The Principal Operations Manager (POM) – Area 12 (Maternity Cover) is a temporary senior leadership role within the Area 12 Senior Management Team, accountable for maintaining safe, compliant and stable day‑to‑day operational delivery across the Area 12 Strategic Highways Maintenance & Response contract during a defined period of maternity leave.
The role is intended as a step‑in continuity position, providing experienced leadership and operational grip to ensure performance, safety and client confidence are maintained, rather than driving structural or strategic change.
Area 12 is a geographically dispersed, high‑profile Strategic Roads Network contract operating 24/7 across multiple depots, delivering routine and cyclic maintenance, defect response and incident management for National Highways across Yorkshire & North Humberside.
This maternity cover role provides operational continuity, ensuring existing ways of working, leadership structures and performance controls remain effective throughout the cover period.
What You’ll Do
- Provide clear senior operational leadership across routine maintenance, reactive defects, cyclic works and incident response.
- Maintain operational grip across depots, frontline teams and control functions to ensure consistent service delivery.
- Act as a senior escalation point for operational issues, incidents and unplanned events, ensuring calm, proportionate and timely decision‑making.
Health, Safety & Compliance
- Maintain a strong Safety First culture, ensuring existing safety systems, controls and behaviours are consistently applied.
- Ensure operational teams continue to comply with National Highways requirements, Amey procedures and statutory obligations.
- Support incident reviews, audits and assurance activity, embedding learning without introducing unnecessary change.
Client & Performance Stability
- Maintain effective day‑to‑day operational relationships with National Highways Area 12 representatives, providing confidence in continuity of leadership and delivery.
- Monitor and manage performance against contractual KPIs and operational measures, escalating risks early and proportionately.
- Support existing governance, reporting and review forums (CVRs, audits, operational reviews).
- Provide clear leadership, support and direction to Operations Managers, Supervisors and operational leadership teams.
- Maintain existing performance management arrangements and engagement rhythms.
- Support team stability, wellbeing and resilience during the maternity cover period.
Commercial & Delivery Awareness
- Support commercial outcomes through consistent application of agreed delivery plans, self‑delivery strategies and productivity expectations.
- Work collaboratively with Commercial, Planning and Construction leads to maintain alignment between operations, cost and programme.
- Avoid unnecessary changes to commercial or operational models unless required for risk management.
Senior Management Team Role
- Member of the Area 12 Senior Management Team, reporting directly to the Account Director.
- Works collaboratively with Principal Construction, Commercial, Planning, Performance & Assurance, Safety, Digital and Finance leads.
- Supports collective SMT leadership and decision‑making during the maternity cover period.
Why Join Us
- Competitive Salary: Enjoy a competitive annual salary with the potential for yearly reviews to ensure you’re rewarded for your contributions.
- Career Growth: Propel your career with clear, dynamic advancement opportunities to roles
- Training Opportunities: Unlock your potential with comprehensive training tailored to your growth.
- Personal Development Opportunities: Advance your personal growth through mentorship and access to our award‑winning programs like our Leadership Development, Women@Amey, and Multicultural Leadership programs.
- Pension: Benefit from a generous pension scheme with company contributions for your future peace of mind.
- Holidays: Enjoy at least 24 days of holiday plus bank holidays, and the opportunity to buy further 5 days! Giving you plenty of time to relax and recharge.
- Flexible Benefits: Customise your benefits package with options like additional leave, cycle-to-work schemes, charitable giving, and gym memberships.
- Exclusive Discounts: Access our online portal filled with discounts from leading retailers, healthcare services, and more, helping you save on the things that matter.
- Social Impact: Take part in our community initiatives with 2x paid volunteering days a year, plus other opportunities to support fundraising and local projects.
What You’ll Bring
Skills, Knowledge & Experience
- Proven senior operational leadership experience within highway maintenance or similar infrastructure environments.
- Strong understanding of National Highways operational requirements and live‑network delivery.
- Experience leading large, multi‑disciplinary operational teams across multiple sites.
- Confident decision‑maker in live operational and incident environments.
- Pragmatic, steady leadership style focused on continuity, stability and risk management.
Qualifications (Desirable)
- Relevant operational, construction or engineering qualification.
- IOSH, NEBOSH or equivalent health & safety qualification
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