Operations Manager Executive Search

WHO WE WORK WITH

Operations manager searches we run

We recruit operations managers for four common types of business.

Engineering consultancies

• Office and regional operations managers
• Resource and utilization management
• Support for principals and project managers

Civil and site contractors

• Operations managers for earthwork, utilities and site work
• Crew and equipment planning
• Safety and subcontractor management

Infrastructure and specialty firms

• Heavy civil, marine and foundation contractors
• Testing, inspection and field services firms
• Multi-site and multi-crew operations

Growing firms

• First operations manager for a growing office
• Taking operations off the owner’s desk
• Building systems the business can scale

We also recruit civil engineering project managers, engineering project managers and project executives. See all roles we recruit.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

What to look for in an operations manager

These four areas show whether a candidate can run operations in your business.

Hands-on delivery experience

Look for people who have run projects or crews themselves. Operations managers who understand the work earn respect faster and spot problems earlier.

Planning and resourcing

Ask how they plan people and equipment across competing projects, and what happens when two jobs need the same resources. Strong candidates explain their system and the numbers they track.

Safety and quality discipline

In contractor roles especially, test safety leadership with specific examples. In consultancies, ask how they protect quality when workloads peak.

Communication up and down

An operations manager has to give leadership honest reports and give field and project teams clear direction. Check both in references.

WHY HIRES FAIL

Why operations manager hires fail

Most failed operations manager hires come down to one of three mistakes.

Promoting the best project manager without support

A great project manager will not automatically manage other managers. Without training and clear authority, they often end up doing the work instead of running the operation.

A scope that is too vague

If no one agrees what the operations manager owns, they get pulled into everything. So set clear responsibilities, measures and decision rights before the search.

Hiring from the wrong type of business

Running a manufacturing plant is different from running project-based crews or a design office. Instead, look for experience in a similar delivery model.

TIMELINE

How long a operations manager search takes

Every search is different, but most follow the same rhythm, and you get a progress update every week.

2 to 4 weeks

To a shortlist

of fully interviewed and briefed candidates, each assessed with RoleDNA™ Mapping.

4 to 8 weeks

To an accepted offer

from the day you instruct us, for most searches.

Weekly

Progress updates

covering who we have approached, how the market is responding and what comes next.

For operations manager searches, we also confirm early whether the role is field-based, office-based or both. To understand how fees work and what affects them, see what engineering executive search costs.

OUR PROCESS

How our operations manager executive search works

Because the search is retained, your appointment gets a dedicated team, clear milestones and a process built on evidence.

Define success

First, we agree what the leader must achieve. Then we build a behavioral blueprint with the McQuaig Job Survey.

Map the market

Next, we map operations managers, senior project managers and superintendents ready for the next step at comparable engineering, civil and infrastructure firms.

Approach confidentially

We approach candidates directly and discreetly rather than advertising the role.

Assess in depth

Every shortlisted candidate goes through RoleDNA™ Mapping, which covers eight components, and is scored against your success profile.

Shortlist and close

Finally, you review two to four scored candidates. Then we manage references, offer and onboarding.

You can also see our executive search process step by step or read how we work with clients.

RoleDNA™ Mapping: evidence before the first interview

Every shortlisted operations manager goes through RoleDNA™ Mapping, which covers eight components, so you can compare candidates fairly before you meet them:

1. Job Location Mapping
2. Executive Summary
3. Professional Photo
4. Candidate Introduction
5. Key Competency Responses
6. Behavioral Assessment
7. Verified References
8. Detailed Resume

For example, the Job Location Mapping confirms that each candidate is ready to work where your projects and offices are. In addition, the Behavioral Assessment uses the McQuaig Word Survey, matched to the role profile from the McQuaig Job Survey.

Results are then scored against the success profile for your role and shared in a 24/7 online client dashboard. Learn more about RoleDNA™ Mapping.

Reference checks that cover the field

For operations roles, we take references from managers, project leaders and the people who reported to the candidate. That way, we can check delivery, safety and how they led teams under pressure.

RESULTS

The evidence behind our operations manager executive search

Two numbers we track on every search, backed by a free replacement guarantee.

98%

Fill rate

of the searches we take on end with a candidate placed.

96%

Retention at 12 months

of the leaders we place are still in the role 12 months later.

12 months

Free replacement

as standard, extended to 2 years for senior roles.

A free replacement guarantee on every placement

Every placement comes with a 12-month free replacement guarantee as standard, extended to 2 years for senior roles. If the person leaves within the guarantee period, we find a replacement free of charge, subject to the agreed terms of engagement. How our guarantee works.

Our work does not stop at the signed offer, either. We support negotiation and the notice period, and we stay involved through onboarding and the first critical months.

Firms of every size

We work with firms of every size, and for many growing firms a first operations manager is what frees the owners to focus on clients and growth. We also run a dedicated executive search process for growing engineering firms.