Operations Manager

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Job Description

Operations Manager

Bicester, UK | Hybrid | Full-time

Who we are:

Ashton Fire is a dynamic and rapidly developing Fire Safety and Engineering Consultancy. Operating from an ethical platform, our social and environmental values are at the core of our organisation and service delivery. We strive to provide the highest quality, morally and ethically balanced service to our clients whilst maintaining a team focused working environment.

We operate as a single Team, but to better identify the role, individual tasks have been allocated specifically to ensure accountability. A driving ambition of Ashton Fire is that we are one Team, irrespective of discipline (Fire Risk Assessor, Consultant, Engineer, Operations, People, Projects or Finance).

About the role:

The principal responsibility of the role will be to lead day-to-day operational functions across the business. Ensuring that our Contracts, Integrated Manager System, IT arrangements, accreditations and operational processes are implemented effectively, maintained and continually improved.

Support and strategic direction will be provided by your Manager and the Senior Leadership Team, and full training will be offered to build up competency for future progression.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the day-to-day operations function, ensuring effective delivery of systems, processes and controls
• Lead Contracts Management and administration, providing direct support to Senior Operations Manager and Managing Director.
• Take ownership of our Integrated Management System and ensure policies and procedures are applied across the business.
• Oversee our accreditations, affiliations and certifications ensuring ongoing compliance and timely renewal.
• Support the commercial and projects teams in tendering new business.

Main Duties:

Day-to-Day Operations

• Support the Senior Operations Manager in highlighting and implementing continuous improvement of operational systems, processes, and controls across the business, ensuring scalability, efficiency, and alignment with business growth objectives.
• Highlight operational risk and support implementation of robust controls and contingency measures to protect business operations and maintain service delivery.
• Drive operational projects and initiatives that support business objectives, managing resources, timelines, and stakeholder engagement to ensure successful implementation.

Contracts Management

• Review, manage, and administer client contracts to ensure compliance with agreed terms and conditions. Liaise with legal, commercial, and operational teams to resolve contractual issues and ensure obligations are met.

• Maintain an accurate and comprehensive contracts register, capturing all essential contract details including values, dates, terms, and ownership, and conducting regular audits to ensure data integrity
• Ensure effective communication of contractual obligations, appointments, and changes to project and finance teams, providing timely updates to support delivery and financial accuracy.

Integrated Management System

• Ensure implementation and application of the IMS policies and procedures across the team.
• Manage and lead on internal and external audits for ISO 9001 (Quality) and ISO 14001 (Environment), ensure non-conformances, actions, and improvements are recorded, monitored, and closed out via the improvements register.
• Manage environmental compliance and submit data annually to support maintaining our climate partner certified accreditation.
• Identify and implement opportunities for environmental improvement across the business to support our ISO 14001 and BCorp commitments.
• Maintain document control processes, templates, and version control across the business.
• Drive the implementation of our CSR objectives and align us with the core principles of The Good Business Charter and BCORP.

Accreditations, Affiliations & Certifications

• Maintain compliance with relevant accreditations, affiliations, and certifications, ensuring portals, evidence and documentation are accurate and complete. Including: Constructionline, BAFE, FIA, IFE, ARMA, Building a Safer Future, BCorp and Climate Partner.
• Proactively identify and evaluate new accreditation opportunities that align with business objectives, leading implementation efforts to achieve and maintain industry certifications and standards.

Tenders

• Complete operational elements for tenders including pre-qualification and organisational competency questionnaires, H&S and environmental responses, review terms of appointment and contractual details.
• Handover specific contractual obligations to the projects team that need to be implemented on commencement.
• Oversee the management and maintenance of external client portals, ensuring timely tender submissions while proactively identifying and communicating relevant commercial opportunities to workstream leads.

General

• Support implementation and delivery of the Operations Strategy
• Provide flexible support across all operational functions as needed to address changing business requirements and support company growth
• Directly manage the Operations Administrator, overseeing their day-to-day responsibilities ensuring tasks are completed and supporting their professional development through setting objectives and conducting performance reviews.
• Ongoing support to the Senior Operations Manager to achieve the business objectives.

Skills you will bring:

Essential requirements

• Experience in contract administration and commercial awareness
• Strong working knowledge of ISO management systems (9001 / 14001 essential).
• Ability to manage competing priorities and work autonomously.
• Upbeat personality with a high level of integrity and ethics.
• Excellent organisation, communication and time management skills.
• Flexible on taking on new tasks outside the core role.
• Multi-tasking team player.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Word, Excel and Outlook.
• Fluent English (spoken, written and comprehension).

Perks & benefits:

Most of our benefits are available to all employees from day one of employment:

• Hybrid Approach: Work a blend of where you're most productive- whether from home or the office, the choice is yours
• 9-Day Fortnight: Enjoy an extra day off every two weeks, giving you more time to focus on what matters most
• Core Hours: Shape your workweek around our flexible core hours, making it easier to balance work and life
• 25 Days Holiday: Take time to recharge with 25 days holiday (+ bank holidays), rising to 30 days at 9 years' service
• Flexible Bank Holidays: Choose when to take your bank holidays, giving you the freedom to celebrate what matters to you
• Enhanced Pension: Enjoy peace of mind for the future with 6% employer pension contributions, rising to 8% at 5 years' service
• Enhanced Parental Leave: Enhanced maternity leave and 4 weeks of fully paid paternity leave
• Private Medical: Comprehensive health coverage through Bupa, plus access to our health cash plan
• Mental Health Support: 24/7 access to medical advice through our Employee Assistance Programme
• Bonus Scheme: Annual discretionary bonus based on both company and personal performance
• Professional Registration Scheme: Bonus scheme to award for becoming chartered and registering for membership with professional institutions
• Christmas Shutdown: Enjoy a company-wide break between Christmas and New Year on top of your annual leave
• Company Events: Monthly socials with your local office and three company-wide events per year

At Ashton Fire, we are committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace, providing equal opportunities where everyone feels valued and respected. We welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of age (within legal limits), disability, gender identity, marital status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. We believe that a diverse team brings a wide range of perspectives, experiences, and ideas - and that's what drives innovation and excellence in everything we do.