Overview
Operations Director
Location: West Yorkshire
Salary: Competitive + benefits
Reports to: CEO
The Role
Full Right to Work in UK Required
We are seeking an experienced Operations Director to lead and integrate our end-to-end operational and supply chain (including procurement) functions within a low-volume, highly technical manufacturing SME. This is a critical leadership role with full responsibility for Production, Quality, Supply Chain, Purchasing, Logistics, and Warehouse operations.
The successful candidate will balance strategic direction with hands-on operational leadership, ensuring operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and scalable processes while supporting innovation and customer delivery in a technically demanding environment.
Key Responsibilities
* Operational Leadership
* Provide overall leadership and direction across Production, Quality, Supply Chain, Purchasing, Logistics, and Warehouse functions.
* Develop and execute operational strategies aligned with business objectives and growth plans.
* Lead, mentor, and develop multi-disciplinary teams, fostering accountability, continuous improvement, and collaboration.
Production & Manufacturing
* Oversee low-volume, high-complexity manufacturing operations, ensuring delivery to quality, cost, and schedule.
* Drive capacity planning, resource optimisation, and production planning.
* Support engineering and NPI activities, ensuring smooth transition from design to manufacture.
Quality & Compliance
* Own the Quality Management System and ensure compliance with relevant industry standards (e.g. ISO, regulatory or customer-specific requirements).
* Drive a culture of right-first-time, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement.
* Act as senior point of contact for audits, customers, and regulatory bodies.
Supply Chain & Purchasing
* Develop and manage a resilient supply chain capable of supporting technically complex, low-volume production.
* Lead supplier selection, negotiation, performance management, and risk mitigation.
* Ensure effective purchasing strategies for bespoke, high-value, and long-lead components.
Logistics & Warehouse
* Oversee inbound and outbound logistics, inventory management, and warehouse operations.
* Ensure material availability while optimising stock levels and working capital.
* Implement systems and processes to improve traceability, accuracy, and efficiency.
Continuous Improvement & Systems
* Drive Lean, CI, and operational excellence initiatives appropriate to an SME environment.
* Improve processes, data visibility, KPIs, and ERP/MRP utilisation.
* Support scalability as the business grows, without over-engineering solutions.
About You
Essential
* Proven senior operations leadership experience within an SME manufacturing environment.
* Background in low-volume, high-mix, technically complex manufacturing.
* Strong understanding of Production, Quality, Supply Chain, Purchasing, Logistics, and Warehouse functions. You must display strong engineering and manufacturing skills.
* Comfortable operating strategically while remaining hands-on and detail-focused.
* Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
Desirable
* Experience in regulated or high-reliability industries (e.g. aerospace, defence, nuclear, medical, advanced engineering, electronics, precision manufacturing).
* Formal operations, engineering, or supply chain qualification.
* Track record of scaling operations within a growing SME.
Why Join Us?
* Key leadership role with real influence and autonomy reporting directly to the CEO
* Opportunity to shape and scale operations in a technically exciting business.
* Close collaboration with senior leadership and engineering teams.
* Agile SME environment where decisions turn into action quickly.
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