Job Description
Operations Project Manager for manufacturing company | 9 month contract | Start: December | Hybrid 1 day a week in Cheltenham
We are seeking a delivery-driven leader to own the integrated Finance plan, critical path, and dependencies into neighbouring streams (SCM, Manufacturing, Data, Integrations, Testing, PMO).
Manufacturing & SCM‑literate, understands BOMs, routes, resources, production scheduling, MRP/MPS, inventory, warehousing (WMS), quality, trade, and transportation.
Governance‑minded, operates through Design/Change Authority, keeps risks/issues visible, escalates early, and protects milestones.
Vendor smart, holds SI partners (e.g. KPMG) accountable for outcomes, quality, and cadence.
Behavioral Attributes:
* Decisive
* Structured communicator
* Factory-floor empathy
* Pragmatic and outcomes‑oriented
* Calm under pressure
* Challenges constructively
Key Responsibilities:
* Integrated Planning: Build the end‑to‑end Ops plan covering design finalisation, configuration, extensions, integrations, data loads, testing, & training integrated Finance plan, critical path, and dependencies into neighbouring streams (SCM, Manufacturing, Data, Integrations, Testing, PMO).
* Process Standardisation: Drive alignment on core processes: demand planning, MRP/MPS, procurement, inventory/WMS, production, quality, trade, and logistics; surface/justify exceptions.
* D365 Build Orchestration: Coordinate configuration of products, variants, BOMs, routes, resources, production flows, wave templates, work policies, location profiles, and quality/test plans.
* Data Readiness: Oversee operational data (items, BOMs, routes, resources, vendors/customers, on‑hand, WHS setups); plan mock conversions and reconciliations with plants.
* Testing & Readiness: Define Ops scenarios for SIT/UAT/Performance Testing, confirm site readiness (people, process, data, tech).
* Change & Adoption: Partner with GPL/GPOs and Training to ensure SOPs, work instructions, and role‑based training are in place.
* Vendor & Stakeholder Management: Lead cadence with SI/ISVs (e.g., WMS, barcoding, MES), manage deliverables, and escalate risks.
* Operational Controls: Ensure safety, compliance, and SoD controls embedded within warehouse/production roles and transactions.
Core Experience:
* ERP Delivery: 7+ years delivering SCM/Manufacturing streams with 2+ end‑to‑end deployments (D365 F&O/AX preferred).
* Operations Depth: Hands‑on knowledge of planning, procurement, production, WMS, quality, logistics, and shop‑floor processes.
* Multi‑site Rollout: Experience planning and executing plant/warehouse cutovers and hypercare.
* Integration Awareness: Familiar with scanners/labels, PLM, MES, TMS, 3PLs, and Finance impacts (inventory valuation, costing).
* Vendor Leadership: Proven track‑record holding SIs/ISVs to scope, quality, and dates.
Preferred Experience:
* APICS/CPIM/CSCP or similar.
* Experience with D365 Advanced Warehousing (WHS) and Production Control.
* Prior industrial/engineering sector experience and lean/continuous improvement exposure.
* Familiarity with Power Platform for operational digitisation (e.g., mobile apps).
* Big 4 consulting experience.