Sewell Wallis is exclusively partnering with a manufacturing business based in Alfreton with a long-standing heritage in quality, who are looking for a Chief Operations Officer. Operating as a vertically integrated business with manufacturing at the heart of their identity, operational excellence is critical to their long-term success. They are entering an important phase of transformation focused on improving efficiency, strengthening operational discipline, modernising infrastructure, and building a scalable manufacturing operation capable of supporting future growth.
This is not a traditional operational oversight role. It requires a highly engaged, hands-on operational leader who can bring structure, pace, accountability, and proactive problem-solving across the business.
What will you be doing?
Lead and integrate all operational functions across the business
Drive operational performance, efficiency, and execution across manufacturing and production operations
Build a scalable operational structure capable of supporting future business growth
Ensure operational priorities align with commercial demand, customer expectations, and business objectives
Create a culture of accountability, pace, ownership, and continuous improvement across operational teams
Take ownership of operational KPIs, workflow performance, and delivery standards
Support the business in becoming increasingly production-ready and operationally scalable
Improve planning accuracy, workflow visibility, and production coordination
Align operational planning with sales forecasts, customer demand, production capacity, workforce availability and material availability
Work closely with Commercial and Finance teams to improve forecasting discipline and cross-functional planning
Lead a wider cultural shift towards proactive quality accountability across manufacturing operations, ensuring managers take ownership of individual and departmental quality performance
Work closely with Production, Technical, and Quality teams to strengthen manufacturing standards, improve consistency, and embed preventative quality controls
Support and empower the Quality team to act as strategic operational partners, driving improvement projects, coaching operational teams, and influencing long-term behavioural change across manufacturing
Embed stronger quality reporting, accountability, and performance visibility across operational functions
Coach, develop, and support Heads of Department across operations
Support disciplined operational investment and resource allocation
Provide leadership across IT, systems, site, and facilities functions
Ensure capital expenditure decisions are commercially justified and operationally effective
Balance short-term operational priorities with long-term manufacturing sustainability
Improve machinery utilisation and operational asset management
Lead regular operational reviews focused on: production status, delivery performance, operational risks, workforce planning and quality performance.
Ensure robust KPI tracking, reporting, and operational governance disciplines are embedded throughout the business What skills are we looking for?
Significant senior operational leadership experience within manufacturing or product-led environments
Proven track record of: improving manufacturing performance, leading operational transformation, driving operational efficiency, improving planning and workflow management and building scalable operational capability
Strong experience across: production, manufacturing, operational planning, operational leadership and infrastructure and systems
Experience operating within complex, fast-paced manufacturing environments
Previous experience leading operational teams through change and performance improvement
Experience working closely with commercial, finance, technical, and supply chain functions
SME, owner-led, or vertically integrated manufacturing experience highly desirable What's on offer?
c.£75,000 + realistic and attractive bonus structure to achieve an OTE of £100k+
Pension salary sacrifice scheme
Initially office-based (first 3-6 months) to embed into the business
Hybrid working thereafter (minimum 2 days per week in the office)
36 days holiday (including public holidays) If you're looking for a role where you can genuinely influence business performance, drive operational discipline, and make a measurable impact, we would welcome a confidential conversation.
Apply for this role below or contact Sue for more information.
To apply please send your CV, quoting our reference and specifying which website you saw this position advertised on. Due to the high volume of applications please accept that if we have not responded to your application within seven days, your application has not been successful. Sewell Wallis is a specialist recruitment company with a vast amount of experience in our industry we offer permanent, temporary and interim recruitment support for accounting and finance, human resources and business support positions. We recruit at all levels within finance from Purchase Ledger Administrator and Credit Controller level through to Financial Controller and Director positions. With offices in Sheffield and Leeds, we are well situated to cover all of South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and Manchester. Please visit our website for more information on accountancy and finance jobs and human resources or business support positions