Operations manager

Operations Manager/Plant Lead – North Yorkshire

Engineering Manufacturing | Senior Operational Leadership

Permanent

Salary on application

We are recruiting an experienced Operations Manager to take ownership of operations within a complex engineering and manufacturing business.

They design and manufacture highly engineered equipment for demanding, technically complex environments, with a strong reputation for engineering quality and reliability.

The Role

This is a plant-wide leadership position with accountability for safety, quality, delivery, operational performance and continuous improvement across manufacturing operations.

You will lead a broad operational function spanning production, planning, purchasing, warehousing, logistics, quality, HSE, facilities and engineering support.

The role is focused on improving site performance, strengthening operational systems, increasing capacity, developing people and ensuring output remains aligned with production plans and customer delivery commitments.

It would suit someone who has developed through manufacturing, engineering, production, project delivery, construction, operations or site leadership, and who is ready for broad operational ownership in a complex engineering environment.

What You’ll Be Driving

• Improving flow, capacity, productivity and delivery performance across a complex manufacturing site.
• Translating production schedules and customer demand into clear, achievable operational plans.
• Leading lean, value-stream and continuous improvement activity that delivers measurable change.
• Strengthening the links between production, planning, purchasing, inventory, warehousing and logistics.
• Building the systems, structure and operational discipline needed to support site growth.
• Maintaining a strong focus on safety, quality, compliance and customer delivery.
• Leading, coaching and developing managers, supervisors and technical specialists across the operation.

What You’ll Bring

• A strong background in manufacturing or engineering operations within a technically complex environment.
• Experience leading multi-function teams across production, planning, supply chain, logistics, quality, HSE or engineering support.
• Sound manufacturing knowledge, with the ability to balance safety, quality, cost, delivery, people and capacity.
• A practical continuous improvement mindset, ideally with exposure to lean, value-stream mapping or structured operational improvement.
• Confidence working with KPIs, production plans, budgets, forecasts and operational reporting.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to work across operations, commercial teams, senior leadership, customers and third parties.
• ISO 9001 / QHSE awareness and a structured, safety-first approach.