Job Requirements

Role Summary

We are looking for a dynamic Operations Manager who is equally skilled at driving strategic discussions in the boardroom and rolling up their sleeves on the shop floor to ensure smooth, hands-on operations to lead our manufacturing plant’s daily operations while acting as a Deputy to the Plant Manager. This role is pivotal in reshaping our workforce, driving a strong cultural transformation, and readying our plant for a more professional, results-driven future.  You will focus on developing a high-performing team, implementing best practices, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and operational excellence. With a strong mandate for change, you will lead the charge in transforming our plant’s culture and workforce to align with strategic objectives.

It is desirable that within 6-12 months, the successful candidate will be ready to step into the Plant Manager role.

Key Responsibilities

Environmental, Health and Safety

• To be a positive role model for health and safety at the plant, taking a lead in initiatives including but not limited to GEMBA walks, risk assessments, incident investigations, establishing corrective and improvement actions, behavioural safety reviews and incident reporting.
• Promote and enforce a proactive but positive safety culture, ensuring full compliance with UK health and safety regulations and creating a zero-tolerance environment for unsafe practices.
• Partner with the EH&S Manager to ensure all plant operations meet legal, environmental, and industry requirements.  

Transformational Leadership and Team Development

• Team Restructuring: Evaluate and reshape the existing team as needed, ensuring each team member aligns with the plant’s goals and contributes effectively. Take proactive steps to address performance issues, skill gaps, or structural adjustments.
• Training and Development: Implement training programs focused on upskilling the workforce, closing skill gaps, and preparing team members for future growth within the company.
• Talent Acquisition: Partner with Human Resources to recruit, interview, and select high-potential candidates for open roles. Ensure that all new hires align with the plant's culture, skill requirements, and performance expectations.
• Workforce Planning: Assess staffing needs regularly and plan for future workforce requirements to meet production targets. Proactively identify skills gaps and recruitment needs, ensuring a robust pipeline of qualified talent.

Driving Cultural and Operational Change

• Culture Change: Lead efforts to build a professional, safety-focused, and high-integrity culture across the plant. Engage employees at all levels to foster a culture of pride, professionalism, and commitment to quality.
• Empowerment: Promote a shift towards collaborative problem-solving, innovation, and ownership at all levels. Encourage and empower employees to contribute ideas, challenge inefficiencies, and actively participate in continuous improvement.
• Communicating Vision and Values: Regularly communicate the plant’s vision, goals, and core values, ensuring alignment across the team and engaging employees in the journey toward a more professional and productive workplace.
• Visibility: Be a visible leader who actively engages with teams on the shop floor, inspires through presence, and drives performance by staying connected with all levels of the operation

Operational Excellence and Continuous Improvement

• Process Optimisation: Partner with the Performance Improvement Manager to execute initiatives to streamline processes, increase productivity, and reduce waste using a broad range of continuous improvement methodologies.
• Standardisation and Best Practices: Drive the adoption of best practices and standard operating procedures to establish consistent, high-quality production standards.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilise data to track performance metrics, identify trends, and guide decisions that enhance operational efficiency, product quality, and cost-effectiveness.
• Innovation in Operations: Partner with the Process and Product Engineering Manager to introduce new technologies, new products, automation, and data systems that enhance operational efficiency and improve plant output and safety.
• Project Execution: Participate in and lead cross-functional project teams, ensuring alignment and collaboration among departments and delivery of project goals.

Change Management and Employee Engagement

• Change Management Strategy: Partner with the Quality and Change Manager to ensure a structured approach to change management, ensuring the successful adoption of new processes, team structures, and cultural norms.
• Engagement and Communication: Actively engage with employees, listen to feedback, and maintain open communication to ease transitions and secure buy-in from all team members.
• Overcoming Resistance: Address resistance to change through clear communication and employee engagement, providing support to adapt to new standards while making necessary changes to align with plant goals.

Strategic Support and Deputy Responsibilities

• Deputy Plant Manager: Act as the primary backup for the Plant Manager, overseeing plant operations in their absence and participating in senior management discussions.
• Strategic Planning: Work alongside the Plant Manager on long-term strategic planning, including resource allocation, budget management, and high-level decision-making.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Coordinate with departments such as HR, finance, and procurement to ensure that operational changes align with broader company goals and resource planning.

Supply Chain and Inventory Management

• Supply Chain: Work closely with the Supply Chain Manager to align production schedules, manage inventory levels, and anticipate material requirements. Ensure smooth coordination of inbound and outbound materials to prevent production interruptions.
• Resource Planning and Allocation: Coordinate with the Supply Chain Manager to ensure that raw materials, components, and other resources are available as needed for production. Assist in developing contingency plans to address supply chain disruptions.
• Inventory Optimisation: Partner with the supply chain team to optimise inventory management, reducing waste and ensuring that inventory levels align with production demand. Identify and implement improvements to inventory processes that enhance cost-effectiveness and efficiency.

Financial Responsibilities

• Budget Management: Oversee and manage the plant’s operational budget, ensuring that spending aligns with revenue and operational output. Track expenditures and make adjustments to optimise resource allocation.
• Cost Control and Reduction: Identify opportunities to reduce costs across operations without compromising quality or safety. Implement strategies to improve efficiency, manage waste, and reduce production expenses.
• Financial Reporting and Analysis: Prepare and present regular financial reports on plant performance, expenses, and cost-saving initiatives. Use data to make informed decisions and adjustments that support financial targets.
• Capital Expenditure Planning: Collaborate with Senior Management to plan, create business cases and justify capital expenditure required for equipment upgrades, facility improvements, or other long-term investments in the plant.

Essential Qualifications and Experience

• IOSH Managing Safely
• At least 5 years of working with ISO9001 quality management system.
• Good working knowledge of TPM principles and preventative maintenance
• At least 5 years of production planning and control experience including capacity planning
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or a related field.
• At least 10 years of experience of working in operations, manufacturing or plant management roles.
• Demonstratable experience in evaluating and reshaping teams, implementing cultural transformations, and building a cohesive, professional workforce aligned with strategic objectives.
• At least 5 years of experience of applying continuous improvement methodologies (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma) to drive measurable improvements in operational efficiency, waste reduction, and quality.
• Demonstratable strong track record in managing change initiatives, including developing strategies to enhance employee engagement, communicating effectively during transitions, and successfully embedding a new culture.
• Experience in a role with high visibility to senior leadership and the ability to step into a Plant Manager role within 6-12 months. Ideally, experience supporting or deputising a Plant Leader or Senior Operations Manager
• Experience assessing, planning, and justifying capital investments, such as new equipment or facility upgrades, with an understanding of ROI and long-term financial impact.
• Proven experience in developing, managing, and adjusting budgets dynamically in a manufacturing or production environment, with a focus on aligning spending with operational targets.

Desirable Qualifications and Experience

• NEBOSHH Certificate
• MBA, MSC in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or a strongly related field.
• Project management qualifications including PMP or PRINCE 2
• At least 5 years of working with ISO14001 quality management system.
• At least 5 years of working with ISO45001 quality management system.