Operations Director

About THXTHX is a founder-led specialist plant and equipment hire business serving the fit-out sector, built on a simple promise: no ordinary hire experience. The business has grown revenue strongly year on year, operates a modern fleet with 95% of assets under five years old, and employs around 190 people. THX has a clear and ambitious growth plan across the next few years. This role exists to lead operations through that journey.The RoleReports To: Managing DirectorLocation: Bedford, on site (multi-site presence as THX grows)Team: Warehouse, Workshop, Transport and Health & Safety; c.140 operational staff via departmental managersSeat: Senior Leadership Team memberRole PurposeTo lead THX operations through a significant growth journey while materially improving operational efficiency, safety and customer experience. The Operations Director owns the operational P&L levers (operational wages, haulage, workshop cost, fleet availability) and is directly accountable for improving operational wage efficiency as the business scales. The role is a genuine player-coach position: strategic at the SLT table, hands-on in the yard, and a developer of the management team beneath it.Key AccountabilitiesOperational efficiency and EBITDAOwn the operational cost base and drive a material reduction in operations wages as a percentage of revenue, without degrading service. Embed and improve the operational efficiency scorecard: trips per driver, inspections per head, NCRs (process errors), and on-time in-full delivery, reported monthly into the board pack. Design an operating model that grows revenue faster than operational headcount, so volume scales through process, planning and technology rather than bodies. Work with the Commercial Director to strengthen cross-hire partner performance and commercial outcomes. Leadership and capability buildingPartner with the warehouse, workshop and transport managers to shape how the operation scales. Set clear KPIs and hold weekly operational cadence, feeding accurate data into the monthly board pack. Champion the HIRE values (Humility, Innovation, Refreshing, Energetic) and protect the THX customer experience as the business scales. Fleet and asset performanceMaximise return on the hire fleet: availability, utilisation, first-time fix, servicing schedules and asset lifecycle decisions in partnership with Finance and Procurement. Unlock the currently unutilised on-hire value potential identified in the fleet through better availability and turnaround. Safety, compliance and infrastructureOwn health and safety across all operational areas, ensuring compliance with UK regulation, FORS/transport requirements and industry best practice. Play a leading role in premises and depot decisions, ensuring operational needs shape the property strategy. Process and continuityDocument operational processes and systems so the business runs by method, not memory, and can withstand external scrutiny. Build a demonstrable multi-year track record of improving efficiency metrics across the operation. Partner with the Digital Transformation Director to automate operational workflows, with a bias to more volume through fewer touches. RequirementsEssentialProven senior operations leadership (Operations Director, Head of Operations or equivalent) in equipment hire, rental, plant, tool hire or closely related logistics-intensive businesses. Has operated at or scaled a business through a significant revenue growth phase, with demonstrable P&L accountability for operational cost lines. Track record of measurably improving operational efficiency: labour productivity, transport cost per drop, workshop throughput or equivalent. A genuine player-coach: credible at board level and equally credible on the depot floor, with evidence of developing inexperienced managers into strong ones. Strong data literacy: comfortable owning KPIs, building scorecards and presenting numbers confidently in a board environment. Deep understanding of warehouse, workshop and transport operations, including UK transport compliance and health and safety leadership. DesirableExperience in a private equity backed, owner-managed or high-growth environment, including exposure to operational due diligence. Experience of multi-depot expansion or greenfield site openings. Lean, continuous improvement or operational excellence methodology applied in a hire or distribution context. Experience implementing operational technology (telematics, routing, workshop management, ERP). BenefitsThe Opportunity and PackageTHX is a founder-led, fast-growing specialist hire business with a clear and ambitious growth plan across the next few years. This role offers a rare combination of SLT influence, genuine operational ownership and the chance to build the operations function that underpins the next phase of growth. The package comprises a competitive six-figure base salary, car allowance, performance bonus linked to EBITDA and operational efficiency, pension and benefits. For the right candidate there is scope to discuss long-term incentive participation aligned to the company's value creation plan, subject to performance and board approval.