VP Manufacturing Operations
Location: Office-based minimum 3 days/week in Oxford, UK and/or North of England
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Type: Full-time
About FluoRok
FluoRok is a deep-tech start‑up revolutionising the way fluorochemicals are produced to address key global challenges such as climate change, energy storage, healthcare and food security by developing safer, more sustainable fluorochemical production technologies that bypass traditional hydrogen fluoride‑based processes.
Backed by world‑class deep tech investors and following the opening of new pilot plants, FluoRok is now transitioning from R&D and early commercialisation to multi‑site operations and industrial scale‑up across the UK, and in the future internationally.
Role Overview
In your role, you will be a collaborative and strategic operational leader responsible for scaling FluoRok’s operations and manufacturing capabilities as the company transitions towards commercial‑scale operations. You will partner closely with the CEO and senior leadership team to enable operational excellence across R&D, scale‑up, multi‑site production facilities, procurement, HSE, quality, regulatory compliance, project/plant financial management and customer delivery performance. This role requires a thoughtful and experienced leader with deep operational experience in advanced manufacturing, chemical or process industries and demonstrated ability to guide teams through complex growth and change.
This is a highly visible role currently based in Oxford. Candidates must be able to work onsite at least 3 days per week and travel as needed to demonstration plants in the North of England and future commercial plants across the world.
Key Responsibilities
Operations
* Work with colleagues across the business to translate FluoRok’s strategic objectives into operational plans, milestones and KPIs that support scaling from pilot to commercial‑scale production.
* Support the development of robust processes covering all aspects of manufacturing operations (e.g. procurement, working capital management, logistics).
* Guide and co‑ordinate operational planning to support short‑and‑long‑term growth, including capacity planning, site expansion and manufacturing footprint optimisation.
* Identify, prioritise and manage cross‑functional operational initiatives to support business goals.
* Manage multiple production sites including via partnership agreements (e.g. JV, licensing agreements).
Manufacturing scale‑up
* Oversee development, project management and launch of multi‑site operations and manufacturing capabilities in the UK and support readiness for future international expansion.
* Implement consistent, well‑documented systems and processes for reproducible, high‑quality manufacturing compliant with regulatory and safety standards.
* Work closely and constructively with engineering, R&D, quality, and commercial teams to ensure successful scale‑up from pilot plants to demonstration facilities to commercial operations.
* Support sustainable plant performance including profitability and effective financial management within agreed budgets.
Process improvement
* Drive operational excellence through inclusive systems thinking, lean manufacturing principles, and continuous improvement methodologies.
* Establish transparent and shared performance metrics and reporting frameworks to monitor facility performance, production quality, cost, and delivery outcomes.
Leadership
* Build, mentor, and lead high‑performing teams - fostering a culture of trust, safety, accountability and collaboration.
* Act as a trusted member of the executive team, providing operational insights to support strategic decision‑making and stakeholder communication.
* Work closely with the CEO to maintain shared visibility on operational milestones aligned with investor and commercial commitments.
HSE, risk & compliance
* Ensure compliance with health, safety, environmental and regulatory standards across all operational sites.
* Encourage proactive identification and open discussion of operational risks and implement mitigation strategies.
* Champion process and personal safety, fostering a strong and shared safety culture across all facilities/sites.
Qualifications & Experience
Essential
* Proven senior operational leadership experience (e.g., VP/Head of Operations or similar) in chemical manufacturing, advanced materials, biotechnology or related industries with complex operating environments.
* Strong interpersonal communication, influencing and relationship‑building skills, with the ability to work effectively across functions.
* Experience in implementing and leading process and personal safety to the highest standard.
* Demonstrated experience of supporting and enabling the scaling of manufacturing operations from pilot to commercial scale, ideally within multi‑site environments.
* Strong programme management and financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, and thoughtful resource planning.
* Experience driving continuous improvement and developing engaged, capable teams.
* Willingness and ability to be onsite in Oxford (minimum 3 days/week) and travel as needed.
Desirable
* Experience in high purity and/or battery materials chemical manufacturing
* Knowledge of chemical safety, regulatory compliance, and quality management systems (e.g. ISO).
* International operations experience or readiness to support global expansion.
What You’ll Bring To FluoRok
* A strategic operational mindset with the ability to translate strategy into clear, achievable execution plans.
* A demonstrated commitment to delivery, leading teams through significant growth and operational milestones, managing multiple sites.
* A balanced approach to action combined with a strong commitment to safety, sustainability, and quality.
* A collaborative and inclusive leadership style that motivates teams and aligns diverse functions toward shared goals.
Competitive package
Including private health insurance, group life assurance and share options plan.
Why FluoRok
Joining FluoRok means playing an integral role in scaling a pioneering, purpose‑driven organisation with the potential to transform and disrupt fluorochemical production globally – delivering safer, more sustainable, economically viable and localised solutions that impact industries from batteries to food and healthcare, supporting the world’s push towards net‑zero.
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