Operations Manager - Renewables

Our client is a rapidly growing UK energy infrastructure business developing utility-scale Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) assets. Backed by long-term investment, the business has ambitious plans to build and operate one of the UK's leading battery storage portfolios, with a pipeline expected to grow from approximately 1.4GW to 4GW over the coming years.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Operations Manager to join the business during the final construction phase of its flagship site in South Yorkshire.

Reporting directly to the Site Director, this role offers the rare opportunity to help build an operational function from the ground up. The successful individual will play a key role in preparing the site for Commercial Operation Date (COD), before taking responsibility for the safe, reliable and commercially optimised operation of the asset.

This is not simply an operational management role,it is an opportunity to establish the operational standards, recruit and develop the site team, implement policies and procedures, and shape the long-term success of a major UK energy asset.

The Role

The Operations Manager will provide day-to-day leadership of site operations, ensuring the facility operates safely, efficiently and in accordance with all regulatory and commercial requirements.

Working alongside the Site Director and other senior leaders, responsibilities will include both operational readiness before energisation and leadership of the operational asset following handover.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the site's operational readiness plan.
• Create operating procedures, emergency response plans and operational governance frameworks.
• Lead operational acceptance and asset handover from construction into operations.
• Support commissioning and energisation activities from an operational perspective.
• Mobilise long-term O&M contractors and service providers.
• Establish SCADA and EMS operational processes and reporting.
• Develop maintenance strategies, spare parts management and asset management processes.
• Build operational budgets and workforce plans.
• Establish operational KPIs and performance reporting.
• Develop the operational risk register and business continuity framework.

Following Commercial Operation Date, responsibilities will include:

• Leading day-to-day operation of the site.
• Maximising asset availability and operational performance.
• Optimising revenue through effective participation in UK electricity markets.
• Acting as the operational interface with NESO and National Grid.
• Monitoring battery performance, degradation and warranty compliance.
• Leading continuous improvement initiatives.
• Managing OEMs and O&M contractors against contractual obligations.
• Managing operational expenditure and budgets.
• Leading incident investigations and implementing corrective actions.
• Maintaining site security and contractor management.

Leadership & People Management

The successful individual will build and lead the site's operational team, including Shift Team Leaders and Operations Technicians.

Responsibilities include:

• Recruiting and onboarding the operations team.
• Defining roles, responsibilities and competency frameworks.
• Setting objectives aligned to operational KPIs.
• Conducting performance reviews.
• Developing technical capability within the team.
• Building a strong safety-first culture.
• Managing shift rotas and out-of-hours escalation arrangements.
• Creating a collaborative working environment across internal teams and contractors.

Health, Safety & Compliance

• Champion an industry-leading safety culture.
• Ensure compliance with UK health and safety legislation.
• Maintain operational competency frameworks and authorisation registers.
• Ensure the site remains audit-ready at all times.
• Lead investigations into operational incidents using recognised root cause methodologies.

Candidate Profile

We are looking for an experienced operational leader who has successfully managed critical infrastructure or power generation assets.

Essential Experience

• Proven operational leadership experience within power generation, energy infrastructure or other high-hazard industrial environments.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary operational teams.
• Experience preparing assets for operational handover and commercial operation.
• Strong understanding of high-voltage operational environments.
• Experience working with SCADA and EMS systems.
• Contractor and OEM management experience.
• Strong health and safety leadership.
• Experience working with National Grid, NESO or equivalent transmission operators.
• Commercial awareness of UK electricity markets.