Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead continuous improvement and lean manufacturing initiatives to boost efficiency and product quality.
- Company: Join a successful Northeast SME manufacturing business with exciting growth plans.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, career development, and the chance to work with experienced Directors.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team, make a real impact, and develop future leaders in a thriving environment.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership experience in manufacturing, strong lean techniques knowledge, and excellent people management skills.
- Other info: Immediate start available for the right candidate; potential for role extension based on business needs.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Rewards/Benefits on offer:
- A highly competitive salary.
- Working for a highly successful Northeast SME business, with plans for organic growth and expansion by further acquisitions.
- A superb career opportunity, to work with a highly experienced team of Directors.
- The company supplies to a varied customer base, with a range of high value quality products.
- An immediate start date for the right person, initially for a one-year interim basis, which could be extended depending on future business needs.
The Company:
Our client is a true Northeast success story within the regional SME manufacturing sector. The company is a privately-owned business with an impressive history of developing, manufacturing, and supplying a range of high-quality products to a national customer base, in a variety of market sectors. The company operates from a well-established production facility located in the Gateshead area, with plans for organic growth and further acquisitions. They are now looking to recruit an experienced Operations Manager to work closely with their company Directors and to provide a hands-on leadership role in all aspects of their production facility. You will be placed in a key role, to implement and manage a range of continuous improvement projects as well as to train, mentor and develop the next leadership team for the business. We believe this is an outstanding career opportunity for an experienced manufacturing leader, to help support a growing business and impart knowledge, experience, and wisdom to their key employees.
Job Summary:
- Responsible for driving continuous improvement and lean manufacturing initiatives across the factory to enhance efficiency, reduce waste, and improve overall performance.
- Key focus areas include team development, process optimisation, and ensuring the consistent delivery of high-quality products.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead and implement lean manufacturing strategies to improve productivity, reduce costs, and eliminate waste.
- Drive a culture of continuous improvement through effective use of visual management and daily team engagement.
- Support and develop staff through structured training, coaching, and mentoring.
- Monitor and improve KPIs relating to production, quality, and delivery targets.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure smooth and efficient factory operations.
- Happy to travel to a manufacturing facility in the Midlands.
About you:
- Proven experience in a production or manufacturing leadership role.
- Strong background in implementing Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement techniques (e.g. 5S, Kaizen, efficiency improvements).
- Experience working cross-functionally with teams and different sites.
- Knowledge of health and safety regulations and operational compliance standards.
- Experience of training and developing staff members to become effective future leaders.
- Results-driven with a track record of delivering efficiency gains and cost reductions.
- Excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills in fast-paced environments.
- Strong people management skills with the ability to motivate, develop, and engage teams.
- Confident communicator, capable of leading daily briefs, coaching individuals, and influencing change.
- Able to prioritise and adapt to evolving production needs and targets.
- Formal lean/CI qualification or training is highly desirable.
- Proactive, hands-on leadership style.
- Continuous improvement mindset with attention to detail.
- Calm under pressure and resilient in managing operational challenges.
- Committed to developing a positive, inclusive, and high-performing team culture.
Operations Manager employer: MTrec Ltd Technical
Contact Detail:
MTrec Ltd Technical Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Operations Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement techniques. Being able to discuss specific examples of how you've implemented these strategies in previous roles will demonstrate your expertise and align with what we're looking for.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the manufacturing sector, especially those who have experience in operations management. Engaging with industry peers can provide insights into best practices and may even lead to referrals or recommendations.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to showcase your leadership skills by thinking of specific instances where you've successfully developed and mentored team members. We value a hands-on approach, so be ready to share how you've fostered a culture of continuous improvement within your teams.
✨Tip Number 4
Research our company and its growth plans thoroughly. Understanding our business model and the challenges we face will allow you to tailor your discussions during interviews, showing that you're genuinely interested in contributing to our success.
We think you need these skills to ace Operations Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience in production or manufacturing leadership roles. Emphasise your background in Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement techniques, as these are key for the Operations Manager position.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your enthusiasm for the role and the company. Mention specific examples of how you've successfully implemented lean strategies and improved efficiency in previous positions.
Highlight Relevant Skills: Clearly outline your problem-solving and decision-making skills, as well as your ability to manage and develop teams. Use concrete examples to demonstrate how you've motivated and engaged staff in past roles.
Showcase Your Leadership Style: Describe your proactive, hands-on leadership style in your application. Provide examples of how you've led teams through challenges and fostered a positive, high-performing team culture.
How to prepare for a job interview at MTrec Ltd Technical
✨Showcase Your Leadership Experience
As an Operations Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your proven experience in production or manufacturing leadership roles. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've successfully led teams, implemented lean manufacturing strategies, and driven continuous improvement initiatives.
✨Highlight Your Continuous Improvement Skills
Make sure to discuss your background in implementing Lean Manufacturing techniques like 5S and Kaizen. Prepare to explain how these methods have helped you achieve efficiency gains and cost reductions in previous roles.
✨Prepare for Problem-Solving Scenarios
Expect to face questions that assess your problem-solving and decision-making skills. Think of real-life examples where you've tackled operational challenges, improved KPIs, or enhanced team performance under pressure.
✨Demonstrate Your People Management Skills
Since the role involves training and developing future leaders, be prepared to discuss your approach to mentoring and coaching staff. Share instances where you've motivated teams and fostered a positive, inclusive culture within your workplace.
