We’re supporting a well-established manufacturing business in the search for an experienced Operations Manager to lead site operations and drive performance across a complex production environment.

This is a high-impact leadership role, reporting directly to the Site Director, with full responsibility for day-to-day operations, safety, and delivery. You’ll lead a team of circa 60+ colleagues via 4 direct reports and play a key role in shaping site culture, performance, and long-term capability.

There is strong visibility at senior level, alongside genuine scope to influence strategy, implement improvements, and contribute to succession planning over time.

You’ll take overall ownership of operational performance, ensuring the site runs safely, efficiently, and in line with business objectives.

Responsibilities include:

Operational Leadership

Lead and support 4 production managers, overseeing multiple operational areas

Ensure production plans are delivered safely, on time, and to required quality standards

Monitor KPIs and drive continuous improvement initiatives across the site

Provide clear communication and coordination across shifts and leadership teams

Safety & Compliance

Champion a strong safety-first culture, ensuring compliance with all regulations and procedures

Lead risk assessments, incident investigations, and audit activities

Support emergency readiness and act as a key decision-maker during critical situations

People & Culture

Develop and coach leadership capability within your team

Drive accountability, engagement, and a high-performance culture

Build succession plans and support long-term talent development

Performance & Cost

Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and optimise costs

Manage operational budgets and resource planning

Support reliability and maintenance planning to maximise uptime

We’re looking for someone with strong leadership experience in a manufacturing or process-driven environment, ideally within a regulated or higher-risk setting. You will have:

Proven experience managing teams in a production environment (multi-layer structures)

A strong focus on safety, operational discipline, and continuous improvement

The ability to lead through others and influence across functions

Experience working in complex, fast-paced environments with competing priorities

Strong problem-solving skills and sound decision-making ability

Strong background in Health & Safety

Background in regulated environments would be highly beneficial — but not essential.

On offer is a Senior, visible position reporting into the Site Director, with the opportunity to lead a sizeable operation with full accountability, that can offer clear long-term progression potential within the business. If it sounds like an ideal opportunity, please apply for immediate consideration.