Job Description
Head of Terminals
UK (Multi-site responsibility)
Reporting to: Managing Director – Energy Solutions
Lead. Influence. Deliver operational excellence in a high-hazard environment.
We’re looking for an experienced and strategic Head of Terminals to lead the safe, efficient and compliant operation of our terminal network across the UK, including Aberdeen, Inverness, Lerwick, Stornoway and Loch Carnan.
This is a critical leadership role within the Energy Solutions division, with full accountability for operational performance, HSEQ excellence, engineering activity, and budget management across all terminals. You’ll play a key role in shaping strategy, influencing stakeholders at the highest level, and ensuring regulatory compliance in a complex, high-hazard environment.
The Role
As Head of Terminals, you will:
- Provide overall leadership and direction for all terminal operations, ensuring safety, efficiency and compliance
- Act as the COMAH Duty Holder and primary point of contact for regulators including HSE and SEPA
- Set and deliver the strategic direction for terminal operations across the business
- Lead and continuously improve HSEQ performance, embedding a strong safety culture
- Hold full accountability for OPEX and CAPEX budgets, driving cost efficiency and value
- Build and manage relationships with senior stakeholders, including board members, regulators, partners and local authorities
- Ensure all sites operate in line with regulatory, legislative and industry best practice standards
- Lead, develop and inspire multi-disciplinary teams, building capability and performance
- Oversee emergency preparedness and crisis management, ensuring robust plans and response capability
- Represent the business across key industry bodies and forums
About You
You’ll be a proven senior leader with deep technical and operational expertise in high-hazard environments.
Essential experience:
- Significant senior leadership experience in oil & gas (ideally downstream) or similar sectors
- Strong knowledge of COMAH regulations and process safety management
- Experience managing multi-site operations and complex organisational structures
- Track record of managing large-scale OPEX/CAPEX budgets
- Experience working closely with regulators, executive stakeholders and external partners
- Ability to lead in high-pressure and emergency situations
Qualifications:
- Degree (or equivalent) in engineering, operations, or management (preferred)
- Professional membership of a recognised industry or management body (desirable)
What You’ll Bring
- Strong, visible leadership and decision-making capability
- Excellent communication, influencing and negotiation skills
- A proactive, solutions-focused mindset
- High attention to detail with strong planning and organisational ability
- The ability to manage complex projects and competing priorities
- A balanced approach to people management, combining empathy with business focus
Why Join?
This is a rare opportunity to take on a high-impact leadership role with full operational and strategic responsibility across a critical infrastructure network. You’ll be at the forefront of safety, performance and innovation in a highly regulated and essential industry.
- Competitive Salary
- Company Car or Allowance
- Management Bonus
- Company Pension
- 25 days annual leave (plus bank holidays)
- Buy, sell and carry annual leave options
- Career progression within a multi layered sales structure
- Brand discounts through Certas group scheme
- Life Assurance X4 Salary
Company Information
Certas Energy is the leading independent distributor of fuels and lubricants in the UK.
With a national network of over 130 depots, over 900 tankers, more than 80 retail forecourts, fuel cards usable at over 2,000 sites, it is our 2,300 colleagues who keep our business moving each day.
Our team is an essential part of the robust infrastructure that consistently and dependably delivers billions of litres of high-quality fuel and associated services to homes and businesses all over the UK each year.
We’re proud of our range of innovative fuel supply and management services and are committed to provide industry leading solutions in liquid fuels, as the worlds energy mix evolves towards a zero emissions future. From the option to offset carbon emissions with each fuel order, to providing cleaner burning fuels that lower harmful emission of PM and NOx, Certas Energy strive to make our energy expertise count for all of our customers.
We have a strong culture of safety and compliance principles, driven by our dedicated Safety F1rst and Doing the Right Thing Initiatives. This, teamed with our many programmes of learning, development and talent nurture, means that we can support our colleagues to grow and thrive within a fast paced working environment. This is fundamental to good business performance, and integral to our long-term business success.
Equal Opportunities Statement
We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported. We welcome applications from candidates who meet the minimum required job role criteria, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.
We actively promote equal opportunities and are dedicated to ensuring that our recruitment, selection, training, and promotion decisions are made based on qualifications, and experience only.
If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application or to attend an interview, if shortlisted, please let us know and we will be happy to assist.
For further information please email: recruitment@certasenergy.co.uk