Head of Connections Engineering

About Us: G.Network is transforming London’s connectivity by delivering full fibre broadband direct to homes and businesses. As a 100% full fibre provider, we’re rolling out Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) across central London. Our vision is to build a better-connected London, and our purpose is to unlock the power of full fibre so the communities we serve can thrive. We’re a values-led organisation, and our culture is built around four key principles: - Fair – We treat everyone with respect, create equal opportunities, and always strive to do the right thing. - Excellence – We take pride in our work and aim to deliver the highest standards in everything we do. - Resilience – We stay focused and adaptable, even when things get tough, supporting each other to overcome challenges. - Fast – We move at pace, make smart decisions quickly, and act with purpose to deliver for our customers. - We believe in creating a workplace where everyone feels they belong. These values guide how we work, how we support one another, and how we make a real impact across London. Role Purpose: The Head of Engineering Connections sets the strategy and provides senior oversight for how G.Network connects customers to its fibre network. The role leads installation, survey, multi-skilled trades (MST) and night installs across direct labour engineers and install partners, and is accountable for the safety, performance, cost and quality of the connections operation. Working through field engineering managers, the role shapes the resourcing model, partner strategy and operating rhythm needed to meet company targets, governs delivery against them, and represents field engineering in senior leadership forums, change governance and commercial decisions. Key interfaces - COO, Executive and Senior Leadership Teams - Heads of Engineering for Installation, Survey and MST, and Repair and Backbone - Customer Connections, Dispatch and Repair leadership - HSEQ leadership and specialists - Commercial, Finance, Supply Chain, Fleet and HR - Technology, product and change governance teams - Install partner leadership and key suppliers - Local authorities, councils and major building stakeholders Accountabilities and Responsibilities: Accountabilities: Strategy and planning - Connections strategy: Set the field engineering strategy and annual plan to deliver company B2C and B2B connection targets. - Workforce model: Own the direct labour and partner resourcing strategy, balancing capacity, cost and resilience. - Operating model: Define the structure, governance and standards the connections function works to. Safety governance - Safety culture: Lead a safety-first culture across direct labour and partner engineers, working with HSEQ, who retain final authority on safety direction. - Assurance: Maintain oversight of safety assurance, incident trends and corrective action, and hold managers to account for compliance Performance and financial oversight - Delivery assurance: Maintain clear visibility of performance against connection, quality and customer-experience targets, intervening early when performance deviates from plan. - Financial control: Own the field engineering budget and cost to connect, and assure value for money across direct labour and partner spend. Partner strategy and leadership - Partner strategy: Set the partner mix and capacity, and shape commercial and contract models with Commercial. - Leadership team: Build and develop a capable management team with clear accountabilities and succession. - Senior reporting: Give the COO and senior leaders a clear view of performance, risks and decisions required. Responsibilities: Governance and operational cadence - Set the operating cadence and governance framework for the function, and ensure managers run it consistently. - Use performance insight and trends to anticipate risk, direct corrective action and hold teams to account. - Escalate material risks and constraints to senior leadership and drive them to resolution. Resource and capacity planning - Forecast workforce demand against company targets and decide when to flex direct labour or partner capacity. - Approve workforce and hiring plans, and set the standard for how new starters are equipped and onboarded. Partner and commercial oversight - Provide senior oversight of partner performance, leading escalations, contract reviews and improvement plans with Commercial. - Assure that partner payments are accurate, evidenced and within delegated authority. - Set the standards for partner selection, onboarding and contract scope. Transformation and change - Represent field engineering in change and programme governance, assessing the impact of change on the field. - Own field readiness sign-off for new products, systems and processes, and challenge change that is not ready. - Sponsor continuous improvement in productivity, first-time-right and customer experience. Stakeholder management - Act as the senior escalation point for customers, building owners, local authorities and councils. - Represent field engineering in senior delivery and performance forums. Leadership and capability development - Capability: Set the capability and training strategy for managers and engineers, including career pathways. - Succession: Develop managers to own day-to-day operations, partner management and reporting without escalation. - People governance: Oversee performance and conduct matters, ensuring fair, documented decisions with HR. Qualifications, personal qualities and experience Essential qualifications and experience - Full UK manual driving licence. - Senior leadership of a field engineering or connections operation in telecoms, fibre or utilities, leading managers of managers. - Track record of setting strategy and delivering connection, productivity, cost and quality targets at scale. - Experience of shaping and governing contractor or partner models, including commercial and contract management. - Budget ownership, with the ability to build business cases and resourcing models. - Confident in using data to set direction and in presenting to executive audiences. Role-relevant certifications - IOSH Managing Safely or equivalent senior safety leadership training. - Recognised management or leadership qualification, such as CMI Level 5, or equivalent experience. Personal qualities - Strategic thinker who turns company goals into a clear, deliverable plan. - Safety-first leader who sets the standard and holds others to it. - Commercially minded, data-led and decisive under pressure. - Builds trust and fair challenge with partners, peers and senior stakeholders. Beneficial Qualifications or Experience - NEBOSH General Certificate or equivalent. - Experience of FTTP or altnet build and connection programmes, including MDUs. - Experience of NEC4 or similar contract frameworks. - Experience of leading field service and digital transformation. - Lean, Six Sigma or continuous improvement qualification. Salary 75000 - 85000 GBP (yearly)