Group Operations Director - Manufacturing in Chesterfield

Our client is part of a UK based PLC with a long-standing reputation for producing products used in the renewable energy sector and the reduction of emissions across the globe. Having enjoyed 10 years of successive growth as well as huge investment in R&D, the group is now well positioned to achieve its growth targets for the next 10 years.

With a diverse customer base across the UK, the PLC has decided to amalgamate some of its business units with a similar product group or customers together to take advantage of any synergies and efficiencies. The next stage is to recruit a new Operations Director to lead the transformation programme.

The newly amalgamated companies work in highly regulated sectors where Health & Safety is paramount. With sites across the Midlands, Scotland and the South West of England, it is a varied manufacturing environment and includes metal welding and machining as well as electrical assembly. Some of the sites are more productive than others and one in particular has suffered from challenges around quality, production planning and stock levels.

The new Group Operations Director will take responsibility for the complete Operations function across the different sites - this will include Manufacturing, Production Planning, Health & Safety, Distribution & Installation and Procurement.

Priorities will include:

• Working with the team to introduce new production systems to significantly improve OTIF and reduce the backlog of products to be manufactured.
• Working with the Head of Procurement to understand current stock levels and introduce more effective procurement systems.
• Reviewing people, processes and systems, and assessing and evaluating the equipment, tooling and overall environment.
• Being a role model for the ways of working, behaviours and leadership standards that underpin the cultural evolution of both the function and the wider business.
• Fostering accountability, nurturing continuous improvement mind-sets, enabling open communication and building a high-trust environment.

Key Responsibilities will include:

• Working with the Operations / Factory Managers to introduce new operational systems which will significantly improve OTIF to customers across the sites.
• Driving and delivering the company’s revenue plan by aligning resources effectively.
• Driving productivity and cost optimisation across all sites.
• Ensuring robust production management is in place for every stage of operational development.
• Driving levels of employee engagement through consistent two-way communication.
• Improving quality of production area with fundamentals including visual management and deployment of lean manufacturing tools.
• Developing more effective forecasting processes as part of ongoing improvement efforts.
• Ensuring integration of production planning fully into supply chain vision.
• Developing and maintaining integrated processes between procurement and production.
• Developing an investment plan for new equipment based on current customer demands.

This is a transformational, change leadership role and is going to suit a strong, collaborative leader who has a passion for driving operational improvements. A demonstrable track record in driving improvements to OTIF and leading change within a metals-based manufacturing environment would be ideal. Broad operational experience to include production planning, supply chain and purchasing would give the ideal person the experience to make a real difference to this business.

The Group Operations Director will join the PLC at an interesting and exciting time when they will have the chance to make a real difference and shape the future of what will be a newly formed group of companies.