Operations Manager – Fire Protection | Kent (hybrid with site travel) | Up to £55,000 per annum + benefits

What’s on Offer

• Salary up to £55,000 depending on experience
• Senior leadership role with genuine autonomy and influence
• Stable, long-term opportunity within a specialist fire business
• Exposure to technically complex and prestigious contracts

An established and growing fire protection services provider is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to lead the delivery of high-risk, technically complex fire systems contracts across the South East.

This is a senior operational role with responsibility for service delivery, compliance, client relationships, and people management across critical environments including Data Centres, MOD, and large industrial sites.

Key Responsibilities

• Full operational ownership of multiple fire protection contracts from mobilisation through delivery
• Managing Service Managers, Supervisors, Engineers, and subcontractors
• Ensuring contractual KPIs, SLAs, and compliance requirements are consistently met
• Oversight of planned and reactive maintenance for fire alarm, suppression, and related life-safety systems
• Managing performance on security-sensitive and mission-critical sites (Data Centres, MOD, industrial facilities)
• Client engagement at both operational and senior stakeholder level
• Resource planning, workforce utilisation, and cost control
• Driving continuous improvement, safety culture, and operational efficiency
• Supporting commercial performance alongside senior leadership

Essential Requirements

• Proven experience as a Service Manager or Operations Manager within the Fire Protection industry
• Demonstrable experience managing Data Centre, MOD, or large industrial contracts / sites
• Strong understanding of compliance, accreditation, and quality standards within fire systems
• Experience leading multi-disciplinary teams across service and operations
• Confident communicator with strong client-facing capability
• Commercially aware with the ability to manage budgets and margins
• Full UK driving licence

Desirable

• Experience working in secure or highly regulated environments
• Background in scaling or improving operational performance
• Knowledge across fire alarms, suppression systems, and integrated life-safety solutions

This role is ideal for an experienced fire industry professional looking to step into, or continue within, a senior operational leadership position.