GRS Group
Operations Director (National)
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We are looking for a self-motivated, driven and adaptable individual who enjoys a challenge to work alongside our energetic team. The role requires a CAN-DO attitude, an ability to learn from any losses and celebrate every win. We are a fast-paced business with plenty of opportunities for growth so if this sounds like you, we'd love to hear from you!
About Us
At GRS, we do things differently.
We're a pioneering team, shaping the future of sustainable growth in the construction materials supply chain. We bring solutions that others can't see. Working here means being trusted to take action, being given the freedom to make decisions and being supported by a dynamic, experienced team, which values relationships and integrity. We do things the right way - even when it's tough - and we invest in people who strive to create real opportunities. You'll be joining a team that values honesty, bold ideas, and making a difference together.
THE ROLE
The Operations Director is accountable for the end-to-end operational performance of the business, ensuring that all operational functions deliver consistently within agreed RACI ownership models and Delegation of Authority (DoA) frameworks.
This is a visible and hands-on leadership role, combining strategic direction with active involvement in delivery. The Operations Director will drive operational excellence, raise and embed consistent standards across multiple sites, and ensure that people, processes and systems operate safely, efficiently, and compliantly.
The role will lead improvement and change through stronger processes, disciplined ways of working and a culture of continuous improvement.
Working closely with the leadership team, the Operations Director will support sustainable growth and development, ensuring new and existing operations are set up to deliver strong performance, excellent customer service and clear accountability.
Main Duties And Responsibilities
This is an important role within GRS Group, with primary responsibility to:
Operational Leadership, Excellence and Consistent Standards
- Act as the accountable owner for operational delivery across all functions, with clear responsible ownership delegated to functional leads.
- Provide visible, hands-on leadership across the operational network, working alongside site and functional teams to remove barriers and ensure effective delivery.
- Drive operational excellence by setting, communicating and embedding clear, consistent standards across every site.
- Ensure all operational activities align to approved RACI matrices and Delegation of Authority thresholds.
- Own operational escalation where decisions fall outside delegated authority or carry material risk.
- Ensure operational decisions are taken at the correct level and documented where required.
- Manage and work within the operational budget, ensuring costs are controlled and aligned with revenue, flexing as needed for seasonality.
- Provide clear operational reporting and assurance to the Managing Director and Senior Leadership Team.
Operational Safety and Wellbeing
- Drive a safety-first culture that is embedded in the everyday operation and behaviour of all colleagues.
- Ensure consistent measurement and a common set of operational and safety KPIs across all sites.
- Ensure each site has an improvement and focus plan with clear deliverables, ownership and follow-through.
- Champion high standards of wellbeing, compliance and operational discipline throughout the network.
Delegation of Authority Compliance
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- Act as the senior operational guardian of the Delegation of Authority framework.
- Ensure operational teams understand and follow DoA limits for procurement and supplier decisions; inventory and stock commitments; operational spend and resourcing decisions; and process or system changes.
- Approve or escalate decisions that exceed delegated authority thresholds.
- Work with Finance and the Senior Leadership Team to review and refine DoA as the business scales.
Process Improvement, Ways of Working and Continuous Improvement
- Lead operational change through structured process improvement and more effective, consistent ways of working.
- Ensure all operational processes are fully documented through approved standard operating procedures (SOPs), aligned to RACI and DoA.
- Be accountable for SOP quality, governance, adoption and ongoing relevance.
- Ensure SOPs are followed, audited and updated when processes, systems or business requirements change.
- Identify and deliver continuous improvement opportunities that increase efficiency, productivity, quality and customer outcomes.
- Challenge ineffective practices and remove unnecessary complexity, duplication, informal workarounds and undocumented decision paths.
- Create a culture in which colleagues are encouraged and equipped to identify improvements, solve problems and sustain change.
Systems, Data and Operational Enablement
- Be accountable for the effectiveness of operational systems, including ERP, scheduling and reporting tools.
- Ensure operational data supports accountability, performance tracking, informed decision-making and auditability.
- Ensure stock counts are accurate and completed in accordance with agreed systems and processes.
- Use performance information to identify trends, prioritise interventions and confirm that improvements deliver measurable benefits.
Cross-Functional Decision Alignment
- Ensure Central Logistics reliably provides drivers and logistics resources to all bagging plants, escalating shortfalls or service failures that put site output or dispatch at risk.
- Develop strong links with the Sales team to understand operational constraints that may affect customers and establish the operational requirements needed to meet future demand.
- Ensure operational input into Sales, Commercial, Supply Chain and Finance decisions are made within agreed authority levels.
- Act as final operational sign-off where cross-functional decisions impact service, cost or risk.
- Ensuring accountability remains clear where responsibilities span multiple functions.
People Leadership, Team Development and Accountability Culture
- Lead, coach and develop the operational leadership team, building capability, confidence and succession across the network.
- Ensure colleagues have clear objectives, appropriate support and the skills required to operate effectively within agreed processes and systems.
- Embed a culture of clear ownership, delivery of performance, confident decision-making within authority, constructive challenge and escalation without blame where authority is exceeded.
- Raise expectations and standards through visible leadership, regular performance conversations and consistent follow-through.
- Ensure training is delivered on governance, SOPs, systems and accountability expectations.
- Build an engaged, improvement-focused team that can deliver change while maintaining safe and reliable day-to-day operations.
Growth and Network Development
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- Work with the leadership team to develop and deliver the operational growth plan, including the implementation and mobilisation of new sites and operations.
- Ensure the operating model, structure, capacity and capability are aligned to short- and medium-term growth priorities.
- Lead operational input into network development decisions, ensuring new opportunities are deliverable, scalable and supported by appropriate governance.
- Implement improvement and efficiency plans at challenged sites, taking direct action where needed to restore performance and standards.
- Manage the lifespan of capital and machinery through regular audits, maintenance and timely renewal submissions.
- Explore and implement new methods, technology and machinery that improve delivery, capacity, service and cost efficiency.
Risk, Compliance and Assurance
- Be accountable for operational risk management.
- Ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, health and safety, and internal governance standards.
- Ensure operational audits, controls and assurance processes are in place, effective and acted upon.
- Maintain oversight of material operational risks, ensuring clear ownership, mitigation and escalation.
This job description is not exhaustive and may be adjusted periodically after review and consultation. You will also be expected to carry out any reasonable duties, which may be requested from time-to-time.
KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING, QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED TO DO THE JOB
Essential
- Senior operational leadership experience with accountability for performance across a complex, multi-site or national operation.
- A strong track record of driving operational excellence, raising standards and delivering measurable improvement and change.
- Experience of leading process improvement, embedding consistent ways of working and delivering sustainable efficiency gains.
- Proven ability to develop high-performing teams, build leadership capability and create a culture of accountability.
- Experience supporting business growth, network development, site mobilisation or operational expansion.
- Strong background in SOP governance, operational controls and clear accountability frameworks.
- Experience working with ERP systems, such as NetSuite or similar.
- Strong commercial and operational judgement, with disciplined and timely decision-making.
- Demonstrable ability to balance strategic leadership with hands-on operational delivery.
Desirable
- Experience scaling governance frameworks in a growing or multi-site business.
- Background in logistics, construction materials or distribution-led environments.
- Experience of capital planning, plant or machinery lifecycle management, and network optimisation.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
- A visible, credible and hands-on leader who is willing to roll up their sleeves to ensure improvements and change are delivered effectively.
- A determined leader who can bring people with them, challenge constructively and maintain momentum.
- Focused on operational excellence, consistent standards and continuous improvement.
- Calm and authoritative, with the confidence to make decisions and hold peers and teams to account.
- A clear communicator who removes ambiguity and translates strategy into practical delivery.
- Structured, disciplined and governance-minded.
- A trusted leader who enables autonomy within appropriate control.
- Commercially aware, customer-focused and motivated by sustainable growth.
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