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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead daily operations, improve processes, and build a high-performance culture.
- Company: Join the rapidly growing Scientific Safety Alliance, a founder- and employee-owned company.
- Benefits: Enjoy equity ownership, 401k match, and comprehensive health insurance.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team focused on growth and excellence.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in life sciences while driving innovation and efficiency.
- Qualifications: 3+ years in operations with strong leadership and communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
Location: Lancaster, UK
Compensation: Competitive Salary + Ownership Equity
Start Date: ASAP
About Us – Why Join Now
Scientific Safety Alliance, or SSA, exists to Accelerate Science. Delightfully. SSA is growing at an exceptional rate. In a little over 3 years, we have acquired 23 companies, and our growth is only accelerating.
Who do we serve? We serve the life sciences industry, including pharmaceutical, biotech, hospital, and research facilities that rely on us to keep their environments compliant and ready for discovery. Our mission is simple: remove friction so our customers can focus on innovation.
What makes SSA special? SSA is 100% founder- and employee-owned, where every team member has a stake in the outcome. We are one of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S., soon to be the fastest growing company in the UK and built on a network of specialized local businesses. Our team takes pride in precision, urgency, and integrity—helping enable the discoveries that shape modern medicine.
The Opportunity: Operations Manager
We are looking for an Operations Manager to lead and scale one of our UK-based businesses in Lancaster. This is a hands-on leadership role responsible for owning day-to-day operations, improving processes, building a high-performance culture, and driving the development of a 90% A-Player team. While a background in Lean / Continuous Improvement is preferred, this role is first and foremost about leadership, execution, and achieving successful outcomes.
How You Will Make an Impact
- Own and elevate the day-to-day performance of the business, ensuring consistent, high-quality service delivery.
- Identify operational bottlenecks and drive rapid, practical solutions that improve speed and reliability.
- Lead process improvement initiatives that increase efficiency, capacity, and scalability.
- Implement a Lean mindset across the organization—reducing waste, improving flow, and standardizing best practices.
- Build and reinforce a high-performance culture rooted in accountability, ownership, and urgency.
- Hire, develop, and retain A-Players, while actively upgrading the team to achieve 90% talent density.
- Coach and develop team members into strong operators and future leaders.
- Drive clear expectations and performance management, ensuring every role is tied to measurable outcomes.
- Improve productivity and utilization across the team to support profitable growth.
- Partner with leadership to support revenue growth and operational scalability.
- Establish and track key operational KPIs, using data to drive decisions and accountability.
- Lead through change and ambiguity, ensuring the team stays aligned and executes with focus.
What We’re Looking For
- 3+ years of experience overseeing operations - preferably within manufacturing, life sciences, cleanroom, HVAC, or technical field service industries.
- Proven ability to lead teams and deliver operational results in a fast-paced environment.
- Demonstrated ownership mentality with a bias toward action and accountability.
- Ability to build, coach, and develop high-performing teams.
- Comfortable operating in ambiguity and rapid growth, with the ability to prioritize effectively.
- Preferred experience in Lean, Continuous Improvement, or process-driven environments utilizing lean tools like Kaizen, DMAIC, 5S, Value Stream Mapping, Kanban, etc.
- Strong leadership and communication skills—able to motivate teams and drive accountability.
- Commitment to customer satisfaction and continuous improvement.
- Data-Driven Approach – Ability to analyze customer data and turn insights into action.
Benefits
- Meaningful equity ownership in SSA.
- 401k Match.
- 100% paid Medical Dental & Vision insurance.
- Health insurance (100% for employee and family).
- Life insurance.
- Generous Paid time off.
- Parental leave.
If you have the skills we are looking for and want to be a part of the rocket ship we are building, we want to hear from you!
Operations Manager in Preston employer: Scientific Safety Alliance, an Inc. 5000 Company
Contact Detail:
Scientific Safety Alliance, an Inc. 5000 Company Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Operations Manager in Preston
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the life sciences and operations sectors. Attend industry events or join relevant online groups. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their mission to 'remove friction' and think about how your experience aligns with that. We want to see you demonstrate how you can elevate their operations and drive results.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've built high-performing teams or improved processes in your previous roles. We love hearing about your hands-on approach and how you’ve tackled challenges head-on.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of our fast-growing team at SSA.
We think you need these skills to ace Operations Manager in Preston
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Leadership Skills: When writing your application, make sure to highlight your leadership experience. We want to see how you've led teams and driven results in fast-paced environments. Share specific examples that demonstrate your ownership mentality and ability to motivate others.
Be Data-Driven: Since we value a data-driven approach, include any relevant metrics or KPIs you've worked with in your previous roles. This will show us that you can analyse data and turn insights into actionable improvements, which is crucial for the Operations Manager role.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to tailor your application to our mission and values. We’re all about removing friction for our customers, so if you have experience in process improvement or Lean methodologies, let us know! Show us how you can contribute to our goal of accelerating science delightfully.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Scientific Safety Alliance, an Inc. 5000 Company
✨Know Your Operations Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into the operations of Scientific Safety Alliance. Understand their processes, challenges, and successes. This will not only show your genuine interest but also allow you to discuss how your experience aligns with their operational goals.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Be ready to share specific examples of how you've led teams in the past. Highlight your approach to building high-performance cultures and how you've successfully navigated ambiguity. This is crucial for a role that demands strong leadership and accountability.
✨Prepare for Process Improvement Discussions
Brush up on Lean methodologies and be prepared to discuss how you've implemented process improvements in previous roles. Use concrete examples to illustrate your ability to identify bottlenecks and drive practical solutions that enhance efficiency.
✨Demonstrate a Data-Driven Mindset
Since the role requires a data-driven approach, come equipped with examples of how you've used data to inform decisions and improve operations. Discuss any key performance indicators (KPIs) you've established and how they contributed to successful outcomes.