Operations Manager and Business Development

Operations & Business Development Manager – Water Services

Location: Field-Based

Reporting to: Senior Management

Team: Direct reports plus field-based technical teams

The Opportunity

Search Talent is partnering with an established Irish environmental and infrastructure services business to appoint an Operations & Business Development Manager for its specialist Water Services division.

This is a senior, hands-on position combining operations, technical leadership, people management, client relationships and business development .

The successful person will take a leading role in the day-to-day performance and continued growth of a specialist division providing services across areas including:

• Commercial and domestic leak detection
• Water audits and network surveys
• Legionella testing and risk assessments
• Water tank and reservoir cleaning
• Fire hydrant and dry riser testing
• Pipeline pressure testing and chlorination
• DMA and step-testing surveys
• Emergency water supply
• Reservoir inspections and restoration

The business is also expanding into areas such as water treatment, water purification, cooling tower maintenance and temporary/emergency water-management solutions .

This would suit somebody who understands technical field-service operations but also has the commercial ability and personality to develop clients and grow a division.

The Role

You will have high-level responsibility for the operational performance of the Water Services division while helping drive its next stage of commercial growth.

This isn't a desk-based management position. You'll work closely with technicians, coordinators, customers and senior management and will be comfortable getting involved when complex operational or technical issues arise.

At the same time, you'll identify new markets, develop customer relationships and help expand the company's service offering.

Operations & Technical Leadership

You will:

• Oversee the effective delivery of water and environmental services.
• Support field teams with complex technical and operational issues.
• Act as a senior escalation point when problems arise on site.
• Develop and standardise technical procedures and best practice.
• Monitor service quality, operational performance and customer satisfaction.
• Ensure appropriate health, safety and environmental standards are maintained.
• Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency and service delivery.
• Support the introduction of new technologies, methods and services.
• Develop technical documentation, procedures and training materials.

People Management

A major part of the position will be developing a strong technical team.

You will:

• Lead, support and develop technicians and coordinators.
• Ensure employees are appropriately trained and competent for the work being undertaken.
• Hold regular one-to-one and team performance meetings.
• Identify skills gaps and training requirements.
• Deliver and coordinate technical training.
• Mentor employees and encourage continuous professional development.
• Support recruitment and onboarding as the division expands.
• Build a culture centred around safety, accountability, quality and customer service.

Business Development & Commercial Growth

This role also carries genuine commercial responsibility.

You will:

• Identify and develop new business opportunities.
• Build a structured sales and client-engagement strategy.
• Develop opportunities in new areas including water treatment and purification .
• Build relationships with facilities managers, consultants, contractors, public-sector organisations and other key customers.
• Develop existing accounts and identify cross-selling opportunities.
• Generate, manage and close new leads.
• Prepare quotations, proposals and tender submissions.
• Work with internal commercial and account-management teams on pricing and revenue targets.
• Monitor competitors and market developments.
• Represent the business at client meetings, industry events and networking opportunities.

Client Management

You will act as a senior point of contact for important customer relationships, including:

• Conducting client meetings and site visits.
• Managing key accounts.
• Understanding client requirements and identifying additional opportunities.
• Resolving service issues and escalations.
• Ensuring agreed service standards and SLAs are achieved.
• Maintaining strong long-term customer relationships.

Commercial & Financial Management

You will also:

• Monitor project budgets and job costing.
• Track divisional performance.
• Maintain visibility over the business-development pipeline.
• Provide regular operational and commercial reports to senior management.
• Contribute to budgets, forecasts and future divisional planning.

Who We're Looking For

We're interested in speaking with experienced managers from water services, utilities, environmental services, facilities management, drainage, infrastructure or another technically led field-service environment .

You should bring a combination of:

• Technical understanding of water systems, utilities or related environmental services.
• Operational/team-management experience.
• Experience managing field-based technical personnel.
• Strong customer and stakeholder-management skills.
• Commercial awareness and an interest in business development.
• The ability to prepare proposals, quotations or tenders.
• Strong problem-solving ability.
• A practical, hands-on management style.
• The confidence to develop new services and markets.