Area Operations Manager

Company overview

Heidelberg Materials UK (formerly Hanson UK) is one of the UK's largest suppliers of construction materials, employing over 4,000 people and operating around 300 manufacturing sites in the UK. We are committed to building a more sustainable future and recognise that a diverse workforce is vital to our growth and advancement. We aim to promote a culture that values openness, transparency and individual achievement. At the centre of our actions lies the responsibility for the environment. As the front runner on the path to carbon neutrality and circular economy in the building materials industry, we are working on sustainable building materials and solutions for the future. We enable new opportunities for our customers through digitalisation.

Role

Area Operations Manager - Aggregates & Asphalt North

Location: North England & Wales

Salary: £75,000 - £85,000 + Bonus + Company Car/Car Allowance + Pension + Excellent Benefits

Your region

You will have responsibility for a diverse network of Aggregates and Asphalt operations across:

• North West England: Wigan, Tuebrook (Liverpool), Runcorn
• North Wales: Abergele, Penmaenmawr
• Mid Wales: Criggion
• Yorkshire: Horton

Key Responsibilities

• Leadership & People: Lead and develop a regional operational management team across multiple sites. Create a high-performance culture focused on accountability, engagement and continuous improvement. Coach and develop future leaders while maintaining robust succession plans. Ensure teams have the capability, resources and support needed to deliver business objectives.
• Health, Safety & Environment: Champion a world-class safety culture where everyone goes home safe every day. Drive continuous improvement in health, safety and wellbeing performance. Ensure environmental standards are delivered and exceeded in line with company objectives. Maintain compliance with Heidelberg Materials Integrated Management Systems.
• Operational Performance: Deliver optimum production levels aligned with commercial demand. Maximise operational efficiency while controlling costs. Drive improvements in productivity, plant availability, energy performance and overall operational effectiveness. Support network optimisation initiatives across the region.
• Business & Financial Management: Deliver agreed operating profit targets and budget commitments. Develop and implement regional operational business plans. Ensure management information is accurate, timely and used to identify performance improvement opportunities. Evaluate and develop capital investment proposals aligned to business objectives.
• Customer & Stakeholder Management: Work collaboratively with commercial and logistics teams to maximise customer service and supply performance. Ensure products consistently meet quality specifications. Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders and key external partners.
• Continuous Improvement: Create a culture where operational excellence and innovation thrive. Drive CI programmes across all sites. Utilise KPI data and benchmarking information to identify opportunities for improvement. Lead change initiatives and major improvement projects across the region.

About You

We're looking for an experienced operational leader with a proven track record of managing complex, multi-site industrial operations.

Experience

• Significant leadership experience within aggregates, asphalt, heavy manufacturing, construction materials, mining, quarrying, cement or a comparable industrial environment.
• Experience in a senior operational management role.
• Proven experience managing multi-site operations.
• Strong commercial and financial awareness.
• Experience delivering major capital investment, business transformation or operational improvement projects.
• Demonstrated success in leading teams through change and driving performance improvements.

Qualifications

• Educated to Diploma level or equivalent in a relevant discipline.
• SHE NVQ Level 5 / QCF Level 7 (or working towards).
• Full UK driving licence.

Personal Qualities

• Inspirational and visible leader.
• Strategically minded with strong operational focus.
• Strong decision-maker with excellent influencing skills.
• Passionate about safety, people development and operational excellence.
• Collaborative and commercially focused.
• Driven to challenge the status quo and deliver continuous improvement.

Why Join us?

At Heidelberg Materials, we don't just offer jobs-we build careers. As a global leader in construction materials, we're committed to innovation, sustainability, and, above all, our people.

Rewards & Benefits

• Competitive Package: Salary, bonus incentives, generous pension, and life assurance
• Work-Life Balance: 27 days holiday (plus bank holidays), agile/flexible working, holiday purchase, and sabbatical options, Season and travel ticket loans
• Family-Friendly Policies: Enhanced support for maternity, paternity, adoption, IVF, neonatal care, and menopause
• Inclusive Culture: Paid volunteering day and active employee communities (LGBTQ+, Women in STEM, Armed Forces, and more)
• Wellbeing & Development: Employee Assistance Programme, retail discounts, and continuous learning opportunities

Diversity & Inclusion

At Heidelberg Materials UK (previously known as Hanson UK) we strive to create an inclusive and respectful workplace where every individual can bring their unique skills and background to contribute to the success of our business. At Heidelberg Materials UK (previously known as Hanson UK), we understand that a diverse workforce is key to our growth and development, and we aim to foster a culture that values openness, transparency, and individual achievement. As part of our commitment to promoting diversity, we are actively working to encourage more individuals to consider careers within the construction industry. We believe in building a workplace that is dedicated to promoting inclusivity and diversity.

We understand that women may face unique challenges in their careers, and we are committed to providing a supportive environment to help you thrive. Our family-friendly policies, such as enhanced maternity and parental leave, neonatal care, and adoption support, will provide you with the flexibility and support you need to balance your personal and professional commitments.

Heidelberg Materials is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. Please let your recruiter know if you need an accommodation at any point during the interview process.

Our family-friendly policies, such as enhanced maternity and parental leave, neonatal care, and adoption support, will provide you with the flexibility and support you need to balance your personal and professional commitments.

We also offer a range of benefits, such as access to our Employee Assistance Program, trained mental health first aiders, discounted private medical benefits and much more, to ensure your wellbeing is prioritized.