Operational Delivery Director

Pennington Choices are looking for an experienced Operational Delivery Director to join our senior leadership team.

Working alongside our Client Services Director and Commercial Director, you will lead the operational engine room of Pennington Choices, ensuring services are delivered efficiently, consistently, and at scale. The role will focus on optimising processes, systems, IT, scheduling, QA, and transformation, building capacity for growth, and making sure operations run smoothly across all service lines so that client-facing teams can deliver successfully, clients receive excellent service, and the business remains profitable.

At Pennington Choices, we deliver a high volume of property surveying services across a range of disciplines. For our clients, the key imperatives are straightforward but demanding: reports and datasets must be delivered to the required quality, within very short timeframes, and at scale.

For us, the challenge is to meet client requirements while maximising operational efficiency and productivity, complying with regulatory and contractual standards, and ultimately generating sustainable profit while minimising risk.

Our delivery model combines both PAYE employees and freelance surveyors, which adds a layer of complexity. The Operational Delivery Director will work closely with the Client Services Director, who leads on recruiting, retaining, and training front-line surveyors. Your role will be to drive their day-to-day delivery and productivity, ensuring survey outputs are achieved at pace, and client requirements are met consistently.

This is primarily a hands-on, detailed operational role. While you will own and continuously improve the delivery processes, the main focus will be on:

• Managing daily delivery across multiple service lines.
• Solving problems and making decisions quickly to keep output on track.
• Directing activity to maximise efficiency and productivity.
• Acting as the conduit for operational performance reporting, and driving improvement actions to enhance client outcomes and profitability.

Although day-to-day IT support is provided elsewhere, this role leads the team responsible for supplier management of our proprietary third-party systems. Optimising these systems is critical to ensuring the robustness of our operational processes, as well as the efficiency and accuracy of delivery.

Finally, as the business evolves, the provision of data and data analysis to clients is becoming increasingly important. The Operational Delivery Director will play a vital role in ensuring our operational systems and processes support this growing priority.

• Develop and deliver the operational delivery strategy in line with our mission, vision, and values.
• Own core operational processes, systems, and standards, ensuring consistent delivery.
• Lead work scheduling, QA and IT functions to provide effective delivery support.
• Drive process optimisation, automation, and technology adoption to increase efficiency.
• Own client and contract performance, while achieving planned commercial performance.
• Provide Board-level assurance on operational performance, risk, and compliance.
• Lead and develop operational managers and teams, ensuring capability, succession, and engagement.

• Improved operational efficiency (productivity, utilisation, cost savings).
• On-time, on-budget delivery across all services.
• High-performing, engaged staff teams.
• Strong governance, compliance, and risk management.
• Achievement of key client contract performance metrics

We are looking for an experienced, forward-thinking leader who thrives on building high-performing teams, driving operational improvement, and creating the conditions for growth.

In return, you will have the opportunity to make a real difference at a pivotal stage in our journey, working with talented colleagues in a business where collaboration, respect, and bravery are more than just words - they are how we work.

Qualifications and Experience

• Degree or equivalent professional qualification in business, operations, or a related field.
• Significant senior leadership experience in UK-wide operational delivery, ideally across multiple service lines and distributed/field-based workforces.
• Strong background in process optimisation, IT systems, and business transformation, including technology deployment and automation.
• Experience of P&L responsibility with a clear understanding of how operations drive profitability.
• Proven track record of leading operational support functions such as scheduling, QA, laboratories, and IT.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver operational efficiencies and scalable processes.
• Knowledge of the property compliance environment desirable, but not essential.

Leadership and Skills

• Excellent people leadership skills, with a track record of building and developing high-performing teams.
• Strong decision-making ability and a solutions-focused, "can-do" approach.
• Skilled in change management and embedding continuous improvement strategies.
• Clear, engaging communicator with excellent interpersonal and stakeholder management skills.
• Highly organised, detail-driven, and able to balance competing priorities.

Personal Attributes

• Positive, energetic, and resilient.
• Action-oriented, with a hands-on and flexible approach.
• Collaborative, respectful, and brave – living our values in everything they do.
• Passionate about delivering operational excellence and outstanding client outcomes.
• A confident leader who inspires trust, accountability, and ownership.

Pennington Choices has been recognised by Best Companies as being a very good employer each year since 2018. We offer a working environment that is stimulating, where our people are given the tools they need to help shape their careers. With approachable and supportive line management and a proven track record of promoting from within, we encourage our people to be the best they can be, and we provide them with training, variety and support to help them grow.

We also provide colleagues with:

• Competitive salary and transparent salary bands

• Commitment to super flexible and remote hybrid working where applicable

• 37.5-hour working week

• 26 days annual leave plus 8 Bank Holidays (pro rata)

• Additional leave for length of service up to 31 days each year

• Opportunity to buy additional annual leave or sell surplus leave
• Enhanced employer pension contributions of 4% when you contribute 6%

• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay

• Regular Learning and Development opportunities

• Regular company social events including an annual summer BBQ

• Cycle to work scheme, offering savings of at least 32%* on a new bike and cycle safety accessories

• Electric Car salary sacrifice scheme, saving 30-60% on an electric car (subject to eligibility)

• Access to an online platform providing employee discounts on hundreds of high street brands

• Access to private healthcare, Employee Assistance Programme including annual flu jab

• Paid sick leave allowance each year

• Free eye tests and contribution towards new glasses/frames

• Referral programme offering up to £2,000

• Option for personal use of company vehicle (subject to eligibility)

• Access to paid volunteering days in support of local charities/initiatives

• Length of service reward

• Welcome goodie bag

Pennington Choices is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and as such we recruit, hire, train, and promote persons in all job classifications without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetics, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristics protected by law.

Pennington Choices provides property surveying and consultancy services to organisations nationwide. We have a wealth of experience working with more than 800 public and private sector organisations across social housing, NHS, education, and rail since 2000.

At the heart of what makes Pennington Choices special is our people. We live by our values of being fun, resilient, brave and treating each other with respect. We also know there's more to life than work, which is why we will encourage you to stay active, nurture your mental health, and create a fulfilling work/life balance.

This is an exciting time to join us. We are a business with a strong track record of growth, trusted by clients across housing, health, education, and commercial sectors to deliver safe, sustainable, and high-quality services. As part of the Mears Group, and as a proud B Corporation, we are well-positioned to continue growing while making a positive impact on our people, clients, communities, and the environment.

Our head office is a converted barn in the picturesque Cheshire countryside, located just 3 minutes from M56 Jct10, and we have a regional office in Bromley, Kent. We are a close-knit organisation with people at our very core, and we strive for excellence in everything we do. As winners of Employer of the Year at both the Warrington Business Awards and the South London Business Awards, we've been recognised by Best Companies as a very good employer each year since 2018.

If this sounds like the job for you, complete the job application and attach your CV for consideration .

Our team will be reviewing all applications over the next couple of weeks. Unfortunately we are unable to respond to everyone individually, therefore if you have not heard from us within 14 days it means that we will not be progressing your application further on this occasion.