Artemis Human Capital are recruiting for an Operations Manager on behalf of a growing Manufacturing firm based in just outside the North West. You will be responsible for leading people, performance, and the end-to-end management of coating, kitting, assembly, and despatch operations across multiple operational facilities. This is a senior leadership role accountable for driving operational performance across key value streams while delivering continuous improvement initiatives. The focus is to maximise efficiency, improve productivity, reduce waste, and embed a culture of operational excellence. Key Responsibilities Leadership & Operational Ownership Lead day-to-day operations across coating, assembly, kitting, and despatch functions Take full accountability for operational performance, ensuring safety, quality, delivery, and cost targets are achieved Lead, develop, and engage teams to build a high-performance culture Act as a visible and proactive leader on the shop floor, setting standards and driving consistency Ensure effective planning of resources, workflow, and capacity across all operational areas Production & Process Excellence Ensure the kitting process delivers right-first-time output in an efficient and controlled manner Maintain appropriate buffers to support internal and external customer requirements Collaborate with planning and scheduling functions to optimise production and on-time delivery Lead coating operations to consistently achieve production targets while maintaining quality and compliance Ensure adherence to all quality control systems and production standards Continuous Improvement Lead and embed continuous improvement initiatives across all operational areas Apply Lean manufacturing principles to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and control costs Identify root causes of operational and quality issues and implement sustainable corrective actions Improve process flow and reduce lead times across production Promote a culture of standardisation, best practice, and operational excellence People Leadership & Development Lead the operations function, ensuring strong day-to-day performance aligned with business objectives Foster a positive and inclusive working environment focused on engagement, wellbeing, and development Develop team capability through coaching, training, and structured performance management Support recruitment, succession planning, and workforce development Manage employee relations in line with policies and best practice, ensuring fairness and consistency Health, Safety & Compliance Champion a strong health and safety culture across all operational areas Ensure compliance with statutory requirements, internal policies, and industry standards Lead incident investigations and implement effective corrective and preventative actions Promote safe working practices and proactive risk management Quality & Operational Standards Maintain consistently high standards of quality across all processes Drive Lean and continuous improvement initiatives across the site Identify and implement opportunities for process optimisation and waste reduction Communication & Stakeholder Management Communicate performance, priorities, and updates clearly across teams Ensure operational issues are escalated and resolved effectively Maintain accurate reporting and performance tracking Skills & Experience Required Significant experience in a senior operations or manufacturing leadership role Proven experience within a fast-paced engineering or manufacturing environment Experience leading multi-disciplinary teams Strong track record of delivering improvements across safety, quality, delivery, and cost Experience with ERP/MRP systems Strong knowledge of Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities Ability to lead effectively in a fast-paced environment Hands-on, visible, and people-focused leadership style Strong sense of accountability and commitment to high standards Driven by continuous improvement and operational excellence Flexible approach to meet business needs Contact Nicky Strutt