Operations & Production Director
Location:Stoke-on-Trent
Make your application after reading the following skill and qualification requirements for this position.
Job Type:Full-time
Working Hours:8:00 am 5:00 pm, with a 30-minute break
Salary:£55,000 £65,000 per annum
Our client is a leading design and build partner delivering high-quality exhibitions, interiors, and brand experiences through fully integrated, in-house production.
Whats In It For You
* Full ownership across production, planning, warehouse, logistics, and facilities
* Opportunity to build a truly best-in-class operational function
* Auto-enrolment Workplace Pension The Peoples Pension:Automatic enrolment into a workplace pension to help you save for retirement. Envisage contributes 3% of qualifying earnings (£6,240£50,270 per year before tax)
* Health Cash Plan Healthshield: Cashback on everyday healthcare costs including dental, optical, physiotherapy, and more. Dependents covered for free; claims usually paid within 5 days
* Life Cover:Employee life insurance paying 1x your annual salary, with access to additional services such as GP24 (24/7 health experts), employee assistance programme, funeral planning, bereavement and probate support
* Birthday Holiday:Take your birthday as a paid day off (or the next working day if it falls on a weekend/public holiday)
* Paid annual leave and public holidays
Requirements
Essential
* Proven experience in a senior operations or production leadership role within:
o Exhibition/event build
o Interior fit-out / commercial interiors
o Manufacturing / bespoke joinery
* Demonstrable experience managing project-based production environments with multiple concurrent projects
* Strong track record of delivering projects on time and on budget
* Experience managing production teams, workshop environments, and multi-disciplinary teams (joinery, graphics/scenic, logistics/installation)
* Strong experience in production planning, scheduling, and resource management across multiple departments
* Ability to balance resource allocation, manage capacity, and resolve bottlenecks
* Strong commercial mindset with experience managing project budgets, cost control (materials, labour, subcontracting), and margin performance
* Experience tracking estimated vs actual costs, labour efficiency, and cost-to-complete
* Strong understanding of production workflows, technical drawings, manufacturing processes, and materials
* Experience overseeing workshop operations, warehouse/logistics, and site delivery
* Experience managing operational facilities, including machinery, plant, equipment, and site layout
* Strong understanding of health & safety, compliance, and statutory obligations
* Strong leadership skills with the ability to build high-performing, accountable teams
* Highly organised, methodical, proactive, and solutions-focused
* Excellent communicator across all levels
* Hands-on, commercially aware, and aligned to a get it done properly culture
Desirable
* Experience within a full in-house production environment
* Familiarity with SolidWorks or similar CAD systems
* Experience working within ISO-certified environments (9001 / 14001)
* IOSH / NEBOSH qualification
The Role
* Lead the end-to-end delivery of all project-based production from design handover to installation
* Own the full operational lifecycle, including manufacturing, warehouse coordination, logistics, and final delivery
* Own production planning, scheduling, and resource allocation across all live and upcoming projects
* Ensure projects are delivered on time, on budget, and to the highest quality standards
* Lead all workshop operations, including CNC, joinery, scenic, paint, graphics, and finishing
* Oversee warehouse operations, including goods in/out, picking, packing, storage, and asset tracking
* Ensure accurate stock control, inventory management, and efficient dispatch
* Oversee logistics, load planning, and installation readiness
* Ensure all projects leave the warehouse complete, checked, and ready for installation
* Drive quality control, snagging, and final sign-off processes
* Take full ownership of production-related project costs (materials, labour, subcontracting, logistics)
* Monitor labour utilisation, material usage, cost-to-complete, and margin performance
* Work closely with Commercial and Project teams to validate budgets and manage performance
* Own and improve operational workflows, production processes, and SOPs
* Lead structured production planning and coordination
* Implement lean processes to improve efficiency and reduce waste
* Manage site and facilities, including workshop, warehouse, yard, and office environments
* Oversee maintenance of machinery, plant, and equipment
* Lead site improvements, layout optimisation, and operational flow
* Lead health & safety standards, RAMS, and compliance (including ISO 9001 / 14001)
* Build and lead high-performing teams across production, warehouse, and logistics
* Drive accountability, performance, and consistent delivery standards
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