Manufacturing Operations Manager – South Wales – Swansea (Manufacturing / Heavy Industry)
£75,000 – 78,000 bonus.
An established and globally backed manufacturing business is looking to appoint a high‑calibre Manufacturing Operations Manager to lead a critical front‑end manufacturing operation within a complex, high‑volume industrial environment. This is not a traditional production management role. The successful candidate will operate as a General Manager for their business unit – owning performance across safety, quality, throughput, cost, people and continuous improvement while leading a sizeable manufacturing operation supplying long‑term customer programmes. The role sits within a senior leadership structure and offers genuine influence across operations, engineering, quality, supply chain, and commercial performance.
You will take responsibility for a major manufacturing value stream, overseeing the full front‑end production process from raw material intake through primary processing before handover into finishing operations. Leading through a team of Production Managers, Shift Managers and Team Leaders, you will oversee an indirect workforce of approximately 70 employees within a unionised manufacturing environment. This is a highly visible leadership role requiring both strategic thinking and operational delivery.
The business has strong order books and long‑term customer demand, however success in this role will come from your ability to:
* Drive operational performance daily
* Improve productivity and throughput
* Manage cost and labour performance
* Build strong supplier relationships
* Lead continuous improvement initiatives
* Develop leadership capability within the operation
* Create future‑state operational improvements rather than simply managing day‑to‑day production
Key Responsibilities
* Lead all operational activity across the assigned business unit
* Own daily Safety, Quality, Delivery and Cost performance
* Manage and deliver operational KPIs and business unit P&L performance
* Lead, coach, and develop Production Managers and wider leadership teams
* Drive labour planning, resource allocation and productivity improvements
* Identify bottlenecks, constraints, and capacity challenges
* Work cross‑functionally with Engineering, Quality, Planning, Supply Chain and Customer teams
* Lead operational continuous improvement activity using Lean and CI methodologies
* Drive accountability, engagement and performance culture across the shop floor
* Manage operational risk, supplier challenges, and changing production demands
* Support longer‑term operational strategy and future growth planning
About You
* Has genuinely led large manufacturing operations
* Understands how to drive performance through people
* Can balance strategic thinking with hands‑on operational leadership
* Brings practical continuous improvement experience rather than textbook theory
* Builds relationships across all levels of a business
* Thrives in fast‑paced production environments
* Has the credibility and presence to influence across departments
Experience Required
* Significant leadership experience within a manufacturing environment
* Experience leading large operational teams through subordinate managers
* Strong understanding of production, quality, HSE and cost management
* Experience within unionised environments is advantageous
* Proven continuous improvement and operational transformation experience
* Strong commercial and operational decision‑making capability
* Lean / Six Sigma exposure beneficial
Why Apply?
* Strong long‑term order books
* Significant operational scaleA collaborative leadership team
* Real autonomy and ownership
* Opportunities for progression within a larger international group
* The chance to make a genuine operational impact
The role would suit an ambitious manufacturing leader seeking a broader operational leadership position with significant visibility and influence.
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