Overview
Operations Manager – COLAS RAIL UK, Birmingham, GBR. Permanent contract. Posting Start Date: 20/04/2026.
Colas Rail UK values diversity, inclusion and collaboration, and seeks a capable Operations Manager to lead multi-disciplinary light rail projects within the Midland Metro Alliance, ensuring safety, quality, environment, cost and programme requirements are met. Based in Birmingham, you will provide operational leadership across project teams and supply chain partners, embedding robust processes, maintaining strong stakeholder relationships, and driving a high-performance, alliance-based culture.
Responsibilities and requirements below outline what the role involves and what is needed to succeed.
Purpose of the Role
The Operations Manager is responsible for leading the safe, efficient, and collaborative delivery of multi-disciplinary light rail projects within the Midland Metro Alliance, ensuring all works are completed in line with safety, quality, environmental, commercial, and programme requirements. The role provides operational leadership across project teams and supply chain partners, embedding robust processes, maintaining strong stakeholder and client relationships, and driving a high-performance, alliance-based culture. Through effective resource management, governance, and financial control, the Operations Manager ensures projects are delivered to time, cost, and quality expectations while supporting the successful delivery of the wider programme. The role is based in Birmingham.
Person Specification
What attributes and skills are we looking for?
* Experience of leading large multi-disciplinary operational/delivery teams.
* Knowledge of safety, quality, and environmental procedures.
* Experience of working in a collaborative environment.
* Recognised Operational and/or Project Management experience and/or qualification (desirable).
* Membership (or working towards membership) towards professional body such as ICE, APM etc. (desirable).
Key Responsibilities
* Proven ability to lead the safe and environmentally responsible delivery of light rail or infrastructure projects to time, cost, and quality standards in line with Alliance principles.
* Strong capability in developing, implementing, and embedding operational processes and procedures across complex programmes (e.g., lifting operations, plant management).
* Demonstrated experience in supply chain leadership and relationship management across multi-disciplinary delivery environments.
* Ability to manage complex interfaces across multiple workstreams and stakeholders, ensuring alignment and optimisation of construction activities.
* Excellent stakeholder and client engagement skills, particularly within public sector or transport authorities (e.g. WMCA).
* Strong commercial awareness with experience managing project budgets, change control, and risk in collaboration with commercial teams.
* Proven leadership in building, managing, and developing high-performing multidisciplinary teams (including direct and agency staff).
* Ability to establish and maintain effective project controls, governance, and risk management frameworks compliant with rail and statutory standards.
* Strong communication and coordination skills to manage internal and external stakeholders and ensure contractual obligations are met.
What We Offer
* Competitive Salary
* 26 days Annual Leave
* Industry leading Life Assurance
* Healthcare Cash Plan
* Wellbeing Employee Assistant Programme
* Pension Scheme
* Eye Care Vouchers
* Long Service Award
* Season Ticket Loan
* Occupational Health Service
This is an exciting opportunity to build a career in the rail industry. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace and encourage applications from all backgrounds.
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