Construction Director
Executive Leadership Role | Utility Infrastructure Delivery
The Opportunity
A rare and senior leadership opportunity has arisen for an experienced Director of Construction to take full operational responsibility for a regional utility infrastructure business spanning Somerset, Wiltshire, Dorset and Hampshire.
Reporting directly to the CEO and operating as part of the Executive Team, this role will lead the company’s in-house construction division, overseeing end-to-end infrastructure delivery across rural counties.
This is a high-impact, execution-driven role responsible for ensuring construction programmes are delivered safely, efficiently and at pace while maintaining strict capital discipline and operational performance. You will lead a sizeable direct labour workforce and senior leadership team, translating corporate strategy into clear, deliverable construction programmes.
The Business
Our client is a family owned utility infrastructure business delivering large-scale network construction across rural communities. With significant capital investment and ambitious growth plans, the organisation is scaling its construction capability to deliver complex utility infrastructure programmes at pace while maintaining operational discipline, cost control and delivery certainty. This role will play a critical part in shaping how the construction division evolves as the business grows.
The Role
As Construction Director, you will take full accountability for the division, overseeing a team of circa 150 staff from management to their direct labour force. Key responsibilities include:
Construction Strategy & Delivery
Develop and implement construction strategies aligned with company growth and capital deployment plans
Ensure delivery models are practical, scalable and capable of operating at pace
Identify opportunities to strengthen the long-term value of the construction operation Leadership & Organisational Development
Provide visible leadership across geographically dispersed construction teams
Lead and develop senior operational leadership including Heads of Construction and Delivery
Build scalable organisational structures as delivery volumes increase Programme Performance & Control
Establish clear programme governance, delivery KPIs and operational reporting
Maintain transparent dashboards tracking progress, cost and risk across delivery programmes
Drive a culture of accountability, pace and execution across construction teams Capital Management & Cost Discipline
Maintain strong capital governance across construction delivery
Manage cost efficiency, resource utilisation, fleet performance and delivery productivity
Work closely with the CEO, CFO and commercial finance teams on CapEx deployment and forecasting Operational Improvement
Lead continuous improvement initiatives to increase productivity and delivery predictability
Optimise operational systems, processes and delivery structures Executive Leadership
Contribute to strategic decision making as part of the Executive Team
Provide the Board with clear insight on delivery performance, risk and investment requirements
Support strategic planning including scaling delivery capacity as market conditions evolve Measures of Success
Performance in the role will be measured against clear delivery and operational outcomes, including:
Infrastructure delivery achieved on time and within agreed budgets
Delivery teams operating at 20–30% margin against benchmark rate cards
Reliable and predictable programme forecasting
Strong capital efficiency and cost-per-customer metrics
Effective utilisation of labour, plant and contractor resources
Excellent safety and quality performance
Clear and trusted reporting to the Executive Team and Board The Ideal Candidate
We are seeking a senior infrastructure leader with strong operational and commercial capability who can drive large-scale delivery programmes.
You will bring:
Senior leadership experience within a utilities contractor - Water, Power, Gas, Solar or Telecoms
Proven track record delivering multi-site infrastructure programmes at scale
Strong understanding of CapEx management, construction cost control and delivery governance
Experience building and leading large operational teams
Ability to operate confidently at Executive and Board level
Eye for detail - strong analytical capability and operational systems thinking
Passion for the countryside and rural communities Salary and Package
Salary: £120k - £150k
Bonus: up to 30%
Travel allowance
Accommodation allowance
Pension, Vitality Healthcare Interested?
Apply now to discuss this opportunity in confidence and more detail