Operations Manager – Defence & Regulated Manufacturing (SME)
Are you an experienced operations leader with a defence background who thrives in a hands‑on SME environment?
This Operations Manager role offers a rare opportunity to step into a senior leadership position within a specialist engineering business operating at the highest standards of quality, compliance, and delivery. Working closely with the Managing Director, you will play a critical role in safeguarding operational performance, regulatory compliance, and long‑term stability as the business continues to grow within defence and regulated electronics markets.
This is a role for someone who is comfortable close to the detail, confident working with defence customers and auditors, and motivated by genuine influence rather than corporate hierarchy.
The Role
As Operations Manager, you will act as the principal operational deputy to the Managing Director, leading the day‑to‑day running of the business across manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and defence compliance.
Operating within a small, highly skilled engineering team, you will balance strategic oversight with practical delivery—ensuring products consistently meet demanding defence and regulatory requirements, while maintaining agility and commercial awareness typical of a successful SME.
Over time, the role will evolve, offering increasing leadership responsibility and external representation as part of a planned succession and leadership transition.
What You Will Be Responsible For
* Acting as the trusted deputy to the Managing Director for all operational, compliance, and delivery matters
* Leading manufacturing operations, working closely with engineering and production teams to deliver high‑reliability products on time and to specification
* Owning the end‑to‑end supply chain, including procurement, supplier approval, logistics, and resilience planning within a defence environment
* Providing senior oversight of defence and military programmes, including contract assurance, regulatory compliance, export controls, and customer‑specific obligations
* Taking ownership of the ISO 9001 Quality Management System, leading audits, corrective actions, and continuous improvement activities
* Championing Health, Safety, Environmental, and WEEE compliance in line with UK legislation and defence expectations
* Supporting operational budgeting, cost control, and efficiency improvements suited to an SME manufacturing business
* Building strong relationships with defence customers, auditors, suppliers, and regulatory bodies
What We Are Looking For
* Proven senior experience in operations, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, or compliance within defence or a highly regulated engineering environment
* A strong understanding of defence contracts, assurance requirements, and regulatory frameworks
* Hands‑on experience operating within a small or medium‑sized manufacturing business, where leaders remain actively involved
* In‑depth knowledge of ISO 9001 and practical quality governance
* The credibility and confidence to engage directly with defence customers, auditors, and regulators
* Clear, pragmatic leadership style with the ability to balance compliance with commercial reality
* Past experiance as an Operations Manager, Operations Director, Production Manager, Production Director, Manufacturing Manager, Manufacturing Director,
Location
Based in Shropshire and commutable from Bridgnorth, Kidderminster, Telford, Shrewsbury. Worcester, Stourbridge, Wolverhampton and Leominster.
[image]
Your CV will be forwarded to Jonathan Lee Recruitment, a leading engineering and manufacturing recruitment consultancy established in 1978. The services advertised by Jonathan Lee Recruitment are those of an Employment Agency.
In order for your CV to be processed effectively, please ensure your name, email address, number and location (post code OR town OR county, as a minimum) are included.