Operations & Production Director Location: Stoke-on-Trent Job Type: Full-time Working Hours: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, with a 30-minute break Salary: £55,000 – £65,000 per annum Our client is a leading design and build partner delivering high-quality exhibitions, interiors, and brand experiences through fully integrated, in-house production. What’s In It For You Full ownership across production, planning, warehouse, logistics, and facilities Opportunity to build a truly best-in-class operational function Auto-enrolment Workplace Pension – The People’s Pension: Automatic enrolment into a workplace pension to help you save for retirement. Envisage contributes 3% of qualifying earnings (£6,240–£50,270 per year before tax) Health Cash Plan – Healthshield: Cashback on everyday healthcare costs including dental, optical, physiotherapy, and more. Dependents covered for free; claims usually paid within 5 days Life Cover: Employee life insurance paying 1x your annual salary, with access to additional services such as GP24 (24/7 health experts), employee assistance programme, funeral planning, bereavement and probate support Birthday Holiday: Take your birthday as a paid day off (or the next working day if it falls on a weekend/public holiday) Paid annual leave and public holidays Requirements Essential Proven experience in a senior operations or production leadership role within: Exhibition/event build Interior fit-out / commercial interiors Manufacturing / bespoke joinery Demonstrable experience managing project-based production environments with multiple concurrent projects Strong track record of delivering projects on time and on budget Experience managing production teams, workshop environments, and multi-disciplinary teams (joinery, graphics/scenic, logistics/installation) Strong experience in production planning, scheduling, and resource management across multiple departments Ability to balance resource allocation, manage capacity, and resolve bottlenecks Strong commercial mindset with experience managing project budgets, cost control (materials, labour, subcontracting), and margin performance Experience tracking estimated vs actual costs, labour efficiency, and cost-to-complete Strong understanding of production workflows, technical drawings, manufacturing processes, and materials Experience overseeing workshop operations, warehouse/logistics, and site delivery Experience managing operational facilities, including machinery, plant, equipment, and site layout Strong understanding of health & safety, compliance, and statutory obligations Strong leadership skills with the ability to build high-performing, accountable teams Highly organised, methodical, proactive, and solutions-focused Excellent communicator across all levels Hands-on, commercially aware, and aligned to a “get it done properly” culture Desirable Experience within a full in-house production environment Familiarity with SolidWorks or similar CAD systems Experience working within ISO-certified environments (9001 / 14001) IOSH / NEBOSH qualification The Role Lead the end-to-end delivery of all project-based production from design handover to installation Own the full operational lifecycle, including manufacturing, warehouse coordination, logistics, and final delivery Own production planning, scheduling, and resource allocation across all live and upcoming projects Ensure projects are delivered on time, on budget, and to the highest quality standards Lead all workshop operations, including CNC, joinery, scenic, paint, graphics, and finishing Oversee warehouse operations, including goods in/out, picking, packing, storage, and asset tracking Ensure accurate stock control, inventory management, and efficient dispatch Oversee logistics, load planning, and installation readiness Ensure all projects leave the warehouse complete, checked, and ready for installation Drive quality control, snagging, and final sign-off processes Take full ownership of production-related project costs (materials, labour, subcontracting, logistics) Monitor labour utilisation, material usage, cost-to-complete, and margin performance Work closely with Commercial and Project teams to validate budgets and manage performance Own and improve operational workflows, production processes, and SOPs Lead structured production planning and coordination Implement lean processes to improve efficiency and reduce waste Manage site and facilities, including workshop, warehouse, yard, and office environments Oversee maintenance of machinery, plant, and equipment Lead site improvements, layout optimisation, and operational flow Lead health & safety standards, RAMS, and compliance (including ISO 9001 / 14001) Build and lead high-performing teams across production, warehouse, and logistics Drive accountability, performance, and consistent delivery standards What’s next? It’s easy! Click “APPLY” now! We can’t wait to hear from you! Your data will be handled in line with GDPR.