At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead operational excellence initiatives and drive continuous improvement across the Basildon site.
- Company: Join Leonardo, a global leader in Aerospace, Defence, and Security.
- Benefits: Generous leave, flexible working, mental health support, and access to 4,000+ online courses.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth in a diverse and inclusive workplace.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic environment focused on innovation and excellence.
- Qualifications: Experience in operational improvements and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
- Operational Excellence Site Lead
- Basildon, United Kingdom (Permanent, Hybrid)
- Overview
We are looking for an Operational Excellence Site Lead to join Leonardo at the Basildon site.
The role will provide leadership and vision in process excellence, lean practices, and advanced planning systems, acting as the focal point to support operational requirements and continuous improvements across the site.
Responsibilities
- Collaborate to advance operational excellence maturity matrix, focusing on effective leadership, strategic planning, and clear communication of objectives.
- Embed excellence into teams and support the successful delivery of operational excellence improvement projects.
- Utilise a wide toolbox of operational excellence and continuous improvement methodologies.
- Motivate, counsel, and constructively deal with people at all levels; influence and manage large teams and organization.
- Conduct site visits and performance reviews with Operations management to share best practices, improve staff performance, and achieve operating plan goals.
- Drive weekly business unit reviews to identify corrective actions for improving operations performance.
- Ensure sufficient process and behavior changes occur, with root cause analysis followed by rigorous closed‑loop corrective actions to ensure fault resolution.
- Identify and communicate unresolved problems or possible timeline issues, recommending actions for correction.
- Advocate continuous improvement of products and processes by soliciting new process improvement opportunities.
- Create, agree, and deliver KPIs and maintain defined operations KPIs to inform decision making.
- Provide operations expertise and capability to business area projects.
- Develop a capable operations team in line with business needs, proposing training priorities to support a high‑performing culture.
Qualifications & Experience
- Successful track record of operational improvements in a high‑tech, low to mid‑volume, high‑quality environment.
- Recognised expert in operations, operations framework, manufacturing, leadership principles, and business processes.
- People management and leadership skills, including effective performance and change management.
- Expertise in influencing and negotiating with others using facts, proposals, data, and analysis.
- Ability to communicate operations excellence at a leadership level in a non‑technical, influencing way.
- Strong partnership skills with operations, project teams, customers, and suppliers.
- Success in mentoring and coaching to grow operational excellence within the business.
- Capability to lead large‑scale process improvement events without reporting authority and see them through to successful implementation.
- Negotiating competing priorities both tactical and strategic.
- Experience defining and refining solutions that solve business problems.
- Commitment to quality and speed‑to‑market, and passion for innovation.
- A data‑driven individual with uncompromising attention to detail.
- Self‑motivated, comfortable with ambiguity and change, creative, and keen to bring new ideas to the programme.
- A sense of urgency, drive, and energy.
- Comfortable with liaising and working with third‑party consultants.
- Manufacturing or engineering related degree or relevant experience.
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt (desirable).
- Security Clearance subject to pre‑employment screening in line with the UK Government’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) and possible National Security Vetting (NSV).
Benefits
- Generous leave with opportunity to accrue up to 12 additional flexi‑days each year.
- Company‑funded pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution.
- Free access to mental health support, financial advice, and employee‑led networks championing inclusion and diversity.
- Eligible for award‑winning bonus scheme (managers and below).
- Free access to over 4,000 online courses via Coursera and Linked In Learning.
- Referral programme with financial reward.
- Up to £500 annually on flexible benefits (private healthcare, dental, family cover, tech & lifestyle discounts, gym memberships, etc.).
- Flexible working: hybrid options and possibility to talk about part‑time arrangements.
About the Company
Leonardo is a global leader in Aerospace, Defence, and Security.
Headquartered in Italy, we employ over 53,000 people worldwide, including 8,500 across 9 sites in the UK.
We are committed to building an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming workplace, with a diverse workforce that sparks creativity and drives innovation.
For more information on security and vetting, please visit https://careers. uk. leonardo. com/gb/en/security-and-vetting
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StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Operational Excellence Site Lead in Basildon
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We think you need these skills to ace Operational Excellence Site Lead in Basildon
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Technical Skills:In the manufacturing-production sector, it's crucial to highlight your technical skills and experience. Make sure your CV features any relevant qualifications, such as certifications in machinery operation or production management, and don’t forget about any specific systems or software you’re familiar with. This can really set you apart!
Emphasise Teamwork and Communication:Working in manufacturing often means being part of a larger team. Highlight your experience in collaborative projects or environments where communication was key. Maybe you have experience with lean manufacturing principles? Talk about how you worked with your team to improve productivity and maintain quality.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Company:Don’t just recycle an old cover letter! Take the time to tailor your cover letter to Leonardo UK Ltd specifically. Mention what excites you about their production processes or products, and how your previous experiences can contribute to their goals. We want to see your enthusiasm for the role!
Use Concrete Examples of Your Achievements:When detailing your work experience, include measurable achievements that can demonstrate your impact. Whether it’s improving efficiency by a certain percentage or successfully leading a project, these specifics can make a huge difference. Numbers speak volumes in the manufacturing world!
How to prepare for a job interview at Leonardo UK Ltd
✨Know Your Manufacturing Processes
Before you walk into the interview with Leonardo UK Ltd, brush up on the specific manufacturing processes relevant to the role. Understanding lean manufacturing principles or quality control techniques could give you a solid edge to discuss how you’d fit into their operations.
✨Technical Questions Are Key
Be prepared for technical questions around machinery, production scheduling, or materials handling. Make sure you can confidently explain how you've dealt with these in past experiences or internships. Knowing industry-specific software could also be a big plus!
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Manufacturing environments often focus on continuous improvement. Be ready to discuss specific instances where you’ve solved a production issue or implemented a process improvement. It’s all about demonstrating your analytical thinking and hands-on approach.
✨Align Your Values with Quality and Safety
In a full-time role, companies like Leonardo UK Ltd value commitment to quality and safety. Be prepared to discuss how you prioritise these factors in your work. It’s about showing that you’re not just looking for a job, but that you genuinely care about contributing positively to their production environment.
