / legal;
(g) approval of staff expenses and leave; and
(h) approval and authorization of tenders.
Qualifications
Bachelor of Science, Business + Relevant Professional Experience