GSC Operational Excellence Manager in Cheltenham

Location: Europe, ideally within commuting distance of one of our GSC manufacturing sites — Cheltenham (UK), Bremen (Germany), Châtellerault (France) or Milan (Italy).

About The Role

Your job is to make a global Operational Excellence framework a reality across ten manufacturing sites. You'll own the deployment, governance and long-term sustainability of a standardised OpEx framework across our network, building the maturity model that drives it, and ensuring sites genuinely progress along it. Alongside the framework, you'll own the global Continuous Improvement portfolio: prioritising it, tracking it, and proving its impact in cost, productivity and efficiency.

The role has no direct reports; your influence comes through expertise, coaching and credibility with site and functional leaders.

What You'll Be Doing

• Building the framework: Leading the global rollout and ongoing development of the OpEx framework, defining the standards and governance that make improvements stick.
• Driving consistent adoption of OpEx standards, KPIs and ways of working across all 10 sites.
• Leading maturity assessments and audits, and moving sites measurably along the curve.
• Working with pillar owners and site teams to align priorities, capability and delivery plans.
• Owning the CI portfolio: Prioritising the global CI portfolio to deliver measurable business and cost improvement.
• Running the standardised CI tracking methodology, with clear validation and honest reporting.
• Ensuring projects start well — clear scope, clear ownership, results that last beyond the project.
• Establishing performance tracking across KPIs, benefits realisation and progress monitoring.
• Growing capability: Building Lean and CI capability through training and coaching, using standard tools including VSM, Kaizen, SDT and Standard Work.
• Partnering with site leadership to build aligned OpEx and CI roadmaps.
• Embedding ownership at site level, so sites lead their own improvement journey within global standards.
• Creating a best-practice sharing network so a win at one site becomes a win across the group.
• Managing change: Managing change across the network so implementation is smooth and the impact lasts.
• Influencing and engaging stakeholders at every level to build accountability and a genuine culture of continuous improvement.

What You'll Bring

• A track record in Operational Excellence or Continuous Improvement leadership within a global manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrable delivery of Lean and CI programmes with measurable results in cost, productivity and quality.
• Experience managing CI portfolios and governance across multiple sites.
• Experience leading large-scale change or transformation programmes.

• Advanced knowledge of Lean Manufacturing tools and methodologies.
• A strong grasp of financial impact and cost drivers in a manufacturing setting.
• Familiarity with CI tracking, benefits realisation and maturity models.

• Degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

We support our colleagues to make their difference for each other as well as customers, communities, suppliers, our planet and shareholders by creating a truly equitable working environment where everyone feels included. You will receive a competitive salary (and a discretionary bonus), flexible working and excellent benefits including 27 days holiday allowance (before bank holidays), 3 days’ paid volunteering leave, comprehensive private healthcare, enhanced pension plan, life assurance, optional participation in a Share Ownership Plan, free onsite parking, flexible benefits, and access to a personal discounts’ portal.

We are passionate about creating inclusive and equitable working cultures where everyone can be themselves and achieve their full potential.