Operations Lead

Your New Company

A global leader within the life sciences and advanced manufacturing sector is seeking an experienced Operations Leader to join their South Wales manufacturing facility. Operating within a highly regulated environment, the organisation develops innovative solutions that support scientific research, diagnostics, and healthcare worldwide.This is an outstanding opportunity to join a growing business in a senior leadership capacity, taking ownership of manufacturing, logistics, and warehouse operations while playing a key role in site strategy and future growth.

Your New Role

As Operations Leader, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across manufacturing, warehousing and logistics functions. You will be responsible for driving performance across safety, quality, delivery, cost, and people metrics, while developing a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence.

Key responsibilities will include:

Leading manufacturing, logistics and warehouse teams to achieve operational objectives.
Developing and coaching managers and teams to drive engagement, accountability and performance.
Implementing lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives to improve productivity and reduce waste.
Driving root cause analysis and corrective actions to address operational and quality challenges.
Ensuring compliance with health, safety, environmental, regulatory and quality standards.
Leading daily operational reviews and performance management processes.
Supporting new product introductions, product transfers and scale-up activities in partnership with engineering and technical teams.
Managing capacity planning and contributing to wider site growth strategies.
Delivering improvements in customer service, inventory accuracy, operational efficiency and cost performance.
Communicating business performance, risks and improvement plans to senior stakeholders.
Leading change management initiatives and complex improvement projects across the site.What You'll Need to Succeed

To be successful in this role, you will have:

Significant leadership experience within manufacturing operations.
Experience within a regulated industry such as life sciences, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, aerospace, automotive or similar.
Degree qualification in Engineering, Operations Management, Manufacturing or a related discipline, or equivalent experience.
Proven success implementing Lean, Six Sigma or continuous improvement methodologies.
Strong people leadership skills with experience developing high-performing teams.
Excellent stakeholder management and influencing capabilities.
Experience using ERP systems, with SAP experience being advantageous.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a data-driven approach to decision-making.
Experience leading change and delivering operational transformation initiatives.
The flexibility to travel occasionally within the UK and internationally as required.What You'll Get in Return

Salary up to £85k, plus a 15% bonus, pension and other benefits
Opportunity to join a globally recognised organisation.
Senior leadership position with significant influence across site operations.
Career progression opportunities within an international business.
Competitive salary and benefits package.
Opportunity to drive meaningful operational improvements and contribute to future business growth.What You Need to Do Now

If you're interested in this opportunity, click 'Apply Now' to submit your CV, or contact Hays Manufacturing & Operations for a confidential discussion regarding your career.Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers.

Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at (url removed)
Only candidates based in UK and eligible to work in UK are allowed