Head of Manufacturing Launch

Job Title Head of Manufacturing Launch Ref # 59472 Date posted Monday, September 14, 2026 Country United Kingdom Location Woking Business area Manufacturing Department New Model Launch Position level 3 Working time Full Time Contract type Permanent Working pattern 9am - 6pm Monday to Friday What to Expect Senior operational leader within Manufacturing Operations accountable for end-to-end Manufacturing Operations launch delivery across assigned vehicle programmes from virtual series gateways through pre-series build phases, Start of Production (SOP), ramp-up and stabilisation into series production, ensuring safe, controlled, cost-effective and capable delivery of required quality, timing, volume, financial and customer outcomes. Works in close partnership with the Vehicle Line Director and leads a highly matrixed organisation around a single integrated launch plan. cope includes multiple concurrent programmes and model year activity, with circa seven direct reports What You'll Do Lead the integrated manufacturing launch strategy, plan and governance framework for the assigned vehicle line(s), ensuring all functions are aligned to outcomes, milestones, gateway decisions and readiness criteria. • Ensure Manufacturing Operations deliverables are defined, owned, tracked and delivered to plan from virtual series gateways through pre-series launch, SOP, ramp-up and stabilisation into series production. • Partner with the Vehicle Line Director, Launch Director, PMO and programme peers to ensure programme robustness, with clear visibility of Manufacturing Ops risks, dependencies, constraints and recovery actions. • Establish clear plans, owners, milestones and recovery actions across virtual series, build-phase and readiness activities; chair/lead launch forums as required. • Deliver manufacturing readiness across facilities, equipment, tooling, process maturity, parts, people capability and workforce preparation. • Lead readiness and execution through virtual series, trial builds, pilot builds, pre-production and production validation to confirm capability for SOP. • Drive capacity, constraints and resource planning to achieve stable ramp-up to rate and output targets. • Establish proactive risk and issue management; lead structured problem-solving for launch?critical issues (root cause, corrective action, verification) and embed lessons learned. • Ensure compliance with UK Health & Safety legislation, environmental regulations, company policies and relevant automotive standards; champion a strong safety culture. • Lead launch quality and supplier readiness in partnership with Quality/Supply Chain/Purchasing (e.g., APQP completion, PPAP approval, Run@Rate, containment and recovery actions) to protect build events and SOP timing What You'll Bring EssentialSignificant senior leadership experience in automotive manufacturing, industrialisation and production launch environments with accountability for cross-functional delivery, operational performance and launch outcomes. Demonstrated success leading complex manufacturing launches through build phases, gateway governance, SOP and production ramp-up within demanding quality, timing and cost constraints. Strong understanding of automotive programme governance, launch readiness methodologies and delivery through highly matrixed organisations. Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders, align competing priorities and drive delivery through both direct teams and wider indirect organisations without direct line authority. Working knowledge of APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, Control Plans and automotive quality systems; able to drive completion to plan. Strong structured problem-solving capability (root cause, corrective action and verification) using recognised methodologies. Strong commercial and financial acumen, including budget ownership, forecasting, investment justification and cost control. Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills across all organisational levels. Degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management or Quality Management (or equivalent relevant experience), plus extensive automotive manufacturing and manufacturing launch delivery experience. Senior leadership experience appropriate to a Band 3 level. What We'll Do for You We offer a wide – ranging benefits package, which includes:Structured career development framework25 days’ holiday, plus bank holiday. Annual buy & sell up to five daysEnhanced company pension schemeDiscretionary annual bonus awardPrivate medical insurance and health cash planLife assurance benefitAbility to apply for a sabbatical of up to one year after only two years’ serviceBenefits you can adapt to your lifestyle, such as discounted shoppingGenerous parental leave policiesA range of wellbeing initiatives, such as employee assistance programme and free financial & mortgage advice Who Are We? No restraints. No limitations. We don’t simply push boundaries. We completely rethink them. 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