Operations Director in Swadlincote

Strategic & Operational Leadership

• Develop and implement the operational strategy in line with the company's business objectives.
• Contribute to the overall business strategy as a member of the senior leadership team, translating strategic priorities into operational plans and measurable outcomes.
• Provide leadership for all production and transport operations across multiple sites and shifts.
• Lead, develop and inspire the Production and Transport Management teams, promoting accountability, collaboration and high performance.
• Foster a culture of safety, quality, continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Lead organisational change and operational improvement initiatives to support business growth and future scalability.
• Build strong cross-functional relationships to ensure effective delivery of strategic and operational objectives.

Manufacturing & Production

• Oversee the end-to-end production process, from planning and manufacturing through to completion and product handover.
• Ensure production schedules are achieved while maintaining quality, service and cost objectives.
• Optimise labour, materials and equipment capacity to maximise productivity and operational efficiency.
• Ensure new product introductions and process changes are implemented effectively in collaboration with the R&D team.
• Monitor operational performance through agreed KPIs, identifying opportunities to improve productivity, yield and overall performance.
• Drive operational automation initiatives.

Health, Safety, Quality & Compliance

• Maintain overall accountability for Health, Safety and Environmental performance across all manufacturing operations.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant legislation, company policies and industry standards.
• Promote a proactive safety culture through visible leadership and continuous engagement.
• Ensure compliance with the Quality Management System (ISO 9001), Environmental Management System (ISO 14001) and Health & Safety Management System, together with all applicable CE, Eurocodes, BBA and other regulatory requirements.
• Ensure operational procedures remain current, documented and consistently applied across all sites.
• Lead investigations into operational issues, ensuring robust root cause analysis and implementation of corrective actions.

Continuous Improvement & Performance

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance efficiency, reduce waste, improve quality and optimise manufacturing processes.
• Analyse operational performance, business data and industry trends to identify improvement opportunities and support informed decision-making.
• Identify operational risks and implement appropriate mitigation strategies.
• Monitor progress against strategic and operational objectives, adapting plans where required to meet changing business needs.

People Leadership

• Develop a high-performing operations team through effective leadership, coaching and succession planning.
• Oversee workforce planning and organisational capability across manufacturing operations.
• Support performance management, employee development and training initiatives.
• Work closely with HR on recruitment, employee engagement and employee relations matters.

Planning & Communication

• Ensure effective coordination and communication between departments, sites and shift teams.
• Provide regular reporting to senior leadership on operational performance, business risks and improvement activities.
• Ensure operational resources, budgets and capabilities are aligned to support business priorities.

Financial & Commercial Management

• Manage operational budgets and maintain effective cost control across manufacturing operations.
• Identify and deliver opportunities for cost reduction, efficiency improvements and productivity gains.
• Support capital investment planning, equipment strategy and operational infrastructure development.