Operations Director - Engineering in Peterborough

Location: Peterborough, PE2 6YN

Salary: Competitive, DOE + Excellent Benefits!

Contract: Full-time, Permanent

Benefits: Flexible Working, Generous Holiday Package, Pension Scheme, Death in Service Benefit, Continuous Learning - We will cover your professional fees, Smart Health: Access to a 24/7 online GP, Mental Health Support and Wellbeing Support.

Are you looking to take overall responsibility for the safe, efficient and profitable delivery of projects across an entire business? Founded in 1993, OAL is an innovative family business based in Peterborough, driven by a passion for technology and a commitment to transforming the food industry. We specialise in AI, automation, and robotics solutions that help food manufacturers boost productivity, ensure compliance, and stay ahead of the curve. Today, our solutions scan and verify over 7.8 billion packs per year, preventing costly errors and improving efficiency.

As Operations Director, you will be responsible for:

• Leading the project delivery function, ensuring ownership across all stages of the Framework.
• Acting as operational lead to support the Managing Director's focus on strategy and transformation.
• Embedding The OAL Way through standard processes, KPIs, scorecards and priorities.
• Representing Operations at Board and Senior Leadership level, providing insight and constructive challenge.
• Taking full ownership of delivery performance, ensuring projects meet time, budget, quality and safety targets.
• Driving performance reviews, accountability and improvement against KPIs and scorecards.
• Improving gross margins through standardisation, repeatability and right-first-time delivery.
• Overseeing risk management, escalation and customer communication.
• Collaborating with Finance and Commercial on forecasting, cost control and margin management.
• Building and developing project delivery capability to support growth and succession.
• Aligning workforce planning, recruitment and development with business needs.
• Coaching and supporting managers, engineers and coordinators, fostering accountability and continuous improvement.
• Championing safety and ensuring it’s embedded in every function.
• Line managing Project Managers, Coordinators and discipline leads.
• Owning and evolving delivery processes, documentation and handover standards.
• Leading delivery reporting across turnover, margin, schedule, safety and customer satisfaction.
• Overseeing capacity planning, resource allocation and forecasting.
• Working closely with the Technology Director to ensure products are deployment ready.
• Partnering with the Commercial Director and Solutions team to confirm scopes, timelines and commitments are achievable, ensuring a smooth and consistent transition from project award through to mobilisation.

In order to be successful in this role you must have:

• Proven experience gained within an engineering environment, including responsibility for leading and developing engineering teams.
• Experience leading and scaling project delivery teams in a fast-paced growth environment.
• Able to motivate and engage teams, building high-performing teams that deliver consistently high standards of performance during periods of growth or change.
• Strong project and programme management experience across multiple concurrent projects.
• Demonstrated ability to improve or formalise delivery governance at scale.
• Experience leading business transformation and developing scalable processes.
• Strong understanding of technology integration within operational delivery.
• Commercially aware, with the ability to balance profitability, risk and client expectations.
• Data-driven and confident using KPIs and reporting tools.
• Strong leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience supporting year-on-year business growth, working closely with the Managing Director to develop, challenge and implement new ideas and approaches.

At OAL, your ideas matter. We’re proud to be an equal opportunities employer - everyone is welcome! Click on APPLY today. No agencies please!