Operations Manager - Manufacturing

Lead a growing manufacturing operation through its next phase of development, driving operational excellence, team performance, and strategic execution. This is a high-impact leadership role offering the opportunity to influence business direction while delivering continuous improvement across an evolving production environment. Client Details My client is a well-established and growing specialist manufacturer operating within the automotive sector. With a strong reputation for quality, innovation, and customer service, the business has experienced significant growth and is now seeking an experienced Operations Manager to help drive performance, efficiency, and scalability across the organisation. Working closely with the Managing Director and Senior Management Team, you will play a key role in shaping operational strategy while ensuring the successful day-to-day delivery of manufacturing activities. Description Reporting directly to the Managing Director, the Operations Manager will take ownership of end-to-end operational performance across the factory. As a member of the Senior Management Team, you will contribute to strategic planning, support business growth initiatives, provide operational insight to leadership, and drive lean manufacturing principles across the factory environment. Health & Safety, quality standards, employee development, and KPI management will all form a critical part of the role. You will be responsible for: • Ensuring the efficient flow of work from order release through to product completion. • Optimising productivity, managing capacity, and removing operational bottlenecks. • Leading all operational functions across the manufacturing facility. • Delivering production plans in line with customer and commercial commitments. • Managing operational performance, productivity, and capacity utilisation. • Driving continuous improvement and lean manufacturing initiatives. • Developing, coaching, and mentoring operational teams. • Ensuring robust Health & Safety and quality standards are maintained. • Providing data-led reporting and operational insights to senior leadership. • Supporting business strategy through operational planning and execution. Profile The successful candidate will provide strong leadership to the operational departments, creating a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and high performance. You will demonstrate: • A proven track record of managing manufacturing or engineering environments. • A solid understanding of production flow, capacity planning, and operational performance management. • Experience leading multi-disciplinary teams and developing front-line leadership capability. • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a data-driven approach to decision making. • Experience working with ERP systems and operational reporting tools. • A hands-on leadership style combined with the ability to think strategically. • Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills. • A passion for continuous improvement, operational excellence, and team development. Job Offer • £55 - £65k. • Annual profit related bonus. • Enhanced pension scheme. • Generous holiday allowance with the option to earn additional leave. • Opportunity to make a significant impact within a successful and growing organisation.