Operations Director - IAS UK

Location: Belfast, United Kingdom Thales people architect solutions that are relied upon to deliver operational advantage at every decisive moment throughout the mission. Defence and armed forces customers rely on us to deliver the full range of defensive systems for land, sea, and air. From early warning, to threat neutralisation, our platforms cover all levels from very short-range systems, to extended protection across the entire battle-space including Airspace Mobility Solutions, Vehicles and Tactical Systems and Missile Defence, Optronics, and Radar. Together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us. At Thales UK, we research, develop, and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better, and keep us safer. We innovate across the major industries of Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space. Your health and well-being matters to us and that’s why we offer you the flexibility to do what’s important to you; whether that’s part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions. Operations Director IAS UK (Security Clearance Required) Location: Belfast (5 days per week) Are you seeking a truly multi-faceted leadership role that will interface across all of the Integrated Airspace-protection Systems (IAS) UK functions, whilst significantly contributing to the operational strategy that supports both our market growth ambitions and transformation of manufacturing operations? As Operations Director for IAS UK you will play a pivotal role in enabling, supporting and assuring all aspects of delivery (including bids). Acting as the driving force for Operations within the business you will ensure its smooth running, resolving conflicts and optimising the Business Operating Model, Operations Control and IAS reporting cycles. Accountable to the Domain MD, you will be squarely focused on the pursuit of achieving business delivery objectives, including revenue, cash, on time delivery, project efficiency, working capital, EBIT and CAPEX, to support a single aligned vision on these objectives across our manufacturing and delivery organisation. IAS UK are a Prime Contractor, Systems Integrator and manufacturer of high precision missile, fire control systems and space propulsion systems at our two sites in Northern Ireland, as well as digital C4I Solutions and integrated through life support from our two sites in England. What does the role offer you? This is a highly visible role for IAS UK, offering you the opportunity to make a real impact in shaping our future execution on key programmes and the delivery of a new, forward leaning manufacturing operations organisation. It will provide a career defining opportunity, which will see you collaborating closely with internal senior leaders across the UK Domains, UK COO organisation and IAS BL Ops Leadership. The potential for impacting results is significant, the only limitations will be the extent of your aspirations! Key Dimensions of the Role This is a multi-dimensional role, offering a broad range of compelling professional challenges and career development opportunities. Key accountabilities are extensive, but not limited to: Ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of all employees in the business IAS business Operational activities – including the achievement of financial objectives relating to revenue, cash, project efficiency, recovery and EBIT. CAPEX and OPEX Working with the BL and UK functions to produce the Operations Strategic Plan from that the multi-year budget (MYB) Accountability for the overall business cadence; chairing critical delivery governance activities and approvals for the business Supervising bids and projects, in compliance with the group operating model Supervising specifically the projects eligible to Quarterly Project Reviews (QPR) Defining and implementing the IAS UK industrial strategy Leading the IAS UK operational transformation plan Ensuring capability resilience; tactical and strategic resourcing – Strategic Capability Planning, Sales and Operations Planning, Demand, Supply, Talent and succession development, Make/Team/Buy (outsourcing, offshoring, sharing work packages with other domains) Actively participating in UK country forums and collaborating with peers to share knowledge and leverage best practice across the UK business About You To be considered for this role, you must be able to demonstrate the following Minimum Viable Experience (MVE) : Previous Operations Leadership roles, including functional responsibility for SHE, Industry, Bids & Project Management, Supply Chain, Product Management and Facilities. Experience of managing key business Operational activities and achievement of financial objectives relating to revenue, cash, project efficiency, recovery and EBIT. CAPEX and OPEX. Proven ability to manage large teams (span of control 500 +) in complex, highly matrixed or international organisations. Experience of having managed directly or indirectly the delivery of bids or programmes in businesses of scale A successful track record of Operations leadership and transformation, including the optimisation of business performance to improve competitiveness. This role is open to UK Nationals or dual nationals and requires Security Clearance Closing date for applications is: 18th Dec 2024 1st stage assessments are planned to take place w/c 13 Jan In line with Thales’ Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency. At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working. Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro-diverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment, if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Resourcing Ops for mid to senior roles, or the Early Careers Team for graduate and apprentice roles. Great journeys start here, apply now!