Senior Operations Manager

Senior Operations Manager

Full-Time 60000 - 80000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Brush Group

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead and develop the Switchgear Business across UK sites, ensuring safety, quality, and performance.
  • Company: Join BRUSH, a leader in engineering and manufacturing with a focus on innovation.
  • Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, 26 days holiday, flexible working, and enhanced pension scheme.
  • Other info: We prioritise your development with ongoing training and support for career growth.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in a strategic role while driving operational excellence.
  • Qualifications: Proven senior operational leadership experience in engineering or manufacturing required.

The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.

The Switchgear Senior Operations Manager is responsible for leading and developing the BRUSH Switchgear Business across UK sites, ensuring alignment with Group goals. This role holds accountability for safety, quality, delivery, cost, and cash performance. The Senior Manager will implement the operating strategy and unify all functions for cohesive execution. Acting as the senior operational leader, they will handle escalations, customer engagement, and cross-site coordination. The position builds on previous responsibilities in managing resources and capacity while supporting all on-site functions.

Key Responsibilities

  • Overall accountability for HP, Prestwick, Sheffield.
  • Own safety, quality, delivery, cost, and cash performance across all three sites.
  • Set and deploy the operating strategy with clear annual targets and KPIs.
  • Align operations, engineering, and procurement into one execution model.
  • Lead site leaders through cadence reviews, performance, and resource decisions.
  • Act as an escalation point for customers, board, and group leadership on operational risk.

What We’re Looking For

  • Proven track record in senior operational leadership within an engineering or manufacturing environment.
  • Demonstrated experience improving gross margin and operational efficiency.
  • Experience in engineered-to-order manufacturing preferred.
  • Strong understanding of production planning and capacity modelling.
  • Experience implementing Lean methodologies and structured CI programmes.
  • Financial literacy with understanding of cost drivers and margin management.
  • Engineering qualification desirable or significant relevant experience.
  • Strategic yet hands-on leadership style.
  • Commercially minded and margin focused.
  • High level of accountability and ownership.
  • Confident decision-maker.

What's in it for you?

  • Competitive salary.
  • Holiday allowance starting at 26 days per annum plus bank holidays (pro rata for part time roles).
  • Flexible and Hybrid working options (role dependant).
  • Life insurance – 4 x annual salary.
  • Enhanced Company Pension scheme.
  • 24/7 free and confidential Employee Assistance Programme.
  • GP24 Service – Access to remote, private GP services 24/7, 365 days a year plus Second Medical Opinions.
  • BRUSHRewards – Discover plenty of ways to get more active and make great savings on everyday essentials as well as gifts for loved ones, holidays and special treats for yourself.
  • Family friendly policies including Enhanced Maternity/Paternity.
  • Bike2work scheme.
  • Long Service Awards.
  • Developing our people is important to us – we support and encourage development by offering ongoing professional development and training.

Senior Operations Manager employer: Brush Group

BRUSH is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment for the Senior Operations Manager role, where you can lead and innovate across multiple UK sites. With a strong focus on employee development, competitive benefits including flexible working options, and a commitment to safety and quality, BRUSH fosters a culture of collaboration and growth. Join us to make a meaningful impact while enjoying a supportive workplace that values your contributions and well-being.

Brush Group

Contact Details:

Brush Group Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Operations Manager

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to connections in the engineering and manufacturing sectors. Attend industry events or join relevant online groups. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!

Tip Number 2

Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its operations. Understand their goals and challenges, especially around safety, quality, and cost performance. This will help you showcase how your experience aligns with their needs.

Tip Number 3

Practice your leadership stories! Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've improved operational efficiency or managed resources effectively. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses.

Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search!

We think you need these skills to ace Senior Operations Manager

Senior Operational Leadership
Safety Management
Quality Assurance
Cost Management
Cash Performance
Production Planning
Capacity Modelling

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Senior Operations Manager role. Highlight your proven track record in operational leadership and any relevant engineering or manufacturing experience.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you're the perfect fit for this position. Share specific examples of how you've improved operational efficiency or managed resources effectively in previous roles.

Showcase Your Leadership Style:We want to see your strategic yet hands-on approach to leadership. In your application, mention how you've led teams through challenges and how you engage with customers and stakeholders.

Apply Through Our Website:For the best chance of success, make sure to apply directly through our website. This way, we can easily track your application and get back to you quicker!

How to prepare for a job interview at Brush Group

Know Your Numbers

As a Senior Operations Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your financial literacy. Brush up on key metrics like gross margin and operational efficiency. Be ready to discuss how you've improved these in past roles, as this will show your understanding of cost drivers and margin management.

Showcase Your Leadership Style

This role requires a strategic yet hands-on leadership approach. Prepare examples that highlight your ability to lead site leaders and make confident decisions. Think about times when you’ve successfully unified teams or handled escalations, as these experiences will resonate well with the interviewers.

Lean Methodologies Matter

Since experience with Lean methodologies is preferred, be prepared to discuss specific instances where you've implemented these practices. Share how you’ve structured continuous improvement programmes and the impact they had on operational performance. This will demonstrate your proactive approach to enhancing efficiency.

Align with Company Goals

Understand the company's operating strategy and how it aligns with Group goals. During the interview, express your commitment to these objectives and share how you plan to set clear annual targets and KPIs. This shows that you're not just focused on the day-to-day but also on long-term success.