Operations Director

Operations Director – Engineering & Manufacturing
£65,000 – £75,000 + Company Car + 10% Bonus + Healthcare + Pension

We are looking for an exceptional Operations Director to lead and develop the operational performance of an established engineering and manufacturing business.

This is a senior leadership position for someone who genuinely understands manufacturing – a leader who can walk the factory floor, engage with the workforce, understand the engineering challenges and identify where improvements need to be made.

You’ll take responsibility across manufacturing, engineering, maintenance, quality and operational performance, with a clear focus on improving efficiency, reliability, culture and profitability.

What you'll be responsible for

Leading manufacturing, engineering and operational performance
Driving improvements in productivity, quality, cost and on-time delivery
Embedding Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement
Improving machinery reliability and reducing unplanned downtime
Developing preventative maintenance and improving OEE
Establishing meaningful KPIs and accountability across operations
Leading, coaching and developing the operational management team
Building a positive, engaged and high-performing culture
Challenging inefficient processes and driving sustainable change
Overseeing CAPEX, equipment upgrades, automation and new technology
Managing operational budgets and improving profitability
Maintaining excellent Health & Safety and quality standards
What we're looking for

You'll need significant senior operational leadership experience within an engineering or manufacturing environment.

We're particularly interested in people who have:

Strong engineering and technical manufacturing knowledge
Led sizeable production/manufacturing teams
Delivered measurable improvements in operational performance
Implemented Lean Manufacturing / Continuous Improvement
Improved machine reliability, maintenance and OEE
Successfully led cultural and organisational change
Developed managers and built stronger leadership teams
Used KPIs and operational data to drive performance
Managed budgets and significant capital expenditure
Strong Health & Safety knowledge within manufacturing
Most importantly, you'll be a visible, hands-on and credible leader. Someone who can engage people at every level, set high standards and hold people accountable while creating a culture people genuinely want to be part of.

If you're an experienced manufacturing or engineering leader looking for an Operations Director role where you can genuinely influence how a business performs and develops, we'd love to hear from you
Only candidates based in UK and eligible to work in UK are allowed