We're working with a well-established commercial construction contractor who is looking for an Operations Manager who can take full control of day-to-day delivery while also driving the front end of the business. The Director stays involved at a strategic level, but he needs someone who can operate independently, make decisions, and keep things moving without relying on him.
The work is a mix of large and complex commercial projects and everything is delivered through an in house workforce, so quality, timelines and outcomes stay in the company’s hands. The client base includes major main contractors, with steady repeat work and room to grow into the remaining gaps in the market.
The role is split between winning work and running operations.
You will price jobs from $50k to $5m plus, prepare tenders, meet with main contractors, negotiate contracts and build long term relationships. You will manage the pipeline, decide which projects to pursue, and protect margins. On the operations side, you will lead two Project Managers, a Commercial Manager and the office team. You will look ahead, manage resources, oversee delivery across multiple sites and ensure projects finish on time and on budget.
Experience that fits
- 10 plus years in New Zealand commercial construction
- Strong estimating and tendering ability
- Track record winning work in the $500k to $5m rang
- Understanding of margins, claims, cashflow and delivery risk
- Experience leading PMs, QSs or commercial team
- Comfortable dealing with main contractor PMs and QS
- Able to run an operation without close oversight
- Good judgment and the confidence to make calls independently
This is a genuine chance to have full influence across both the commercial and operational sides of a business. You are not stepping into a rigid corporate structure or an environment full of layers. You will be close to the work, close to decisions, and able to make meaningful changes quickly. If you like variety, enjoy solving problems, and want a role where your judgement and capability actually matter, this gives you that scope. There is also real potential to play a part in future growth as the business moves into new regions and services.
If you want an operations role where you can shape direction, build a pipeline and take ownership of how the business performs, this is worth exploring.