Operations Manager – Neighbourhood & Environmental Services
Seafield Depot
Salary: £56,392 - £67,457
Hours: 36 per week
Be part of shaping the future of frontline services through innovation, performance improvement and operational excellence.
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced and forward-thinking Operations Manager to lead strategic improvements, performance management and deliver transformation across Neighbourhood & Environmental Services. This is a senior leadership role responsible for driving efficiency, embedding innovative technologies, and delivering high-quality operational outcomes that support council priorities and community needs.
Working closely with Heads of Service, senior managers and key stakeholders, you will oversee complex projects, influence strategic decision-making, and champion a culture of continuous improvement across a diverse operational environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and coordinate strategic service improvement initiatives across Operational Services.
- Develop and implement performance frameworks, targets and improvement programmes.
- Drive the adoption of new technologies, systems and innovative ways of working.
- Provide expert advice on operational efficiency, service design and business transformation.
- Lead complex projects involving multiple teams, stakeholders and external partners.
- Oversee procurement, contract mobilisation and contract performance management.
- Use data, research and evidence to identify opportunities for service enhancement.
- Manage risk, compliance and governance processes to support effective decision-making.
- Prepare comprehensive reports, business cases, briefings and strategic recommendations.
About You
You will be an accomplished manager with experience leading multidisciplinary teams and delivering complex organisational change programmes. You will combine strong strategic thinking with excellent stakeholder management skills and a proven ability to translate ideas into measurable improvements.
Essential Requirements
- Significant management experience leading and developing multidisciplinary teams.
- Proven experience delivering strategic projects, organisational improvement initiatives and systems development.
- Strong understanding of performance management and continuous improvement within operational or frontline services.
- Experience working with diverse stakeholders and adopting a customer-focused approach.
- Excellent analytical, financial and problem-solving skills.
- Strong project, stakeholder and performance management experience.
- Ability to communicate, negotiate and influence effectively at all levels.
- Degree-level qualification (or equivalent relevant experience).
We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce where everyone feels valued and able to be their best. We particularly encourage applications from women for senior roles, as well as people from minority ethnic backgrounds, people with disabilities or neurodivergent people, care experienced people, carers and LGBT+ people across all levels of the organisation, all of whom are currently underrepresented. All applicants will be considered fairly based on skills and experience. Disabled and care-experienced applicants who meet the minimum job criteria will be guaranteed an interview.
Find out more about our commitment to equalities https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/work-us/inclusive-edinburgh/4
As part of our goal to improve organisational culture and create a great place to work together for the people of Edinburgh, we want to make sure we're recruiting the best people. We’re interested not only in your skills and experience but also in your approach to work. Therefore, part of our interview process will be an assessment of how you would bring Our Behaviours of Respect, Integrity and Flexibility into your ways of working.
You can find out more on Our Behaviours web page Our Behaviours – The City of Edinburgh Council
Our salary range typically reflects the initial starting salary and annually increases until it reaches the top of the range.
Happy to talk flexible working.
Follow us on X at @edincounciljobs
View Operations Manager job description
View Operations Manager person specification
THE CITY OF EDINBURGH COUNCIL
About Us:
Are you keen to shape the future of Scotland’s capital city? The City of Edinburgh Council is looking for dedicated and enthusiastic individuals to work with us and deliver key services across our capital city. We’re the second largest local authority in Scotland with a workforce of over 19,000 who all play a crucial role in maintaining and supporting vital services to over 500,000 residents. We offer an incredible variety of career opportunities across a broad range of sectors. Join us and you’ll find a role where you can make a difference and grow your career.
Our Culture:
Our Behaviours, respect, integrity, and flexibility guide everything that we do, and we strive to make sure all colleagues feel valued and have a sense of belonging in the workplace. We want to make sure that we bring people into our roles who demonstrate Our Behaviours and are dedicated and committed to our purpose of serving our community. We are focused on delivering excellent customer service to meet citizens needs and make the city a better place.
You can find out more on Our Behaviours web page Our Behaviours – The City of Edinburgh Council.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:
We recognise the benefits that diverse perspectives, experiences and backgrounds bring to our organisation, and we’re committed to employing a workforce that represents the population of the city we serve. We particularly encourage applicants from under-represented groups including women, LGBT+ people, racially minoritised groups, people with disabilities and people who are neurodivergent.
As part of our commitment to inclusive recruitment, we're delighted to announce that we have extended our guaranteed interview scheme to include all applicants who are or have been care experienced, and who meet the essential criteria for the post. This extends our current arrangements of being a Disability Confident Employer, that guarantee an interview to applicants who meet the criteria for the post and who declare a disability.
Happy to talk flexible working.
Colleague Support and Wellbeing
As outlined in our People Strategy 2024-27, we aim to nurture a healthy workforce where we can all thrive. We offer regular events, initiatives and learning opportunities covering a range of different health and wellbeing topics.
We’re committed to supporting employees to achieve a healthy work life balance. There are several policies in place to support this ranging from flexible work options to career breaks. Our full suite of employment policies can be found here.
We have a range of support options available including access to counselling, a mental health support service, an occupational health service, speak up supporters and a colleague listening service.
Reasonable Adjustments:
We’re committed to providing an inclusive and accessible experience at work for all our colleagues and we’ll work hard to ensure that we meet the changing needs of colleagues throughout their time with us. We’re also geared up to support all candidates who may require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process. Candidates invited for interview, should let the hiring manager know what they need, and they will do everything they can to accommodate your request.
