Operations Director - Manufacturing & Supply Chain Leadership in Burntwood

Are you an experienced operational leader looking to shape the future of a growing manufacturing business? Autosmart International is a manufacturing success story. The market leader in our sector, with a proven track record of profitable growth over the last 45 years, we’re progressing our international expansion programme, particularly within Europe. As part of our continued growth, we’ve committed £40 million to the development of a state‑of‑the‑art 5‑acre operations facility in Burntwood, Staffordshire, and as part of this exciting new phase, we are looking for an inspirational, strategic Operations Director to join our senior leadership team.

Reporting to the Managing Director, you will lead and develop our operational functions across production, warehousing and dispatch, procurement and supply, engineering, and safety, health, regulatory, environmental, and quality (SHREQ). In this business‑critical role you will shape operational strategy, drive continuous improvement, and ensure our operations deliver the capacity, quality and efficiency needed to support our continued growth.

Our Operations Director will:

• Set and deliver a five‑year operational strategy aligned to the company’s ambitious growth plans
• Lead the transformation of our operations, including the continued development and optimisation of our Burntwood facility and automation capability
• Lead and develop our operational leadership team across procurement and supply, production, warehousing and dispatch, engineering and SHREQ
• Drive operational excellence, continuous improvement and lean management practices across our manufacturing and supply chain operations
• Oversee production, warehousing and supply activities to ensure products are delivered right first time, on time, safely and within budget
• Define and monitor departmental KPIs and performance metrics, using data and insight to drive performance and improvement
• Develop operational budgets, contribute to the company’s five‑year financial plan, and propose capital investments to improve safety, efficiency, capacity and quality
• Ensure full compliance with statutory obligations and ISO management systems
• Work closely with colleagues across the business to ensure operational activity supports wider company objectives and explore new opportunities for harnessing our manufacturing capabilities
• Build a high‑performance culture, developing operational leaders through coaching, clear objectives and structured development plans

Our Operations Director will bring:

• Extensive senior leadership experience within manufacturing ideally within the chemical, food or pharmaceutical sectors
• A strong track record of developing and delivering operational strategy
• Significant experience across manufacturing, supply chain, warehousing and engineering functions
• Proven ability to lead and inspire senior teams, building capability and developing future leaders
• Experience of leading organisational or operational transformation
• A deep understanding of continuous improvement and operational excellence, e.g. Lean Six Sigma methodology
• Strong analytical and decision‑making skills, with the ability to use data to identify opportunities and solve complex problems
• Excellent communication, negotiation and influencing skills, with the ability to work effectively across functions
• Experience of budget management, capital investment planning and cost control
• Knowledge of ISO management systems and regulatory compliance
• Degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject or a leadership and management qualification is desirable

What we can offer our Operations Director:

• Competitive executive salary and benefits package – we would be keen to discuss this with you
• A senior leadership role within a stable, successful and growing UK manufacturer
• The opportunity to shape and lead the future of our operations strategy
• A varied, autonomous role where you can make a genuine impact on the business
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Non‑contributory private healthcare
• Generous contributory pension scheme
• Life insurance at three times salary
• Staff purchase scheme – take home products for FREE

Apply today If you are an ambitious and strategic operational leader looking for the opportunity to make a real impact in a growing, market‑leading manufacturing business, we would love to hear from you. Please apply now using the apply button and upload your CV.