Commercial Operations Manager – Engineering Projects (Brewing & Beverage Production)
Location: Aspley Guise, Milton Keynes (with some flexibility / hybrid depending on candidate)
Salary: £35,000 – £40,000 (DOE)
We are a small, specialist UK engineering business that designs and installs commercial-scale breweries and wider food and beverage production systems. Our team of 5 engineers delivers end-to-end projects, working with international partners in China (fabrication) and Australia (automation).
As we continue to grow, we are looking for an experienced Commercial Operations Manager to take ownership of the day-to-day administration and coordination of our projects, freeing up the directors to focus on business development.
This is a broad, hands-on role that blends operations coordination with financial and commercial oversight — ideal for someone with extensive small business experience who is "qualified by experience" rather than through formal accountancy routes.
Key Responsibilities
* Take charge of day-to-day operations: coordinate engineer scheduling, client site compliance, logistics and international shipping.
* Support project delivery through light-touch coordination (nudging deadlines, keeping stakeholders aligned, spotting bottlenecks early).
* Manage supplier relationships in China and Australia, ensuring correct billing / goods receipts, cost control, and smooth payment flows.
* Own the numbers: track project budgets, monitor costs vs forecasts, and report regularly to directors.
* Maintain oversight of customer billing, cashflow forecasting, and reconciliations.
* Improve how we work: implement and improve systems for administration, scheduling, and reporting.
* Act as the "glue" between engineering, clients, and suppliers — ensuring nothing falls between the cracks.
About You
* 15+ years' experience in small/medium businesses, ideally in engineering, construction, manufacturing, or food & beverage.
* Comfortable working across both operations and finance — you've managed budgets, tracked costs, and dealt with supplier billing before.
* Organised, proactive, detail-orientated and calm under pressure — you spot problems before they land and can juggle multiple priorities.
* Confident communicator who can "nudge" engineers, clients, and suppliers diplomatically.
* IT/computer literate; comfortable with spreadsheets and accounting/ERP systems.
* The type of person who takes ownership, solves problems, and just gets things done.
Why Join Us?
* A pivotal role in a growing specialist business.
* The chance to shape how we operate and put your stamp on our systems.
* Work closely with the directors and have a direct impact on business growth.
* Variety: no two days will be the same — you'll be switching between logistics calls, project cost reviews, and cashflow updates.
* A salary that reflects your experience (£35k–£40k) with room to grow as the business does.
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time
Pay: £35,000.00-£40,000.00 per year
Expected hours: 30 – 40 per week
Work Location: In person