Manufacturing Transformation Consultant – Based West Sussex - Hybrid working
Engagement: 12–18 month consultancy | Day-rate £600-£800 | Start: May 2026
A well established UK manufacturing business is undertaking a major ERP transformation programme and is seeking an experienced Manufacturing Transformation Consultant to take ownership of the operations workstream.
This is a hands-on delivery role embedded within the operations function, working closely with internal teams and an external ERP implementation partner to drive process improvement, system adoption and successful go-live.
The Opportunity
You will play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering end-to-end operational processes across:
* Procurement and raw materials management
* Production planning and manufacturing
* Warehousing and distribution
* ERP configuration and process standardisation
The organisation is mid-implementation of a major ERP system and requires additional senior capacity to ensure the operations workstream is delivered at pace, to quality, and with strong user adoption.
Key Responsibilities:
Discovery & Alignment
* Map and understand existing operational processes across the full supply chain
* Build strong relationships across operations and wider business functions
* Gain deep understanding of the ERP solution and implementation plan
ERP Process Design & Delivery
* Lead decision-making on standard vs. bespoke ERP processes
* Champion “out-of-the-box” configuration wherever possible
* Reduce complexity and long-term technical debt
* Document process decisions and ensure alignment across stakeholders
Hands-On Implementation
* Own key operational workstreams within the ERP programme
* Support configuration input, process mapping, data preparation, and documentation
* Coordinate closely with the external implementation partner
* Report progress into operations leadership and programme governance
Testing & Go-Live
* Design and lead end-to-end testing (unit, integration, UAT)
* Manage defect resolution and process refinement
* Support training development and user readiness
* Lead go-live preparation and hypercare support
What We’re Looking For:
* Proven experience leading or holding a senior position in ERP implementations within manufacturing environments, ideally in chemical, food or other process-driven industries.
* Strong track record of improving and transforming manufacturing operations in medium to large organisations through successful ERP deployment.
* Practical, delivery-focused approach with a preference for hands-on involvement over purely advisory roles.
* Solid understanding of ERP best practice, with a strong emphasis on standardisation and simplification.
* Highly effective stakeholder engagement and influencing capabilities across all levels of the business.
* Experience planning and executing ERP testing phases, including system and user acceptance testing (UAT).
* Comfortable operating in cross-functional environments, collaborating across operations, finance, sales, and customer-facing teams.
Desirable Experience:
Odoo, SAP, Dynamics 365, Epicor, Oracle, SYSPRO; family-owned or SME manufacturing environments; PRINCE2/PMP.
Why This Role?
This is a high impact assignment at the centre of a critical transformation programme, offering the opportunity to directly shape operational systems, processes and long-term scalability of a manufacturing business.