Associate Director - Operational Readiness - 50013213 - DA3

Provide strategic leadership for operational readiness across major assets and programmes, ensuring an integrated and controlled transition from project delivery into safe, compliant and sustainable operations. The role sets readiness direction, governs assurance and activation decisions, and aligns senior stakeholders on priorities, risks and outcomes. Responsibilities: 1. Define operational readiness strategy, governance, standards, assurance methodology and activation decision gates for assigned portfolios. 2. Lead integrated readiness planning across people, process, technology, facilities, safety, security, commercial, regulatory and service workstreams. 3. Provide senior oversight of readiness milestones, interdependencies, risks, issues, decisions and evidence-based completion status. 4. Ensure operational requirements are embedded across design, procurement, commissioning, handover, mobilisation and opening plans. 5. Chair senior readiness reviews and direct recovery plans for critical gaps that may affect safety, compliance, customer experience or activation dates. 6.Oversee operating model, workforce, training, SOP, OS&E, technology, facilities and service mobilisation readiness. 7.Provide governance for permits, licenses and regulatory interfaces, ensuring accountable teams maintain clear ownership and timely delivery. 8.Advise executive leadership on readiness status, activation options, residual risks and required decisions. 9.Lead assurance reviews, inspections, rehearsals and operational trials, and recommend readiness to proceed through key stage gates. 10.Oversee consultants, contractors and operators supporting readiness, ensuring clear scope, quality, schedule and accountability. 11.Build team capability through direction, coaching, performance management and consistent quality standards. 12.Champion continuous improvement, lessons learned and standardization across the operational readiness function. Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in business administration, engineering, operations management, project management or a related discipline. Master’s degree is preferred. Professional Certifications (if required) PMP, PRINCE2, facilities management, operational readiness, HSE, risk or programme management certification is preferred. Years of Experience 7+ years of relevant experience in operational readiness, mobilisation, project delivery or asset activation for major or complex programmes.