: Senior Operations Head

Industry: Construction

Location: Trivandrum, Kerala

Reports to : Chairman & Managing Director (CMD)

Direct reports : All functional managers except Finance and Marketing.

Purpose of the Role The Senior Operations Head is the CMD's single point of accountability for running the company's day-to-day business. The role integrates all operating functions so that projects are delivered on time, within budget and to the required quality, while keeping the organisation profitable and compliant. The incumbent frees the CMD to focus on strategy, growth and key relationships by owning execution across the company.

Reporting Structure The Senior Operations Head reports to the CMD. The following functional managers report to this role :

- Projects / Site Execution
- Planning and Billing
- Quantity Surveying and Contracts
- Procurement and Stores
- Quality, Health, Safety and Setting (QHSE)
- Design and Engineering Coordination
- Human Resources and Administration The Finance and Markering functions continues to report directly to the CMD. The Senior Operations Head works closely with Finance on budgets, cash flow, billing and cost control.

Key Deliverables

1. Project Delivery and Execution

• Deliver all projects within agreed time, cost, quality and safety targets.
- Review project progress regularly, resolve cross-functional bottlenecks and escalate risks to the CMD early.
- Ensure realistic project planning, resource loading and look-ahead schedules, including allowance for the monsoon season.
- Drive timely handover, completion documentation and closure of defects and final bills.

1. Profitability and Cost Control

• Own project and operational budgets; track cost against budget and reduce overruns and rework.
- Work with Finance and Sales to ensure timely collection of receivables.
- Improve margins through better procurement, productivity and wastage control.

1.



Procurement, Contracts and Vendors

• Ensure timely availability of materials, equipment and manpower at all sites at competitive cost.
- Build and manage a reliable network of suppliers, subcontractors and labour contractors.
- Oversee contract administration, variations, claims and dispute management.

1. Quality, Safety and Compliance

• Establish and enforce quality systems, inspection procedures and safety standards across all sites.
- Drive a zero-harm culture; investigate incidents and implement corrective actions.
- Ensure compliance with applicable Kerala and national regulations, including labour laws, building and licensing requirements, statutory approvals and client and government contract conditions.

1. People and Organisation

• Lead, coach and hold accountable all functional managers; set clear targets and review performance regularly.
- Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.

1. Systems, Reporting and Governance

• Implement and maintain standard operating procedures, MIS and project dashboards.
- Present a consolidated monthly operations review to the CMD covering progress, cost, cash flow, safety, quality, risks and manpower.
- Drive adoption of project management and ERP tools and improve data reliability.

1. Stakeholder and Client Management

• Maintain strong relationships with clients, consultants, government departments and local authorities.




- Represent the company in project review meetings and resolve escalated client issues.
- Support the CMD in tendering, pre-qualification and business development with sound execution inputs.

Key Performance Indicators

- Percentage of projects completed on or before schedule
- Project margin against budget
- Billing and collection efficiency (in coordination with Finance and Sales)
- Quality performance (rework, defects, client satisfaction)
- Retention of key personnel and completeness of the management team

Experience and Qualifications

- B.E./B.Tech in Civil Engineering is essential; MBA (Operations or Construction Management) is desirable.
- At least 15 years of experience in the construction industry, with a minimum of 5 years in a senior leadership role overseeing multiple projects or functions.
- Proven experience in the Kerala construction industry, with a strong understanding of local contractors and suppliers, labour availability, material sourcing, government departments and statutory requirements.
- Experience handling multiple concurrent projects of significant value; building, infrastructure or mixed portfolios will be considered.
- Strong working knowledge of tendering, contracts, billing, project planning and cost control.
- Fluency in English and Malayalam is required.

Key Competencies

- Strategic and commercial thinking with strong execution discipline
- Leadership presence and the ability to manage senior functional heads
- Decision-making and problem-solving under pressure
- Negotiation and stakeholder management
- Integrity and a strong ownership mindset
- Comfort with data, MIS and review-driven management

Work Arrangement and Compensation

- Based at the head office in Trivandrum, with regular site visits across Kerala.
- Compensation will be commensurate with experience and in line with senior leadership benchmarks in the industry.

📌 Senior Operations Head (Thiruvananthapuram)
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📍 Thiruvananthapuram