Job Description

Help Drive Operational Excellence Across Our Energy Network
We're looking for an Operations Manager to take a leading role in shaping the future of our West Midlands energy network. In this pivotal position, you'll be responsible for the safe, efficient, and high-quality delivery of operational activities across the West Midlands. From managing assets throughout their lifecycle to ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, you'll be at the heart of our mission to deliver reliable energy solutions.
This role isn't just about maintaining performance, it's about driving continuous improvement. You'll oversee budgets, optimise resources, and implement strategies that enhance productivity, safety, and customer satisfaction. Your leadership will inspire teams, foster collaboration, and ensure that every decision supports our long-term strategic ambitions and regulatory commitments.
If you thrive in a fast-paced environment, have a passion for operational excellence, and enjoy leading teams to deliver outstanding results, this is your opportunity to make a real impact. Join us and help shape a smarter, safer, and more sustainable energy future.
Why you'll love this role

• Manage Delivery: Oversee the end-to-end execution of work across the network, ensuring safety, compliance, and efficiency.
• Lead Teams: Direct a geographically dispersed workforce, fostering a culture of safety, performance, and customer focus.
• Plan & Schedule: Develop and execute work schedules to optimise resources and meet regulatory and business targets.
• Drive Productivity: Champion efficiency improvements and provide technical support to planning processes.
• Control Budgets: Manage operational budgets and deliver AMP and project work cost-effectively.
• Engage Stakeholders: Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to deliver exceptional customer experiences.
• Oversee Contractors: Ensure contractor performance aligns with company policies and safety standards.
• Promote Improvement: Embed continuous improvement and operational excellence across all activities.

What you will bring
Technical Expertise:

• Engineering Degree/HNC or equivalent operational experience in network engineering.
• Strong knowledge of gas plant, systems, and Cadent core processes.
• Understanding of HSE regulations, process safety principles, and operational policies.

Leadership Skills:

• Proven experience managing large, dispersed teams in a safety-critical environment.
• Ability to influence and build strong relationships across stakeholder groups.
• Experience in contract management and resource planning.

Practical Experience:

• Experience in operational roles with a focus on safety, compliance, and performance.
• Strong commercial awareness and project management skills.
• Knowledge of CDM, SCO, SCCF, and safety management systems.

Qualifications:

• NEBOSH certification.
• SCO AE & CP, G17.
• Full UK Driving Licence required.

Ready to Lead the Future of Energy Operations? If you're excited by the opportunity to shape operational performance and deliver outstanding results, we'd love to hear from you. Apply now and help us build a safer, smarter, and more efficient energy network.
At Cadent, we're thrilled to be part of the future of UK energy!
We have a clear roadmap to drive our performance to the forefront of our industry and support the UK government in achieving its net zero targets by 2050.
We're making a difference through innovation and new ways of working. Together, we're shaping a cleaner, greener future for our 11 million customers, whom we put at the heart of everything we do.
What's In It for You
Here at Cadent, we recognise that our people are truly unsung heroes. Quietly confident, delivering every day - that's why we're committed to supporting our people to get the best out of themselves. For this role, we offer:

• Private Medical Insurance for you, your partner and your family available through MyChoices, our flexible benefits programme, with access to a 24 hour Bupa HealthLine
• 25 days' holiday, plus 8 statutory days and an option to buy or sell holiday days
• An Annual Performance Bonus of up to 15% of your salary
• A generous pension scheme where the company double matches your contributions up to 12% i.e. if you contribute 6% a month, the company will contribute 12%
• A competitive salary that's reviewed each year against the market median salary for your role, skills, knowledge and experience
• Generous family policies and flexible benefits
• A free Employee Assistance Line where you can get support and advice on any of the challenges you're facing, completely confidentially
• Support to help you cover the cost of professional membership subscriptions, course fees, books, examination fees and time off for study leave - so long as it's relevant to your role
• Plus many more benefits that help you join the dots between your work and home life!

We support a healthy work-life balance and are open to flexible working options.
Diversity and Inclusion
Don't meet every requirement? No problem! If you're excited about this opportunity but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification mentioned, we would still love for you to submit your application - you may just be the right person for this role or other opportunities at Cadent.
We value diversity and are committed to being an equitable employer. Our employee communities - Women in Cadent, Pride at Work (LGBTQ+), Embrace (ethnicity and religion), Thrive! (disability), the Cadent Military Community, the Grief Awareness Community, and the Men's Engagement Network (M.E.N) - can't wait to welcome you!
What's next?
To be considered for this role, please submit your application with an up-to-date CV and our Talent Acquisition team will get in touch soon. To learn more about Cadent, visit our website at
Be part of something big. Help shape the future of gas for generations to come.

Skills Required