Head of Operations

Job Vacancy – Head of Operations

Company: Senior Flexonics – Lymington Precision Engineers

Location: Senior Flexonics – Lymington Precision Engineers – Gosport Street, Lymington SO41 9EE

Employment type: Full-time

Contract type: Permanent

Working pattern: 37.5hrs per week

Closing date: 23 May 2025

Who is Senior plc?

Senior is a FTSE listed (symbol SNR) international manufacturing Group with 26 operations in 12 countries. Senior designs, manufactures and markets high‑technology components and systems for the principal original equipment producers in the worldwide aerospace, defence, and land vehicle and power & energy markets.

Lymington Precision Engineers (LPE)

LPE is a Senior Flexonics Group company and is a leading manufacturer of precision machined components, assemblies and kit sets for the Oil and Gas, Telecommunications, Aerospace and Defence, Land and Sea Systems, Nuclear, and Marine industries and emerging markets.

We pride ourselves on our ability to manufacture extremely complicated components and assemblies utilising state‑of‑the‑art equipment and facilities.

We are an AS/EN 9100, ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified company and offer a fully engineered solution, from design concept through to high volume manufacture, to supply a range of world‑class products to our customers.

Head of Operations – What does the job involve?

Accountable for world‑class manufacturing operations, the Head of Operations will work collaboratively and strategically with other members of the senior leadership team to demonstrate our passion for the business, put the customer at the heart of everything we do and to achieve overall business success through operational excellence. As a strong leader, coach and mentor, the Head of Operations is responsible for all production and planning activities, along with machine maintenance and maintaining an effective, engaged operations workforce.

Dayshift – Monday to Thursday 8:15 am to 5:00 pm and Friday 8:30 am to 1:00 pm with a 30‑minute unpaid break for lunch.

Head of Operations – Responsibilities

Driving World Class Manufacturing

• Delivering excellence in operational performance, harnessing the support of a committed workforce to maximise profitability and improve efficiencies.
• Establishing a culture of continuous business improvement to support the roll‑out and sustainment of the Senior Operating System.
• Translating the Senior/LPE vision and strategic plans into defined, cost‑effective operational plans and challenging and meaningful goals for managers and teams.
• Ensuring adherence to production schedules and delivery of products to the correct specification, quality and cost to meet customer requirements.

Shaping And Realising LPE Strategy

• Work with the senior leadership team to drive the business strategy for continued growth and deliver on new business opportunities, balancing the overall picture with attention to detail.
• Deliver strategic plans in operations and through change management, establish processes and disciplines that will enable significant increases in site operational performance and throughput.
• Work with the Senior Leadership Team to generate CAPEX business cases and overall strategic direction of the company.
• Maintain strong links and relationships with key customers and stakeholders.

Leading And Motivating People

• Provide outstanding leadership to direct reports, including effective communications, coaching, development and appraisal to maximise engagement, work output and quality.
• Develop the manufacturing organisation into an effective team with a common vision to put the customer at the heart of everything they do.
• Oversee the deployment of a highly utilised and skilled workforce, continuously reinforcing the links between manufacturing excellence, focusing on the customer, achieving sales and delivering success. Ensuring we deliver what we say we will, to the agreed specifications, standards & deadlines.
• Lead managers at all levels to ensure the workforce is clear, capable, flexible, accountable and motivated and can deliver their best for LPE and our customers.
• Manage change effectively, bringing people with you.
• Proactively work to enhance collaboration across the different departments of LPE, identifying patterns and hot spots, acting quickly to intervene and engage others in changing things for the better.

Setting And Achieving High Standards

• Undertake an active role within the H&S committee whilst ensuring all operations are executed safely, in accordance with Senior’s standards and that a safe working environment is maintained for all staff.
• Manage operational costs within agreed budgetary constraints and work collaboratively with supply chain, quality and engineering to develop and implement improved manufacturing processes that deliver cost reductions.
• Ensure regular reporting of operational KPIs and action plans to drive improvements.
• Effective project management – including driving for project completion timelines, monitoring project costs and ensuring customer needs are met.

Head of Operations – Key Skills and Experience

• Must have the right to live and work in the UK (Essential)
• Proven track record of leading operations in a manufacturing environment, inspiring others and serving as an example of the values, attitudes, and behaviours associated with a very senior role.
• Experience of enabling effective collaboration and developing mutually supportive relationships to increase co‑operation across departments.
• Formal Lean and Continuous Improvement training. Track record of lean implementation and development of a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.
• Working in a low‑volume, batch machine shop environment.
• Commercially and financially astute.
• Strong understanding of business KPIs and performance improvement with the ability to provide a durable sense of direction with clear objectives.
• Engineering experience including a knowledge of milling, turning, grinding and EDM machining operations.
• Experience in machine tool TPM planning.
• Ability to demonstrate extensive use of ERP systems.
• Seeks and provides feedback: Actively looks for opportunities to seek and provide feedback to enable personal growth.
• Takes initiative: Willingly goes above and beyond what needs to be done.
• Develops strategic perspective: Can recognise the impact of actions on the bigger picture.
• Champions change: Quickly recognises situations where change is needed.
• Connects the Group to the outside world: Helps people understand how meeting customers’ needs is central to LPE’s success.
• Resilience: Ability to work under pressure and to tight timescales.
• Computer literate: Proficient in Microsoft suite of Products.

Head of Operations – Qualifications

• HNC in either Mechanical or Production Engineering.
• Full UK Driving Licence.
• Educated to degree standard in a relevant engineering discipline or able to demonstrate equivalent knowledge through experience (Desirable).
• Level 5 Certificate in Management and Leadership (Desirable).
• IOSH Managing Safely at Work (Desirable).
• Security Clearance (Desirable).

Why Join Senior Flexonics – Lymington Precision Engineers

Some of the benefits you can expect if you are successful are:

• Company Car / Car Allowance
• Private Health Insurance
• Senior Managers Bonus Scheme
• Excellent pension and life assurance scheme
• Free on‑site car parking
• Career and development opportunities
• 34 days holiday (incl. bank holidays)
• Health cash plan scheme
• Health & wellbeing services
• Employee discount scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Profit sharing scheme
• Reward and recognition

LPE are an Equal Opportunities employer who is committed to creating a working environment where our people will grow and thrive. We strive to create the conditions for our employees to develop their potential in a workplace where there is respect and value for diversity and wellbeing.