Join a growing awarding organisation at a pivotal moment of transformation and help shape the future of workforce skills, qualifications and competence across the UK's energy and utilities sector.
Lead Operational Excellence at Energy & Environment Awards
This is a rare opportunity to join Rachel Thomas’ leadership team as Head of Operations at a defining moment in the organisation’s development.
As part of ambitious plans to more than double the size of the business by 2033, Energy & Environment Awards is reshaping its operating model, investing in leadership capability and creating new senior leadership roles to drive growth, operational excellence and innovation.
Reporting to the Managing Director, the Head of Operations will lead operational delivery and quality assurance for qualifications, apprenticeship assessments and EUSR, the utilities sector’s UK-wide register of safety and competence, plus industry-recognised training programmes and assessments. The role sits at the heart of the organisation’s growth strategy and will play a critical role in building the systems, processes, teams and culture needed for future success.
This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced operational leader from an awarding organisation who wants the chance to shape strategy, influence organisational direction and leave a lasting impact.
Who we are
Energy & Environment Awards is the specialist awarding organisation for the energy and utilities sector and forms part of the Energy & Utility Skills Group.
We develop and deliver qualifications, apprenticeship assessments and EUSR, the utilities sector’s UK-wide register of safety and competence and industry-recognised training programmes and assessments, which support employers, learners and training providers across the energy, utilities and wider safety-critical sectors.
Financially stable and ambitious for growth, we are building an organisation that combines sector expertise, customer insight and operational excellence to support the UK’s future workforce needs.
About the role
This newly created role brings together operational delivery and quality assurance activities across the organisation, creating stronger teams, more efficient processes and greater organisational capability.
As Head of Operations, you will:
- Lead operational delivery across qualifications, apprenticeship assessments and EUSR services.
- Drive the organisation’s operational excellence strategy and continuous improvement programme.
- Lead and develop operational, quality assurance and delivery teams.
- Build scalable systems, processes and controls to support future growth.
- Ensure compliance with Ofqual and wider regulatory requirements.
- Improve customer experience and service standards.
- Develop strong relationships with customers, suppliers and industry stakeholders.
- Lead operational planning and implementation for new products, services and technologies.
- Play a full and active role within the Senior Leadership Team.
The successful candidate will help create a more agile and scalable operating model, ensuring the organisation is equipped to meet ambitious growth plans while maintaining exceptional customer service and regulatory compliance.
In addition to a salary of £85,000-£95,000, the successful candidate will benefit from:
- Senior Leadership Team bonus scheme with up to 20% bonus opportunity
- 27 days annual leave plus service-related increases
- Buy/sell holiday scheme (up to 5 days)
- Contributory pension (7% employer contribution)
- Life assurance (4x salary)
- Wellbeing Passport allowance
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Hybrid working (minimum two days per week in the office)
- Professional development and progression opportunities
Who we are looking for
We are seeking an experienced operational leader who combines strategic thinking with a practical, hands-on approach.
You will bring:
- Significant experience within an awarding organisation.
- Strong expertise in operational delivery and quality assurance.
- A track record of leading high-performing teams.
- Experience of process improvement, systems optimisation and organisational change.
- Strong understanding of Ofqual regulation and quality assurance frameworks.
- The ability to use technology and systems to improve operational effectiveness.
- Experience of working as part of a senior leadership team.
- Excellent stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
- The confidence to challenge existing thinking and drive improvement.
Most importantly, you will be a genuine leader, not simply a functional specialist. You will be excited by the opportunity to shape a growing organisation, influence future strategy and support colleagues through change and transformation.
To view the role description and person specification, please go to the ‘How to Apply’ tab above, fill in your details and download the candidate pack.
For further information or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultant at Peridot Partners:
Rajia Alam | rajia@peridotpartners.co.uk
Welcome from the Managing Director
Dear Applicant,
Thank you for your interest in the Head of Operations role at Energy & Environment Awards.
As the specialist awarding organisation for the energy and utilities sector, Energy & Environment Awards plays a key role in delivering the safe and skilled workforce needed to maintain and transform the UK’s power, gas and water critical national infrastructure.
We deliver safety-critical and technical apprenticeship assessments, qualifications and EUSR, the sector’s UK-wide register of safety and competence for more than 300,000 workers and industry-recognised training programmes delivered through a national network of over 200 training providers.
We have ambitious growth plans to more than double in size by 2033 and to deliver on this ambition we are investing in this new senior leadership role.
As part of the senior leadership team, you will provide strategic leadership and lead teams, systems and processes to deliver consistently excellent operational performance, customer service and continuous improvement.
This new role needs an ambitious leader with extensive experience in quality assurance and operational delivery, qualification and assessment development within an awarding organisation.
We value our colleagues and offer a package of health and wellbeing benefits including 27 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, bonus scheme, pension scheme, flexible working and Life Assurance.
If you want to play a critical role in delivering our future success, I am delighted to receive your application.
Yours sincerely,
Rachel Thomas
Managing Director
Energy & Environment Awards
About Energy & Environment Awards
Energy & Environment Awards is entering an exciting new chapter.
Since establishing Energy & Environment Awards as a standalone subsidiary within the Energy and Utility Skills Group in August 2025, the organisation has pursued an ambitious long-term growth strategy to expand its reach, impact and product portfolio over the coming years.
The organisation currently delivers qualifications, apprenticeship assessments and EUSR, the utilities sector’s UK-wide register of safety and competence and industry-recognised training programmes and assessments, across the energy and utilities sector, while increasingly broadening its impact across other safety-critical industries. Customers include major infrastructure, utilities and national employers and the business maintains uniquely close relationships with employers and industry stakeholders.
The new role of Head of Operations reflects a commitment to building a more agile, scalable and customer-focused organisation.
By 2033, the organisation aims to more than double in size and is investing in leadership, systems and people to achieve this ambition. The successful candidate will join at a pivotal point in this journey and will have a significant opportunity to deliver the organisation’s future success.
Few opportunities in the awarding and assessment sector combine operational leadership, organisational transformation, sector influence and long-term succession potential in quite the same way. As one of two newly created leadership positions, the Head of Operations will play a central role in shaping the organisation’s future.
Accessibility information
We understand that different members of the community have different access needs and have made some modifications to the way we do business to accommodate people from diverse communities and abilities.
We offer the following amenities:
- Step free access to the building, all key meeting rooms and bathrooms and an accessible workstation
- Accessibility dogs are welcome
- Interviews can be held in meeting rooms that support hearing loops
- Papers and materials can be presented in different formats
- A sign language interpreter can be accessed for interview
- Working patterns and locations can be adjusted
Further information
Energy & Environment Awards is committed to achieving a workforce that is representative of all sections of society and positively encourages applications from suitable candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, transgender status, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.
The company aims to make its recruitment accessible to all potential candidates and support is available for any accessibility requirements or assistance throughout the selection process.
Any requests for support, reasonable adjustments or accessibility requirements should be directed through Peridot Partners, who will liaise directly with Louise Parry on behalf of candidates.
To arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultant at Peridot Partners:
Rajia Alam | rajia@peridotpartners.co.uk
Thank you for your interest in this role. Please download the Role Description and Person Specification.
To formally apply, please submit a CV and supporting statement (ideally maximum 2 sides of A4 each) that clearly outlines your suitability for the role against the criteria provided in the person specification, including your interest and motivation in applying for this position.
Please include your home address, contact email and mobile.
Please ensure that your application is emailed to response@peridotpartners.co.uk, inserting “Application: EEA — Head of Operations” into the subject field. You will receive an acknowledgement of receipt within 2-3 days. If you do not receive an acknowledgement, please contact our admin team.
For further information about the role or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultant at Peridot Partners:
Rajia Alam | rajia@peridotpartners.co.uk
As a sector-leading executive search consultancy, we know the importance of creating recruitment processes that are fair, inclusive and free from bias. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a process that values differences.
If you require any job information in an alternative format (e.g. large print), please contact the lead consultant. Please also let us know if you would like to submit your application in an alternative format.
Applicants with disabilities are welcome to contact us in confidence at any stage of the recruitment process to discuss any reasonable adjustments or support that may be required to ensure fair and equal participation.
Recruitment selection processes are based on evidence of competence stated in the person specification and in relation to our values.
Timetable
Closing date: 9 a.m. Friday 23rd October
Target start date: January 2027
We are in the process of confirming interview dates. Once confirmed, we will update the site and contact those who have applied.
Equal Opportunities Monitoring
Peridot and Energy & Environment Awards are committed to promoting equality and diversity. To help us raise awareness and support a culture that is diverse and recognises and develops the potential of all, we need to appreciate the profile of candidates who apply for positions. We will send you an equality monitoring survey at the point of receiving your application and at the time of placement. This ensures that our processes remain inclusive and equitable throughout and provides us with important data to help us showcase our impact.
The information will be treated confidentially and anonymously and will help us to support our commitment to fair recruitment practice. All information provided will be held in the strictest confidence and will not be shared with anyone, in line with the Data Protection Act 2018 launched on 25 May 2018.
The information provided does not form part of the decision-making process and will not affect your application. Learn more about why we collect this data here.
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