Operations Manager

Key Responsibilities

Portfolio Leadership and Operational Governance

Directs the overall execution of all Mawums projects in Ghana and converts corporate objectives into clear operational priorities.

Establishes consistent governance, reporting, review and escalation arrangements across the project portfolio.

Chairs regular portfolio and project performance reviews covering safety, programme, cost, cash flow, quality, resources and client matters.

Provides the General Manager with accurate forecasts, decisions required and recommended corrective actions for final direction.

Maintains a visible leadership presence at active project sites and operating facilities.

Project Mobilisation and Execution

Ensures each project is mobilised in accordance with contract requirements, approved budgets, execution strategy and statutory obligations.

Reviews project mobilisation plans, site establishment, temporary works arrangements, construction methodologies and initial resource deployment, and recommends them to the General Manager for approval.

Verifies that competent project leadership, plant, labour, systems, permits and supply arrangements are available before major works commence.

Coordinates support for projects facing complex interfaces, access constraints, delayed approvals or elevated delivery risk.

Directs recovery planning for underperforming projects.

Programme and Production Management

Reviews and endorses baseline programmes, production targets, procurement schedules and rolling look-ahead plans.

Monitors critical paths, productivity, planned-versus-actual progress and key constraints across all projects.

Challenges unrealistic sequencing or resource assumptions and ensures timely corrective action on programme slippage.

Coordinates inter-project priorities where equipment, plant, specialist teams or materials are shared.

Ensures project reporting is timely, consistent and supported by reliable field data.

Financial and Commercial Performance

Manages the day-to-day operating performance of the Ghana project portfolio and drives delivery of approved revenue, margin and cash-flow targets, while the General Manager retains final financial accountability.

Reviews monthly cost reports, forecasts, cost-to-complete, earned value, productivity, commitments and exposure to cost overruns.

Works with Commercial and Finance teams to improve measurement, certification, invoicing, collections, claims and variation recovery.

Identifies loss-making activities and directs timely operational or commercial recovery measures.

Ensures project decisions consider both technical requirements and commercial consequences.

Resources, Plant and Equipment

Consolidates project resource requirements and optimises the deployment of personnel, equipment, vehicles and production facilities.

Recommends major transfers and allocation priorities between projects for approval by the General Manager.

Monitors utilisation, availability, downtime, maintenance compliance and operating cost of critical plant and equipment.

Coordinates quarry, crushing, asphalt and concrete production capacity with project demand and sales commitments.

Supports decisions on hire, purchase, overhaul or disposal within delegated authority.

Procurement, Logistics and Materials

Ensures procurement and logistics plans are aligned with construction programmes, approved budgets and required lead times.

Reviews critical-material schedules, long-lead items, import requirements and supply-chain risks.

Supports selection and performance management of strategic suppliers and service providers.

Ensures adequate controls over material receipt, storage, consumption, wastage, fuel and inventory.

Escalates supply constraints and directs alternative sourcing or resequencing where necessary.

Technical and Engineering Coordination

Ensures drawings, specifications, method statements, temporary works, technical submissions and approvals support uninterrupted execution.

Coordinates Project Managers, Technical Office and Engineering teams to resolve design conflicts and constructability issues.

Reviews significant changes in methodology, scope or sequence before implementation.

Ensures technical queries, design changes and instructions are documented and assessed for programme and commercial impact.

Escalates unresolved technical risks requiring specialist or executive intervention.

Quality Management

Ensures each project implements the approved Project Quality Plan, Inspection and Test Plans, method statements and material-control procedures.

Works with the Corporate QA/QC Manager to review quality performance, major NCRs, test failures, recurring defects and handover readiness.

Ensures corrective actions are properly resourced and closed without delay.

Promotes preventive planning and right-first-time delivery to reduce rework, wastage and client dissatisfaction.

Supports stop-work or rejection decisions where compliance or structural integrity is at risk.

Health, Safety, Environment and Community

Provides visible operational leadership for HSE and ensures compliance with corporate standards, project plans and Ghanaian legal requirements.

Reviews significant incidents, high-risk activities, environmental non-compliances and overdue corrective actions.

Ensures adequate resources for traffic management, occupational health, emergency response, environmental protection and community safety.

Coordinates operational responses to community concerns and sensitive stakeholder interfaces.

Has authority to direct immediate action where unsafe conditions exist.

Risk, Controls and Management Reporting

Maintains a consolidated register of major operational, programme, financial, contractual, quality, HSE and stakeholder risks.

Ensures project risks have clear owners, mitigation measures, deadlines and escalation thresholds.

Standardises portfolio dashboards and validates the reliability of management information before executive submission.

Conducts risk-based operational audits and special reviews of projects requiring intervention.

Tracks implementation of management decisions to confirmed closure.

Client and Stakeholder Management

Acts as the senior operational interface for major client, consultant and government matters affecting project delivery.

Supports Project Managers during high-level progress meetings, negotiations, audits, disputes and recovery discussions.

Ensures commitments made to clients are realistic, recorded, assigned and fulfilled.

Maintains constructive relationships with authorities, utilities, local administrations and key community representatives.

Escalates issues that could materially affect the company's reputation or contractual position.

Subcontractor Performance

Ensures subcontract packages are operationally well defined, properly resourced and aligned with project programmes.

Reviews the capability and mobilisation readiness of critical subcontractors.

Monitors subcontractor productivity, quality, safety, documentation and compliance with contractual obligations.

Directs improvement plans for underperforming subcontractors and recommends suspension or replacement where necessary.

Ensures completed work is measured, accepted and commercially reconciled.

Handover and Project Close-Out

Ensures handover, commissioning, snagging and close-out requirements are planned from the early stages of each project.

Monitors progressive completion of as-built drawings, test packs, warranties, manuals, quality dossiers and final accounts.

Coordinates resources to close outstanding works and defects within agreed deadlines.

Ensures demobilisation, asset transfer, inventory reconciliation and site reinstatement are properly controlled.

Conducts operational close-out reviews and captures lessons learned.

People Leadership and Continuous Improvement

Sets clear objectives and performance expectations for Project Coordinators, Project Managers and senior operational personnel.

Coaches project leaders and supports succession, retention and development of high-potential Ghanaian professionals.

Promotes collaboration between projects and eliminates siloed decision-making.

Standardises effective planning, reporting, production and control practices across the portfolio.

Builds a disciplined culture of accountability, integrity, safety, quality and continual improvement.

Qualifications

Formal Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management or a related engineering discipline.

A master's degree in Engineering, Business Administration or Construction Management is advantageous

Professional engineering or recognised construction-management membership is highly desirable.

Formal training in project management, contract management or financial control is an advantage.

Work Experience

Minimum 15 years of relevant construction experience, including at least 7 years in senior project, operations or regional management.

Demonstrated responsibility for multiple concurrent road, civil engineering, building or heavy-infrastructure projects.

Strong exposure to earthworks, roadworks, drainage, concrete structures, quarries, aggregates, asphalt and concrete production.

Proven accountability for project budgets, cost-to-complete, programme recovery, plant deployment, subcontractors and client relations.

Experience delivering projects in Ghana or comparable West African markets is highly advantageous.

Skills

Executive leadership and multi-project operations management.

Strong programme, production, cost and resource-management capability.

Commercial awareness, forecasting and financial-analysis skills.

Excellent negotiation, decision-making and crisis-management capability.

Advanced business English and strong management-reporting skills.

Proficiency in Microsoft Office and project planning, ERP or reporting systems.

Knowledge

Comprehensive knowledge of construction operations, project controls and contract administration.

Strong understanding of road and civil works, concrete, asphalt, aggregates, quarry operations, plant and equipment management.

Working knowledge of quality, HSE, environmental and statutory requirements applicable to construction in Ghana.

Understanding of claims, variations, payment certification, cash flow, cost control and the commercial consequences of operational decisions.

Knowledge of risk management, stakeholder engagement and project handover.

Abilities

Ability to lead several geographically dispersed projects and set clear priorities.

Ability to interpret incomplete or conflicting information and make timely decisions.

Ability to challenge project teams constructively and intervene before problems become critical.

Ability to balance safety, quality, programme, cost, cash flow and client expectations.

Ability to communicate effectively with executives, clients, government officials, consultants, employees and communities.

Behavioural Competencies

High integrity, accountability and commercial discipline.

Visible, decisive and hands-on leadership style.

Calm and structured response under pressure.

Strong collaboration, negotiation and conflict-resolution skills.

Commitment to developing people and building sustainable local capability.

Willingness to travel extensively and maintain a regular presence at all projects.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Safety and Environment Fatality prevention, incident rates, audit closure and legal compliance

Programme Delivery Milestone achievement, schedule variance and recovery-plan effectiveness

Financial Performance Revenue, operating margin, cost-to-complete accuracy and cost variance

Cash and Commercial Certification, invoicing, collections, claims and variation recovery

Production and Resources Productivity, plant utilisation, downtime and resource efficiency

Quality Performance NCR recurrence, rework cost, test pass rates and client observations

Client Satisfaction Commitment closure, complaints, repeat comments and relationship health

Risk and Reporting Forecast accuracy, risk closure and timely, reliable management reporting

People Performance Leadership effectiveness, retention, succession and development of project teams

Handover and Close-Out Snag closure, dossier completion, final-account readiness and demobilisation

Location

: Accra (with extensive travel to all project sites, quarries, asphalt and concrete plants, workshops, camps and supplier facilities)

Salary

: Attractive

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