We are seeking to appoint an Operations Director to lead the operational transformation for high growth Private Equity backed manufacturing business.
Reporting into the CEO you will have strategic and operational responsibility for: manufacturing, engineering, procurement, supply chain, NPI and HSE.
Key Responsibilities:
* Provide strong, visible leadership; foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and collaboration across operations, commercial, and executive teams.
* Re-establish control and consistent performance across operations, embedding clear governance, KPIs, and accountability.
* Drive measurable improvements in product quality, delivery performance, cost efficiency, and working capital through lean and continuous improvement principles, process optimisation, and robust quality management systems across the business.
* Establish the operational infrastructure and capabilities required to support expansion through new product introduction (NPI), diversification into adjacent markets, and integration of acquisitions.
* Be the sponsor for Health & Safety across the business embedding the right culture to ensure safe working practices for our staff, partners and customers
* Drive compliance to industry standards and product certification
* Strengthen supplier partnerships, improve sourcing strategies, pricing mechanisms and stock management, mitigate risk, and enhance cost competitiveness while maintaining quality and reliability
* Drive measurable improvements in product quality, delivery performance, cost efficiency, and working capital through lean and continuous improvement principles, process optimisation, and robust quality management systems across the business
* Build, and develop a high-performing, scalable quality and sourcing organisation capable of supporting rapid growth, increasing complexity, and geographic expansion.
About You:
We are seeking an individual who has the experience of successfully scaling a manufacturing business and transforming operational performance through the introduction KPI’s and implementation of lean methodologies. You will be a hands-on leader who is able to thrive as part of an executive leadership team while also building confidence on the shop-floor through your detailed understanding of how to build a successful operational infrastructure.
Experience and competencies:
Executive Operations & Strategic Leadership
* Board-Level Strategy: Proven experience setting, implementing, and executing operations strategy at a board level with full end-to-end accountability.
* Change & Turnaround Leadership: Track record of leading successful turnarounds, scaling operations, and managing change programmes to stabilise and professionalise businesses in fast-paced, dynamic environments.
* Financial & Performance Excellence: Results-oriented leader with a history of delivering cost, efficiency, and productivity improvements at scale.
Manufacturing & Supply Chain Management
* Assembly Manufacturing Expertise: Extensive operations management experience specifically within an assembly manufacturing environment, maintaining a safety-first culture.
* End-to-End Supply Chain: Experience managing comprehensive supply chains, including overseas sourcing and logistics.
* Capacity & Process Optimisation: Skilled in workforce planning, routing, capacity modelling, and throughput optimisation.
Process, Quality, & Technology Infrastructure
* Modern Operational Methodologies: Deep knowledge and practical application of Lean, Continuous Improvement methodologies, and strong process design/standardisation.
* Data & Metrics-Driven Management: Strong focus on KPI-driven management, using data and root-cause analysis to make sound judgments and solve complex problems.
* Systems Implementation: Experience implementing operational and technological infrastructure, including ERP, Quality Assurance (QA) systems, and workforce management tools to support cross-functional delivery.
* End-to-End Quality: Strongly versed in quality best practices spanning the entire product lifecycle, from factory to field.
Culture, Communication, & People Leadership
* People Development: Strong employee relations experience with a focus on mentoring, coaching, and developing teams.
* Collaborative Communication: Clear, transparent communication style with exceptional interpersonal skills to drive cross-functional alignment.
* Adaptability & Execution: Exceptional project management and sound decision-making skills; flexible and adaptable when prioritising in challenging situations.
Salary & Benefits:
* Being a privately owned business the successful candidate will be eligible growth shares along with an attractive base salary, executive bonus, health insurance and pension