EV Charging Company - Xist4
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EV Charging Company

Sourcing a Senior EV Operations Manager to protect uptime and support network growth



The Challenge

A growing EV charging operator based in Slough was scaling its regional network fast. Uptime targets were slipping. Customer complaints were increasing. The board needed stronger operational control. They required a Senior EV Operations Manager who could stabilise performance, lead the field engineering team and bring structure to preventative maintenance as more chargers came online.

The hire was difficult. Slough sits on the M4 corridor. Competitors such as BP Pulse, GRIDSERVE and Osprey attract much of the available specialist talent. Many candidates had general operations experience but no grounding in EV charging, electrical safety or highways environments. The on-site requirement in Slough made the pool even smaller.

The company spent four months trying to hire directly. They used job boards, employee referrals, internal networks and LinkedIn Recruiter to reach passive candidates. The effort was serious but the results were the same. Strong operators existed but few had the EV and electrical depth needed for this role. The vacancy was now affecting uptime and slowing operational improvements.

A sector referral brought them to Xist4 for our sustainable mobility expertise and structured search process.

The Solution

Xist4 led a retained search that replaced scattered efforts with a targeted and insight-led approach.

Key actions included:

  • Defining a clear success profile with the COO that linked the hire to uptime, field performance, safety and contractor oversight.

  • Mapping talent across the South East from EV operators, DNOs, electrical contractors and highways maintenance firms with BS7671 knowledge.

  • Using competitor insight from companies to calibrate salary bands and work pattern expectations.

  • Targeted outreach to leaders who manage reactive and planned maintenance in distributed infrastructure environments.

  • Positioning the role clearly so candidates understood the growth plan, operational maturity and investment level.

  • Applying the Xist4 Candidate Journey Blueprint to create pace, clarity and consistency.

  • Structured evaluation to test technical depth, safety leadership, resource planning and contractor management.

The Result

Within five weeks, Xist4 delivered a curated shortlist of candidates who had managed field teams, owned uptime KPIs and worked in EV charging, electrical or highways environments. The appointed Senior EV Operations Manager brought electrical competence, highways experience and a track record of improving operational reliability. This stabilised performance, reduced reactive work and improved reporting to the executive team.

Three-month check-in:
The client reported stronger uptime, clearer contractor accountability and a more confident operating rhythm. The new hire had become a key voice in planning future site deployments.

Xist4’s sector expertise and structured search reduced hiring risk and delivered the leadership the business needed.

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