Operations Director

Job Context
Blakley Electrics is a respected UK manufacturer of high-performance power distribution, protection, transformer and site lighting products, with more than 65 years’ experience in specialist electrical assembly and sheet metal fabrication. As part of the senior leadership team, the Operations Director will lead the end-to-end operational capability required to support safe, compliant, high-quality manufacturing and reliable customer delivery across both Harlow and Crayford sites. The role is based in Harlow.

This role will provide strategic and hands-on leadership across manufacturing, procurement and supply chain, production planning, logistics, automation, facilities and maintenance. The postholder will be expected to build operational discipline, strengthen cross-functional ways of working and ensure that Blakley’s products, processes and people continue to meet the expectations of customers in demanding industrial, construction, infrastructure, events and specialist power applications.

The successful candidate will bring significant operational leadership experience within a technical manufacturing environment, a strong commitment to safety, quality and customer service, and the capability to develop teams through change. Success will require close partnership with Engineering, Quality, Sales and Finance to improve delivery performance, increase operational resilience and support Blakley Electrics’ next phase of growth.

Key Accountabilities

          Manufacturing

• Lead safe, efficient and high-quality manufacturing and electrical assembly operations for Blakley’s power distribution, protection, transformer and site lighting product ranges.
• Drive continuous improvement in production efficiency, build quality, lead times, service levels and overall operational performance.
• Ensure manufacturing teams are trained, competent and appropriately resourced to deliver compliant, right-first-time output.

• Optimise direct labour, equipment utilisation and production flow in line with customer demand, operational priorities and business objectives.

  Procurement & Supply Chain

• Lead purchasing and supply chain activity to secure a reliable, cost-effective supply of components, materials and fabricated parts aligned to operational requirements.
• Implement robust purchasing methods, supplier management practices and cost efficiency measures that support quality, availability and value.
• Ensure procurement and supply chain decisions support product compliance, environmental responsibilities and health and safety standards.
• Develop the supply chain team to balance stock availability, inventory control and responsiveness to customer and production demand.
• Oversee stock availability performance targets.
• Act as a customer champion by ensuring supply issues are analysed, resolved promptly and translated into sustainable process improvements.

• Collaborate with the Quality team to ensure smooth, compliant and customer-focused supply chain operations.

  Production Scheduling

• Ensure production schedules are robust, realistic and aligned to sales demand, material availability, engineering requirements and customer commitments.
• Work with operational management to align staffing, skills and capacity with short- and medium-term production needs against a constantly fluctuating demand.

• Improve planning discipline, schedule adherence and output reliability through data-led review, clear escalation and continuous improvement.
   

  Logistics

• Lead logistics operations to ensure timely, accurate and cost-effective movement of finished goods, components and materials across UK and international customer requirements.

• Maintain strong communication between manufacturing, sales, supply chain and logistics teams to support reliable delivery and effective customer communication.

  
  Automation

• Identify opportunities to improve operational visibility, automate manual processes and increase productivity across manufacturing, planning, supply chain and reporting.
• Recommend and implement appropriate technologies, equipment and process changes that strengthen operational control and support scalable growth.
• Ensure automation improvements support safety, quality, and productivity goals.
   

Facilities Management and Maintenance

• Oversee the management and maintenance of office, manufacturing, plant and warehouse facilities to support safe, compliant and efficient operations.
• Evaluate facility, equipment and maintenance requirements in line with production demand, safety obligations and business objectives.

• Lead improvements to plant layout, equipment utilisation, maintenance routines and operational working environments where required.

   

Qualifications, Experience & Skills

• Minimum 10 years’ experience in senior operations leadership, including at least 5 years in a technical manufacturing, electrical assembly or engineering-led production environment.
• Strong commercial and customer orientation, with evidence of improving delivery performance, service levels and operational responsiveness.
• Proven ability to scale operations, strengthen processes and increase capacity in support of business growth.
• Experience in a technical product environment, ideally involving power distribution, electrical protection, transformers, lighting, industrial equipment or similar engineered products.
• Evidence of developing systems, reporting and automation that improve transparency, decision-making and accountability across operational teams.
• Substantial experience leading cross-functional teams, building capability and creating a culture of safety, quality, accountability and continuous improvement.

• Degree educated or able to demonstrate equivalent senior operational experience in a relevant manufacturing or engineering discipline.

  Highly desirable:

• Lean/Six Sigma (Yellow/Green Belt)
• PRINCE 2
• Experience supporting UK and international customers across multiple sectors or routes to market.
• Experience managing international supply chains, including Far Eastern suppliers, component sourcing and supplier performance improvement.