Director of Air Operations - Secondment

Location: National (Travel required across UK operational sites)

Reporting To: Managing Director - Air & Fire

Salary: Depending on Experince

Reporting directly to the Managing Director - Air & Fire, you will hold end-to-end operational, commercial, and technical accountability for the Air operating unit.

You will manage the full Air product and service portfolio - spanning ventilation hygiene, kitchen extract compliance, indoor air quality surveys, ventilation maintenance, remedials, and continuous monitoring technologies. Working closely with Central Operations, Sales, HSEQ, Finance, and HR, you will build a safe, efficient field delivery organisation, drive recurring revenue streams, and shape the technology roadmap for future growth.

What You’ll Be Doing

Lead the creation, development and growth of HSL's Air operating unit, bringing together the full Air product and service portfolio into a single, high-performing capability.

Build a scalable Air operating model from the ground up, moving away from legacy entity-led ways of working towards clear technical accountability, consistent standards, strong field delivery, effective customer outcomes and sustainable commercial performance.

Own delivery and development of Air while working closely with Central Operations, Sales and HSL central functions. Build the people, capability, technology, processes and standards required to deliver approximately £8m of Air revenue next year and support 10% annual growth.

Develop Air as a scalable platform for future acquisitions, ensuring new Air capabilities can be integrated into a common operating model rather than operating as standalone businesses.

What We’re Looking For

• Strategic Leadership & Operating Model

  • Unit Creation: Build and lead the unified Air operating unit, establishing clear organizational structures, reporting lines, and consistent ways of working across legacy businesses.

  • Acquisition Platform: Build a scalable operating model with standardized systems, technical standards, and governance to seamlessly integrate future corporate acquisitions.

  Field Delivery & Operational Performance

  • Field Leadership: Direct field teams, supervisors, engineers, and operational managers across PPM, reactive, remedial, and project work.

  • Operational Control: Collaborate with Central Operations on resource planning, scheduling, job readiness, and productivity to ensure safe, high-quality service delivery.

  Commercial Growth & P&L Accountability

  • Revenue & Growth Target: Own the annual Air P&L, delivering the ~£8m revenue plan for year one and supporting 10% year-on-year organic growth thereafter.

  • Commercial Strategy: Partner with the Business Development Director to expand recurring maintenance contracts, cross-sell services, and convert survey findings into remedial projects.

  Technology, Innovation & Remote Monitoring

  • Smart Tech Adoption: Help shape the technology roadmap, integrating remote monitoring, connected assets, and data analytics to create proactive customer services.

  • Process Efficiency: Utilize field data to optimize scheduling, eliminate operational waste, improve resource utilization, and enhance customer reporting.

  People, Leadership & Culture

  • Workforce Development: Attract, recruit, and retain technical talent; establish succession planning, competency frameworks, and career pathways.

  • Value Alignment: Foster a culture of ownership and safety, embedding HSL’s core values (Integrity, Expertise, Quality, People, Partnership) across the division.

What we are looking for

Experience & Attributes

• Senior Field Service Leadership: Proven track record leading multi-site field operations, technical engineering teams, or compliance services at scale with full P&L accountability.

• Transformational Growth: Experience building, transforming, or integrating operational units and scaling service delivery across multiple business lines or acquisitions.

• Commercial & Technical Acumen: Broad operational understanding of ventilation, air quality, kitchen extract, or related building compliance services, with strong financial/budget management skills.

• Tech-Enabled Operations: Exposure to technology-enabled field service delivery, remote monitoring, or digital asset management is highly advantageous.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Relevant technical, operational, engineering, or business management qualification (Desirable).

• Leadership, H&S, or process improvement training (Desirable).

• Full UK Driving Licence with total willingness for national travel across customer and operational sites (Essential).

Why Work for HSL?

• Full training and clear career development pathways
• 25 days annual leave + bank holidays
• Company pension scheme & sick pay scheme
• Free eye test every 2 years
• Access to Kinhub (wellbeing & financial support)
• Discounts with hundreds of retailers via Reward Gateway

About Us

HSL Compliance is one of the UK’s leading compliance specialists, helping organisations keep people safe. We work with local authorities, housing associations and businesses across the UK, providing essential services including water safety, fire safety and wider compliance solutions.

Our success is built on the dedication of our people, and we’re proud to offer a supportive workplace where employees can grow, develop and make a real impact.

Ready to Apply?

If you're looking for a varied role with real impact, and you enjoy working in a fast-moving environment, we’d love to hear from you.

👉 Apply online today with your latest CV.