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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic manufacturing operation, driving performance and continuous improvement.
- Company: Established global manufacturing business with strong order books.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus, and opportunities for career progression.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with significant visibility and influence across departments.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a high-volume industrial environment with autonomy.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership experience in manufacturing and strong operational skills.
The predicted salary is between 75000 - 78000 £ per year.
An established and globally backed manufacturing business is looking to appoint a high-calibre Manufacturing Operations Manager to lead a critical front-end manufacturing operation within a complex, high-volume industrial environment. This is not a traditional production management role. The successful candidate will operate as a General Manager for their business unit - owning performance across safety, quality, throughput, cost, people and continuous improvement while leading a sizeable manufacturing operation supplying long-term customer programmes.
The role sits within a senior leadership structure and offers genuine influence across operations, engineering, quality, supply chain, and commercial performance.
The Opportunity
You will take responsibility for a major manufacturing value stream, overseeing the full front-end production process from raw material intake through primary processing before handover into finishing operations. Leading through a team of Production Managers, Shift Managers and Team Leaders, you will oversee an indirect workforce of approximately 70 employees within a unionised manufacturing environment. This is a highly visible leadership role requiring both strategic thinking and operational delivery.
The business has strong order books and long-term customer demand, however success in this role will come from your ability to:
- Drive operational performance daily
- Improve productivity and throughput
- Manage cost and labour performance
- Build strong supplier relationships
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives
- Develop leadership capability within the operation
- Create future-state operational improvements rather than simply managing day-to-day production
The successful candidate will be empowered to make decisions, challenge traditional thinking, and help shape the future direction of the operation.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead all operational activity across the assigned business unit
- Own daily Safety, Quality, Delivery and Cost performance
- Manage and deliver operational KPIs and business unit P&L performance
- Lead, coach, and develop Production Managers and wider leadership teams
- Drive labour planning, resource allocation, and productivity improvements
- Identify bottlenecks, constraints, and capacity challenges
- Work cross-functionally with Engineering, Quality, Planning, Supply Chain and Customer teams
- Lead operational continuous improvement activity using Lean and CI methodologies
- Drive accountability, engagement, and performance culture across the shop floor
- Manage operational risk, supplier challenges, and changing production demands
- Support longer-term operational strategy and future growth planning
About You
We are looking for a proven manufacturing leader who combines strong operational control with commercial awareness and modern leadership capability. You will ideally come from a complex manufacturing, heavy engineering, metals, aerospace, automotive or industrial processing background.
Most importantly, you will be someone who:
- Has genuinely led large manufacturing operations
- Understands how to drive performance through people
- Can balance strategic thinking with hands-on operational leadership
- Brings practical continuous improvement experience rather than textbook theory
- Builds relationships across all levels of a business
- Thrives in fast-paced production environments
- Has the credibility and presence to influence across departments
Experience Required
- Significant leadership experience within a manufacturing environment
- Experience leading large operational teams through subordinate managers
- Strong understanding of production, quality, HSE and cost management
- Experience within unionised environments is advantageous
- Proven continuous improvement and operational transformation experience
- Strong commercial and operational decision-making capability
- Lean / Six Sigma exposure beneficial
Why Apply?
This is an opportunity to join a well-invested manufacturing business with:
- Strong long-term order books
- Significant operational scale
- A collaborative leadership team
- Real autonomy and ownership
- Opportunities for progression within a larger international group
- The chance to make a genuine operational impact
The role would suit an ambitious manufacturing leader seeking a broader operational leadership position with significant visibility and influence.
Manufacturing Operations Manager in Swansea employer: SF Partners Admin
Contact Detail:
SF Partners Admin Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Manufacturing Operations Manager in Swansea
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts on LinkedIn or attend local manufacturing events. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that dream job.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its operations. We should be ready to discuss how our experience aligns with their goals, especially in areas like continuous improvement and operational performance.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills during interviews. We need to demonstrate how we’ve successfully led teams and driven performance in previous roles. Real-life examples will make us stand out!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Manufacturing Operations Manager in Swansea
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Manufacturing Operations Manager role. Highlight your leadership experience and any specific achievements in manufacturing that align with the job description. We want to see how you’ve driven performance and led teams!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share your passion for manufacturing and how your background in operational leadership can help us drive continuous improvement and achieve our goals.
Showcase Your Achievements: When filling out your application, don’t just list your responsibilities—show us what you’ve achieved! Use metrics and examples to demonstrate how you've improved productivity, managed costs, or led successful projects in previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for the best chance of success. It’s straightforward and ensures your application goes directly to us. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to connect with us directly!
How to prepare for a job interview at SF Partners Admin
✨Know Your Numbers
Before the interview, brush up on key performance metrics relevant to manufacturing operations. Be ready to discuss how you've driven KPIs in previous roles, such as safety, quality, and cost management. This shows you understand the business side of manufacturing.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership capabilities, especially in managing large teams and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Think about specific situations where you’ve successfully led through change or improved team performance.
✨Understand the Business Landscape
Research the company’s position in the market and its operational challenges. Be prepared to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs, particularly in driving productivity and managing supplier relationships in a unionised environment.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions that demonstrate your strategic thinking. Inquire about their future operational goals, challenges they face in the manufacturing process, and how they envision the role contributing to long-term success. This shows your genuine interest in the position.