Operations Manager Markets

BENEFITS

Our employees are at the very heart of the services we provide to the community, to help us achieve our ambitions, we want the best possible team. In return, we will make sure you are rewarded with a great range of staff benefits to support you in and out of work.

Join us at a pivotal moment as we reshape how markets operate across Kirklees, creating modern, welcoming, customer focused spaces for the future.

Kirklees Council

Are you an experienced, energetic and people focused operational leader looking for your next challenge? Do you want to play a key role in shaping the future of vibrant, community centred markets across Kirklees? If so, we'd love to hear from you.

Why Join Us?

This is an exceptionally exciting time to join the Markets Service at Kirklees Council. With over £17m of investment committed to transforming Huddersfield Open Market and Dewsbury Market, we are entering a period of major growth, regeneration and innovation. Our markets sit at the heart of our town centres, supporting local businesses, boosting footfall, and bringing communities together - and you can help drive this next chapter.

Alongside these major projects, we are seeing increasing demand for smaller, local fresh food markets. This role offers the opportunity to help shape how we respond to that demand, grow our offer, and maximise income and customer satisfaction.

About the Role

As Operations Manager, you will work closely with the Markets Manager to deliver high quality, day to day operations across our indoor markets, outdoor markets and themed market events. You will also play a pivotal role in supporting the development of our major regeneration projects and ensuring our services are ready to meet the demands of the new markets.

This is a role for someone who thrives on variety, problem solving and meaningful collaboration. You'll be a visible leader across our market sites, working directly with traders, local businesses, internal teams, contractors and partners.

What You'll Be Doing

You will lead on a wide range of operational and improvement focused responsibilities, including:

• Developing strategies and business improvement plans to attract more visitors and enhance the market experience.
• Supporting the Markets Manager to shape a strong communications and marketing approach that helps us meet financial and customer targets.
• Working closely with traders and local businesses to support growth and sustain a vibrant marketplace.
• Designing and implementing customer feedback processes, ensuring insight translates into real, positive change.
• Continually reviewing and assessing KPIs, ensuring the service is high performing and future ready.
• Managing multiple premises across the district, including on site teams delivering frontline services.
• Working with procurement to ensure compliance when purchasing new equipment or awarding contracts.
• Embedding health & safety best practice and ensuring broader compliance across the markets sector.
• Acting as a key contact for traders, supporting them through change and helping them grow their businesses.
• Taking a flexible approach to hours in order to meet service and site operational needs.

What We're Looking For

You will bring:

• A proven track record in operational management, service improvement and people leadership.
• A passion for working with communities, local businesses and diverse stakeholders.
• Energy, initiative and a strong commitment to customer experience.
• The ability to manage complex workloads, lead change and deliver tangible improvements.
• Excellent communication and relationship building skills.
• A hands on, solutions focused approach.

Interested? Let's Talk.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact: Karen Roche or Jaime Nalson at . /