Sewell Wallis is exclusively partnering with a manufacturing business based in Alfreton with a long-standing heritage in quality, seeking a Chief Operations Officer. With manufacturing at the heart of its identity, operational excellence is critical to its long‑term success. The company is entering an important phase of transformation focused on improving efficiency, strengthening operational discipline, modernising infrastructure, and building a scalable manufacturing operation capable of supporting future growth.
This is not a traditional operational oversight role. It requires a highly engaged, hands‑on operational leader who can bring structure, pace, accountability, and proactive problem‑solving across the business.
What will you be doing?
* Lead and integrate all operational functions across the business
* Drive operational performance, efficiency, and execution across manufacturing and production operations
* Build a scalable operational structure capable of supporting future business growth
* Ensure operational priorities align with commercial demand, customer expectations, and business objectives
* Create a culture of accountability, pace, ownership, and continuous improvement across operational teams
* Take ownership of operational KPIs, workflow performance, and delivery standards
* Support the business in becoming increasingly production‑ready and operationally scalable
* Improve planning accuracy, workflow visibility, and production coordination
* Align operational planning with sales forecasts, customer demand, production capacity, workforce availability and material availability
* Work closely with Commercial and Finance teams to improve forecasting discipline and cross‑functional planning
* Lead a wider cultural shift towards proactive quality accountability across manufacturing operations, ensuring managers take ownership of individual and departmental quality performance
* Work closely with Production, Technical, and Quality teams to strengthen manufacturing standards, improve consistency, and embed preventative quality controls
* Support and empower the Quality team to act as strategic operational partners, driving improvement projects, coaching operational teams, and influencing long‑term behavioural change across manufacturing
* Embed stronger quality reporting, accountability, and performance visibility across operational functionsCoach, develop, and support Heads of Department across operations
* Support disciplined operational investment and resource allocation
* Provide leadership across IT, systems, site, and facilities functions
* Ensure capital expenditure decisions are commercially justified and operationally effective
* Balance short‑term operational priorities with long‑term manufacturing sustainability
* Improve machinery utilisation and operational asset management
* Lead regular operational reviews focused on: production status, delivery performance, operational risks, workforce planning and quality performance
* Ensure robust KPI tracking, reporting, and operational governance disciplines are embedded throughout the business
What skills are we looking for?
* Significant senior operational leadership experience within manufacturing or product‑led environments
* Proven track record of improving manufacturing performance, leading operational transformation, driving operational efficiency, improving planning and workflow management, and building scalable operational capability
* Strong experience across production, manufacturing, operational planning, operational leadership, and infrastructure and systems
* Experience operating within complex, fast‑paced manufacturing environments
* Previous experience leading operational teams through change and performance improvement
* Experience working closely with commercial, finance, technical, and supply chain functions
* SME, owner‑led, or vertically integrated manufacturing experience highly desirable
What's on offer?
* c. £75,000 + realistic and attractive bonus structure to achieve an OTE of £100k+
* Pension salary sacrifice scheme
* Initially office‑based (first 3‑6 months) to embed into the business
* Hybrid working thereafter (minimum 2 days per week in the office)
* 36 days holiday (including public holidays)
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