About the Role
This is an exceptional opportunity to join Connect Plus Services (CPS) as our Network Operations Director, leading the strategic and operational direction of one of the most significant and high-profile infrastructure networks in the UK. As custodians of the M25 under a 30‑year DBFO contract—now entering its final 15 years—you will be part of a project that offers not only scale and complexity, but also long-term stability, continuity, and the chance to make a lasting impact on a nationally critical asset.
In this role, you will guide the network operations function at a pivotal time, driving innovation, excellence, and collaboration across our teams and partners. With over 140,000 assets and an ISO 55001-certified management system, CPS offers an environment where ambitious leaders can shape how we operate, influence future direction, and champion new ways of working that improve safety, efficiency, and performance across the M25.
You will join a business powered by the strengths of Balfour Beatty, AtkinsRéalis and Egis, providing a unique blend of expertise, capability, and support. This is a role that promises variety, challenge, and excitement—no two days are the same—while offering clear opportunities for professional growth and long-term career development within a highly respected and secure joint venture.
With flexible working across our Leatherhead, South Mimms and Dartford offices, and regular engagement across the network, this position places you at the heart of one of the UK’s most important operational environments. If you are motivated by meaningful impact, inspired by complex challenges, and looking for a role that combines progression, purpose, and long-term stability, this is an opportunity to lead with confidence and shape the future of the M25.
Role Purpose:
This post leads our Network and Operations Directorate leading a team of 300 employees. This post is responsible for our incident & emergency response (labour, plant & vehicles), Network Security, Scheduling Hub and Control Room. It must strategically consider all incidents and stewardship of the network to continually improve the network function to its customer.
You will be leading teams responsible for several contractual & performance KPIs including Incident Response (Primary & Secondary); CAT 1 repairs (7 and 28 day); 7 Day Road space Accuracy; and minimising contractual payment penalties.
Accountabilities
A key senior leadership team member as the Director for our dynamic Network Operations Directorate which is critical to the safe and serviceable M25 network operations and Services.
This pivotal role leads a team of three hundred dedicated professionals, driving excellence across various critical functions. The role needs to strategically deliver and improve key customer focussed performance metrics which ensure safety hazards are eliminated and that customer delay is minimised.
Being one of the busiest motorways in Europe, it attracts a very important stakeholder focus and can require ministerial commitments and engagement, legal and contract representation and acumen.
Your role needs to showcase our performance whilst reducing the risk of significant penalty payment mechanisms which could directly affect the profitable success of the business.
You will need to Lead and inspire an enthusiastic team, ensuring exceptional performance and engagement with a direct reporting line of subject matter experts. The four key divisions you will oversee are ‘On road operations’, control room, network access, and network resilience – each essential to our mission. An exploration of a self delivery function is also a strategic delivery expectation to look to improve our services and be more efficient and effective with our resources.
You will leverage on your expert stakeholder management skills to navigate and resolve complex challenges with assurance. This role will allow you to play a vital role in guaranteeing the safety and reliability of road users’ journeys and contributing to our operational success.
The Four Key Focus Areas
• On road operations
1. Leading CPS’ on-road operations, delivering a safe network for our customers and reliable journey times. This includes responsibility for our Incident & Emergency Response, emergency repairs, winter gritting decisions and delivery across twenty-seven gritting routes.
• Scheduling Hub
2. We are in an exciting phase of improvement and how we manage the scheduling of our network.
3. The Scheduling team manage the planning of cylical, defect management and emergency works, ensuring the CPS team and supply chain, who work alongside us, have access to the network when we have a secure network.
4. There is also the responsibility of monitoring KPI compliance and risk management for our works.
• Control Room
5. Our control room is a 24/7 operation monitoring incidents and traffic activity on the network.
6. The team liaisie with National Highways Control Rooms around incidents, manage the chain of command, and dispatch resources as appropriate.
7. The team also play a key role providing insight and intelligence on network risk and incidents.
• Network resilience and security
8. The team are responsible for security and resilience of the Network (including CPS depots and offices) and delivering the contractual obligations. CPS Security team consults with several stakeholders around risks to the M25 network, including Connect Plus, National Highways and emergency services.
9. The team investigate criminal offences such as fly tipping, theft and suspected terrorist related activity and collaborate closely with the local Police and external agencies. Operate security patrols at Dartford Crossing, Dartford cycle services, Abnormal Loads and Dangerous Goods Movements from the Kent Marshalling Area.
10. Responsible for all our vehicles and fleet and deliver on behalf of BBATS, our duties under the Operators Licence.
Experience
Personal Attributes – Required
We work in a challenging environment with a wide range of employees and expect a lot from our people and whilst we are looking for someone who can demonstrate the below experience or capability, we offer support and development for all our employees.
11. Leadership in highways operations infrastructure, construction, or a similar industry with transferrable expertise
12. Demonstrated ability to resolve complex issues and make informed decisions quickly in a fast-paced, reactive environment.
13. Strong ability to engage and represent CPS effectively at all levels, including Board Members and client Executives and National Highways executives.
14. Capable of inspiring teams, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, and driving operational excellence
15. Exceptional ability to build relationships, collaborate with stakeholders, and manage diverse workforce dynamics.
16. Experience in leading multi-disciplinary teams, ensuring cohesion, and optimizing workforce performance.
17. Understanding of budgetary control, cost efficiency, and financial responsibility within an operational setting
18. Strong aptitude for promoting and upholding the highest safety standards and regulatory compliance.
19. Skilled in identifying and addressing safety concerns, proactively mitigating risks, and handling unexpected challenges.
20. Ability to be resilient and adaptable in a dynamic environment.
21. Emotional intelligent leader, with demonstratable skills to nurture and develop outcome focussed and positive teams.
Behavioural Competencies
Inspiring: Champions curiosity and continuous improvement, role modelling change and managing risks to achieve project outcomes.
Energising: Role models positive and energised project focussed attitudes towards and continuous improvement.
Challenging: seeks and advocates improvements to add value and drive continuous performance.
Challengeable: Encourage a culture of skilled challenging and seek to understand and explore challenge to enable improvement.
Influencing: Builds commitment and consensus, and role models CPS leadership behaviours to deliver our goals.
Why Work for Us?
At Connect Plus Services (CPS), you’ll be part of a world-class team maintaining and operating the M25, Europe’s busiest motorway. As a joint venture between Balfour Beatty, Atkins, and Egis, we play a vital role in keeping millions of journeys moving safely and efficiently.
A Career Like No Other
Working on the M25 offers unrivalled experience, challenges, and opportunities that no other highways project can provide. You’ll be exposed to cutting-edge technology, large-scale infrastructure, and complex engineering solutions, making every day dynamic and rewarding.
Long-Term Stability & Growth
With 15+ years remaining on this project, we offer career stability, professional development, and progression opportunities. Whether you’re looking to build new skills or take the next step in your career, we invest in your growth.
A Supportive & Inclusive Team
At CPS, your contributions matter. We foster a diverse, inclusive, and collaborative work environment where safety, innovation, and teamwork drive everything we do.
About us
CPS is a joint venture between Balfour Beatty, Atkins, and Egis.
At Balfour Beatty we are committed to creating a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential, not only because this is the right thing to do, but because it makes us a better business.
To ensure we deliver on this commitment, we have a UK Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan which sets out the wide range of targeted, proactive, measurable steps we are taking to make this a reality. You can read our UK Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan in full at www.balfourbeatty.com/value_everyone
To help and support us with our desired commitment to create an inclusive culture we are members of WISE, enei, Business Disability Forum and Women into Construction. In 2020, we signed the Audeliss and Involve Open Letter to demonstrate our commitment to taking key long term and sustainable actions on Black Inclusion.
Balfour Beatty is also a Gold Award holder in the Ministry of Defence ‘Employer Recognition Scheme’ and actively encourage applications from Armed Forces personnel, veterans, and reservists.
As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to working with people who have disabilities and long-term health conditions to remove barriers for them in obtaining employment. We are also committed to offering applicants with a disability an interview if they meet the minimum requirements for the role.
Further information on Disability Confident can be found at: https://disabilityconfident.campaign.gov.uk/
Note to all internal CPS employees:
If you are interested in applying, please submit your application through your parent company’s careers portal by entering the job title in the search bar. If your employing company is not advertising this role, please submit your CV and the role title to HR@connectplusm25.co.uk