Interim Head of Network Operations

Manchester, England, United Kingdom

About Be.EV

We are a public electric vehicle (EV) charging provider, with a vision to create a fair, futureproof infrastructure legacy that will sustainably accelerate the UK’s EV revolution across the country.

We operate a national network of close to 300 live chargers with an additional 1,000+ in the current pipeline. We are backed by £110million from Octopus Energy Generation, one of Europe’s largest renewable energy investors, and are powered by 100% deep green energy.

We have a uniquely community-led and customer-first approach to creating and managing high-usage, design-led and fully funded-EV charging solutions that add value to your organisation or site. Extra revenue, additional footfall, and competitor differentiation to name but a few! Not only do we design, fund, build and operate our site partners' charging solutions, but we provide ongoing maintenance and support to evolve and futureproof the solution over time.

We pride ourselves on putting the right chargers in the right places (leveraging state-of-the-art tech to assist with site selection), and in the success of our modular Charging Hub and Charging Green offerings. But most importantly we make sure the chargers work - our network currently has a 99.6% uptime/ availability record.

Our employee owned business is built on commitment, trust and brilliant customer service. We love working with local people and are passionate about making a positive contribution to the communities we serve.

Job Profile

This critical role will be responsible for ensuring that our EV charging network is fully operational, well-supported, and efficiently managed. The ideal candidate will bring a combination of technical expertise, strategic vision, and leadership skills to oversee all aspects of network operations, including system monitoring, maintenance, incident response, and customer support. As the Head of Network Operations, you will play a pivotal role in enhancing our network's performance and reliability, ultimately contributing to our company's success and the satisfaction of EV owners.

We will need to combine attention to detail with a “can do” attitude to support the sales and operations team to deliver Be.EV’s targets. If you are a people person who loves the rewarding challenge of building a brand that does ‘good’ for people and the planet, Be.EV wants to hear from you.

Job Responsibilities

Develop and implement strategies for network operation, maintenance, and expansion to ensure high availability and reliability of the charging network.

Lead the network operations team, fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Oversee the monitoring of the network to identify and resolve issues proactively, minimising downtime and ensuring a seamless charging experience for users.

Coordinate with internal teams and external partners to enhance network capabilities, including software updates, hardware upgrades, and new installations.

Manage incident response protocols, ensuring swift and effective resolution of any network disruptions or customer issues.

Drive the adoption of best practices in network management, security, and compliance.

Analyse network performance data to identify trends, anticipate future needs, and inform strategic decisions.

Engage with customers, stakeholders, and industry partners to gather feedback and align network operations with market demands.

Prepare and manage the network operations budget, optimising resource allocation for maximum efficiency and impact.

Skills and Qualifications

Demonstrable and extensive experience in network operations, infrastructure management, or a similar role, with at least 3 years in a leadership position.

Strong leadership and team management skills, with a proven track record of building and motivating high-performing teams.

Excellent problem-solving, decision-making, and strategic planning abilities.

Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with a wide range of stakeholders.

Commitment to sustainability and passion for the EV industry.

Benefits & Extras

Following the successful completion of a probation period, employees will join our long-term Incentive plan.

27 holidays + 5 holidays for Christmas Closure + 8 bank holidays.

Octopus EV car salary sacrifice scheme! It's like cycle-to-work, but for electric vehicles. You give up some of your gross monthly pay for a new EV, and can save up to 40% on the monthly cost thanks to saving on National Insurance and Income Tax. One of the amazing benefits of this scheme is that you get a free home charger with standard installation plus 4,000 miles of home charging if you switch to intelligent Octopus!

Company shares- As a business, the owners want ALL the team (regardless of seniority) to benefit from the growth of the business, the growth of Electric Vehicles and the value of the business. The scheme enables all the team to share in the ongoing success of the business.

Opportunity to work from home one day a week.

Company Sick Pay Scheme (following successful completion of probationary period (usually 6 months) up to 10 days full pay, in a rolling 12-month period).

Statutory Pension Scheme (3% Employer Contributions and 5% Employee Contributions).

State of the art offices in Manchester.

Company Mobile Phone/Laptop and the latest IT equipment required to be successful.

Social events.

Competitive salary (the salary package is based on a start-up and the value you can possibly make out the success of the equity allocated to you).

About this sector

There an increasingly urgent global and UK focus on the climate emergency, electrification and green energy solutions, with interrelated issues coming to the fore such as decarbonisation, green infrastructure provision and clean air. The ban on new petrol/diesel car sales comes in from 2030 and despite growing consumer interest levels (over 900,000 electric / hybrid vehicles are already on the road) the public charging infrastructure remains inadequate.

Approximately 300,000 chargers will be needed by 2030; today there are just 37,000. The good news is that this represents a 30% year on year increase, though this lags somewhat behind the 38% annual growth in sales of battery electric cars during the year to November (Source: Zap Map).

Be.EV is passionate about rising up to this challenge, and to democratising access across every region and community. Currently the Midlands, the North and North East lag some way behind the South East.

The next 5 to 10 years will be game-changing, and now is the perfect time to join the EV revolution.