Operations Manager - Bedford in Norton

Operations Manager - Bedford

2026-09-19T00:00:00

Location: Letchworth, Hertfordshire, GB, SG6 3

Application Deadline: 2026-10-20T02:02:50.83

Introduction

Saab UK is part of Scandinavia's largest defence company, bringing together the best of Swedish and British innovation. Saab offers world-leading solutions and services in defence, aviation, space, and civil security to keep people and society safe. Our UK presence has been growing at pace, meaning we can offer a wide range of opportunities for personal fulfilment and career growth. We currently employ over 600 people across eight sites in the UK, and our specialisations include software engineering, underwater robotics, radars, AI, and armed forces training.

Saab is a leading defence and security company with an enduring purpose: to help nations keep their people and society safe. Empowered by its 28,000 talented people, Saab continuously pushes the boundaries of technology to create a safer and more sustainable world. Saab designs, manufactures, and maintains advanced systems in aeronautics, weapons, command and control, sensors, and underwater systems. Headquartered in Sweden, Saab has major operations worldwide and is part of the domestic defence capability of several nations.

The Role

This role is part of our BlueBear Business in Bedfordshire. The Operations Manager will work across the organisation providing governance, compliance, trials, and business coordination support. Key focus areas include process improvement, performance tracking, and capturing customer feedback to continuously improve BlueBear operations and integration with Saab UK.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive continuous improvement across the organisation to achieve high standards.
• Be the focal point for process standardisation and compliance with the organisation’s quality management system.
• Serve as the point of contact for Saab UK functions on critical compliance areas including export control, health & safety, and security.
• Develop and track KPIs to support the delivery of the organisation's Strategic Business Plan.
• Implement processes for capturing customer feedback, communicate successes, and track changes where needed.
• Communicate Operational Excellence throughout the organisation.
• Coordinate all internal and external audit activities.
• Act as Risk and Opportunity Coordinator and lead all business continuity management activities.
• Coordinate compliance activities such as export control, ensuring resources and processes are in place.
• Implement new compliance standards and business support tools.
• Capture and track internal feedback on processes to drive continuous improvements.
• Deliver internal training on continuous improvement and operational excellence when required.
• Champion information management within BlueBear.
• Support internal project activities and manage the activities of the Facility Coordinator.

Qualifications and Skills

• Proven leadership skills with the ability to drive change.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Highly motivated self-starter requiring minimal supervision.
• Demonstrable experience in implementing effective organizational change.
• Proven experience managing risks and implementing risk management policies, including business continuity plans.
• Experience with Quality Management Systems and ISO 9001 compliance; ISO 27001 experience is desirable.
• Awareness of critical compliance areas including UK export control, health & safety, and environmental management (desirable).
• Experience within the defence industry and UK MOD is desirable.
• Applicants must possess or be able to attain National Security Vetting clearance to SC level.
• Submission of application implies consent for workforce screening activities such as security checks, reference checks, and verification of working rights.

#s1-Gen customer feedback, communicate success and track change where required. Communicate Operational Excellence throughout the organisation. Co-ordinate all internal and external audit activity. Act as Risk and Opportunity Co-ordinator and lead all business continuity management activities. Co-ordinate compliance activity such as export control ensuring sufficient resources and processes are in place. Co-ordinate the implementation of new compliance standards and business support tools. Capture and track internal feedback on processes to drive continuous improvements. Delivery internal training on continuous improvement / operational excellence where required. Champion information management within BlueBear. Support internal project activity where required and manage the activities of the Facility Coordinator. Qualifications and Skills: Proven leadership skills, ability to drive change in the organisation. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Highly motivated self starter who requires minimal supervision. Demonstratable experience of implementing effective change in an organisation. Proven experience managing risks and implementing risk management policies inc. business continuity plans. Experience with implementation Quality Management Systems and compliance with ISO 9001. Experience with ISO 27001 desirable. Awareness of critical compliance areas including UK export control, health & safety and environmental management desirable. Experience with defence industry and UK MOD desirable. As a National Security Vetting clearance is required for this role, applicants will be required to hold National Security Vetting clearance to SC level or have the ability to gain it. By submitting an application to Saab UK you consent to undertaking workforce screening activities that may include but are not limited to: Baseline Personnel Security checks, National Security Vetting, reference checks, verification of working rights and in all circumstances preferred candidates will be placed through a security interview.

Operations Manager - Bedford Introduction Saab UK is part of Scandinavia's largest defence company, bringing together the best of Swedish and British innovation. Saab offers world-leading solutions and services in defence, aviation, space, and civil security to keep people and society safe. Our UK presence has been growing at pace, meaning we can offer a wide range of opportunities for personal fulfilment and career growth. We currently employ over 600 people across eight sites in the UK, and our specialisations include software engineering, underwater robotics, radars, AI, and armed forces training. What you will be part of Saab is a leading defence and security company with an enduring purpose, to help nations keep their people and society safe. Empowered by its 28,000 talented people, Saab constantly pushes the boundaries of technology to create a safer and more sustainable world. Saab designs, manufactures and maintains advanced systems in aeronautics, weapons, command and control