At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead daily operations in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and drive continuous improvement.
- Company: Dynamic company focused on growth and innovation in manufacturing.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, opportunities for team development, and a chance to shape operations.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by improving performance and developing teams in a thriving environment.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in manufacturing operations and strong leadership skills.
- Other info: Join a business investing in growth and enhancing capabilities.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Our client is seeking an Operations Manager to lead day‑to‑day manufacturing across a multi‑site operation. This role suits a hands‑on operational leader who enjoys building structure, improving performance, and developing teams in a fast‑paced, customer‑led environment. Working as part of the senior leadership team, the Operations Manager will take ownership of production delivery and site performance, embedding clear routines, standards and accountability to support sustained growth.
Key responsibilities
- Lead daily operations across production and logistics functions, ensuring plan adherence, service levels and efficiency targets are achieved.
- Implement robust daily management routines, including shift handovers, performance reviews, problem solving and action tracking.
- Drive standard work and SOP discipline to reduce variation, improve quality and increase throughput.
- Develop supervisors and team leaders, building capability, succession and stronger retention through consistent expectations.
- Deliver continuous improvement projects across safety, quality, productivity and flow, from quick wins to structured initiatives.
- Improve operational visibility through meaningful KPIs, visual management and reporting that teams understand and act upon.
- Partner with maintenance, quality and H&S to ensure compliance, audit readiness and proactive risk management.
- Support operational business cases for capex and layout or process changes that improve capacity and cost.
What the ideal candidate looks like
- Proven experience leading manufacturing operations, ideally within multi‑shift environments.
- Strong track record of delivering measurable improvements through lean / CI methods and practical standardisation.
- Confident leader who brings calm control when it’s busy, and drives improvement activity when it’s quieter.
- Comfortable influencing cross‑functional stakeholders, aligning teams and landing change without drama.
- Commercially aware, can build a case for investment and prioritise improvements that matter.
- Engineering or manufacturing qualification is desirable, equivalent operational experience is equally valued.
Why this role
- Significant opportunity to shape the operating model and introduce best‑practice cadence and consistency.
- Genuine scope to develop the team and reduce reliance on single points of failure.
- A business investing in growth, equipment and capability.
Head of Operations employer: Consortium Professional Recruitment
Contact Detail:
Consortium Professional Recruitment Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Operations
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry and let them know you're on the hunt for a Head of Operations role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on an opportunity or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its operations. Understand their challenges and think about how your experience with lean methods and continuous improvement can help them achieve their goals. Show them you’re not just a fit, but the perfect fit!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your storytelling skills! Be ready to share specific examples of how you've led teams, improved processes, and delivered results in previous roles. This will help you stand out and demonstrate your hands-on leadership style.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got loads of opportunities that might be just what you’re looking for. Plus, it’s a great way to show your enthusiasm for joining our team and making a real impact in operations.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Operations
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the job description. Highlight your experience in leading manufacturing operations and any lean/CI methods you've used. We want to see how you can bring calm control and drive improvements!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of how you've improved performance and developed teams in fast-paced environments. We love a good story!
Showcase Your Leadership Style: In your application, let us know about your leadership style. How do you build capability and retain talent? We’re looking for someone who can influence cross-functional teams and land change smoothly, so give us the details!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, we love seeing applications come in directly from our site!
How to prepare for a job interview at Consortium Professional Recruitment
✨Know Your Operations Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into the company's operations. Understand their production processes, logistics functions, and any recent changes they've made. This will help you speak confidently about how your experience aligns with their needs.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Be ready to discuss your approach to leading teams in a fast-paced environment. Share specific examples of how you've developed supervisors and team leaders, and how you've driven improvements in performance and accountability.
✨Prepare for Problem-Solving Scenarios
Expect to be asked about challenges you've faced in previous roles. Prepare a few examples where you implemented lean or continuous improvement methods to overcome obstacles. Highlight the measurable results you achieved.
✨Demonstrate Commercial Awareness
Understand the business's financial goals and how operational improvements can contribute to them. Be prepared to discuss how you've built cases for investment in the past and how you prioritise improvements that matter to the bottom line.