Head of Operations – Electronics / Engineering Manufacturing

About Elite Interfaces

We design, supply and manufacture bespoke test solutions and services for the electronics manufacturing industry. Our work includes in-circuit and functional test, flash programming, flying probe support, test fixtures, interfaces, software and automated handling solutions.

We are looking for a practical manufacturing leader to take overall responsibility for operations at our Reading facility, covering Production, Operations Planning, Product Development, Quality, Health & Safety, Procurement and Stores. As a key member of the management team, you will turn customer demand and business priorities into realistic operating plans, aligning people, materials, equipment and suppliers to deliver the right specification, quality, cost and timing. You will help shape business decisions and give the Managing Director a clear view of performance, risks, capacity and investment needs. You will lead through Production Managers and functional leads, giving them clear priorities, resources and accountability while enabling them to manage day-to-day work.

What you will do

• Lead and develop the operations team: set objectives, coach managers, review performance, recruit and build skills, and address underperformance fairly.
• Build operating and capacity plans from the sales pipeline and order book, covering labour, skills, materials, equipment, subcontracting and delivery dates.
• Work with Sales and the Technical Estimator to confirm achievable commitments.
• Coordinate Design, Data Preparation, Software and Production so that reviews, drawings, job instructions, CNC programs, bills of materials and customer requirements are ready before manufacturing progresses.
• Run regular operations reviews, resolve constraints and provide clear reporting on delivery, safety, quality, productivity, costs, stock, suppliers and customer-critical work.
• Control operational budgets, purchasing, overtime, scrap, rework, subcontracting and capital spending within agreed authority.
• Recommend recruitment, training, maintenance and investment, and escalate significant risks or variances.
• Lead effective use and improvement of the ERP system.
• Improve workflow and productivity through practical methods such as visual management, 5S, standard work, skills matrices and lessons learned.
• Maintain and improve the quality management system, including document control, audits, management reviews and corrective actions.
• Investigate defects, non-conforming work and customer complaints, tackling their root causes.
• Lead Health & Safety through effective risk assessments, safe working methods, training, inspections and incident reporting.
• Ensure equipment and workplace controls are safe and maintained, covering machinery safety (PUWER), hazardous substances (COSHH), manual handling, PPE, fire safety and emergencies, with competent advice where needed.
• Oversee procurement and stores, including supplier selection and approval, purchasing commitments, material availability, bought-out parts, stock accuracy, obsolescence and lead-time risks.
• Resolve supplier quality, delivery and commercial issues.
• Support key customer and supplier discussions, and maintain continuity plans for critical skills, suppliers, machinery, data, utilities and other operational dependencies.

What Success Looks Like For You In Your First Year

• You will establish clear responsibilities, effective handovers and regular operations reviews, enabling production managers to run routine work without unnecessary escalation.
• You will set performance baselines and achieve sustained improvements in supplier delivery, right-first-time quality, productivity, stock accuracy, and safety.
• Capacity, skills, equipment and supplier risks will be identified early, quality and safety actions will be closed on time; materials will be available with tight stockholding; costs will be visible and controlled.
• Internal teams and key customers will see reliable delivery, clear communication and effective problem resolution.
• You will be a calm, clear and commercially aware leader who sets expectations and follows through.
• You will understand low-volume, high-mix manufacturing: many different products, often built in small quantities to individual customer specifications, and balance delivery pressure with safety, quality and cost.

Qualifications and Experience

• Substantial operations or manufacturing management experience in engineering, electronics, electro-mechanical manufacturing or another technically demanding environment, leading through managers or team leaders.
• Advanced competence in functional test fixtures and strong technical problem-solving skills.
• Experience in quality management systems, non-conformance control, corrective action, internal audits and management review, plus sound knowledge of UK workplace Health & Safety duties.
• Experience in procurement, supplier management, material planning and stock control, and planning capacity across repeat, one-off and bespoke jobs.
• Strong commercial and financial awareness, including labour, materials, overheads, margins, working capital, stock and capital expenditure.
• A track record of sustained improvements in delivery, productivity, quality or cost, using performance information to identify problems and take corrective action.
• Strong communication and people-management skills, including recruitment, objective-setting, performance reviews and skills development, with confidence to challenge constructively and make decisions within agreed authority.
• Competence in Excel and business systems for planning, purchasing, stock, quality and reporting.
• A relevant engineering, manufacturing or operations qualification, or equivalent senior practical experience.
• A full UK driving licence and willingness to travel occasionally.

Useful Additional Experience

• Electronics manufacturing, automated test equipment, PCB testing, test fixture manufacture or special-purpose machinery.
• In-circuit or functional test, flash programming, test interfaces, fixture wiring, precision machining, CNC drilling or electro-mechanical assembly.
• ISO 9001 quality systems and external certification or customer audits.
• IOSH Managing Safely, NEBOSH General Certificate, or training in internal auditing, root cause analysis, Lean, 5S or continuous improvement.
• Introducing or improving ERP, MRP, planning, purchasing or stock-control systems, and working in an owner-managed engineering SME.

Base salary £70-80k depending on experience.