Business Transformation Director

Gkn Aerospace; Luton; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive salary and benefits

Annual bonus

Car allowance

Private medical cover

Pension scheme matching

Life Assurance

Employee discounts

Job summary

GKN Aerospace seeks a Business Transformation Director to lead the Luton site's transformation agenda, spanning site development, programme growth, NPI, and breakthrough initiatives. You will shape the site’s long-term growth and drive major programmes in a high-impact leadership role.

Based at the Luton manufacturing facility, you will partner with the Site Director and Finance Director to define strategy, budget, and operational plans, ensuring delivery of significant capital projects and

Qualifications

• Experience leading strategic transformation programmes in manufacturing environments.
• Proven ability to deliver site development and growth initiatives.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management at executive level.

Responsibilities

• Drive the site transformation agenda, including Site Development, Programme Growth and NPI management.
• Lead large capital projects and external funding initiatives for growth.
• Develop and monitor Annual Improvement Plans and ensure action closure.
• Coordinate strategic planning with Site Director, Operations Director and Finance Director.
• Manage risk, drive productivity, and deliver a Great Place to Work at the Luton site.

Skills

Executive leadership

Manufacturing experience

Cross-functional influence

Team leadership

Strategic thinking

Education

MBA

Job description

Fantastic challenges. Amazing opportunities.

GKN Aerospace is reimagining air travel: going further, faster and greener! Fuelled by great people whose expertise and creativity sets the standards in our industry, we’re inspired by the opportunities to innovate and break boundaries. We’re proud to play a part in protecting the world’s democracies. And we’re committed to putting sustainability at the centre of everything we do, opening up and protecting our planet. With over 16,000 employees across 32 manufacturing sites in 12 countries we serve over 90% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers and achieved sales of £3.6bn in 2025. There are no limits to where you can take your career.

Job Summary

We're looking for a Business Transformation Director to join our team at GKN Aerospace's Luton manufacturing facility.

In this high-impact leadership role, you will be responsible for driving the delivery of the site's strategic transformation agenda, including Site Development, Programme Growth, New Product Introduction (NPI) management, breakthrough initiatives, and business process improvement activities. You will also lead a range of strategic projects aligned to the Luton site's long-term growth and transformation plans.

GKN Luton is a stable, high-performing facility with ambitious plans for growth and development in the months and years ahead. This is a unique opportunity to work closely with the Site Director and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the site.

Our Luton facility is where innovation meets heritage. Since 1993, the site has been at the forefront of aerospace technology, specialising in commercial and military ice protection systems and transparencies. With a strong reputation for engineering excellence and a proud legacy of innovation, we are now entering an exciting new phase of transformation.

Significant investment is being made across the site, including modernising our facilities, upgrading equipment, enhancing operational capability, and creating the foundations for future growth. As Business Transformation Director, you will be instrumental in leading this journey, helping to deliver strategic change, improve business performance, and ensure the site is well-positioned to meet increasing customer demand and seize new opportunities.

Job Responsibilities

Site Development

• Accountable for the full development of the Canopies Advanced Coating Facility Upgrade program. Delivered in compliance with the business case and customer agreement throughout the complete life cycle. Inclusive of all construction, equipment, and broader enabling activities.
• Lead the delivery of large, multifaceted, capital projects that significantly impact the operation of the site.
• Deliver a path to external funding and plan to expand the Luton site with an additional facility for future programmes. Interface with internal/external stakeholders for all aspects of the initiatives.

Programme Growth & NPI management

• Support business development to host strategic business opportunities for new customers, highlighting the technical and commercial opportunities that collaborating with Luton site can achieve.
• Deliver new product introduction projects, leading integrated project teams to design, develop and certify new products at Luton

Breakthrough Initiatives

• Lead the definition and monthly reporting of Annual Improvement Plans (AIP)
• Ensure action closure of all items generated on the AIP, supporting the transformation of Luton business.
• 2026 Priorities are to eliminate arrears and improve productivity

Business Process Improvement

Accountable for the development and deployment of Sales, Inventory and Operational planning. Including the:

• Demonstration of available/forecast orders for existing and new business
• Analysis of capacity availability, for equipment and headcount, and actions necessary to achieve constrained and unconstrained demand
• Calculation of Inventory entitlement dependent upon rate
• Identification of indirect resource needs for sustaining and NPI
• Financial reconciliation of proposed plans
• Publication of identified actions, and holding all functions accountable for respective closure
• Accountable for the integration of all variables that impact available capacity, and determination of a reporting methodology to monitor progress of actions. Focus on Cost of Poor Quality and Productivity.

Strategic Planning

• Partner with the Site Director, Operations Director and Finance Director to define the vision, strategy, objectives, operational plan and budget for the future of the Luton site

Chronic Issue Resolution

• Where necessary, engage with local project and operations teams to resolve specific challenges impacting external stakeholders or achievement of budgeted financial targets.
• Actively manage risk and opportunities to mitigate risk exposure and understand opportunities
• Responsible for creating a Great Place to Work and for championing the GKN Aerospace 5 culture principles

What You’ll Bring

Essential

• Significant relevant business experience, with a strong record of performance
• Demonstrated experience in roles with executive accountability
• Significant experience within the manufacturing industry, ideally in complex operational environments
• Proven ability to influence across functional boundaries, both internally and within supplier organisations
• Capability to lead, coach, and mentor highly skilled and experienced direct reports
• A strong track record of providing leadership and direction through effective communication and the development of high-performing teams
• Be able to demonstrate interpersonal, negotiation, organisational and communication skills

Desirable

• A degree or advanced degree in Business, such as an MBA
• Experience operating within a Lean-based Production System
• Broad understanding of the Aerospace industry

We are seeking a driven and highly organised transformation leader who is passionate about delivering meaningful change and shaping the future. You will be resilient, solutions-focused, and able to inspire others, bringing teams together to achieve ambitious goals. With the ability to influence at all levels, you will lead the site on its transformation journey with a strong focus on growth, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Note: Some GKN programmes are subject to regulatory restrictions which may impact certain nationalities. As part of the application process you will be asked to declare when applying for this role. The position requires UK National Security Vetting (UKNSV) Security clearance (SC) due to the nature and responsibilities of the work carried out. In order for us to obtain an SC you usually need to have been resident in the UK for a minimum of 5 years to current date (but we do assess each case individually).

Core operational hours at our Luton site are: 07:30 - 16:30 Monday to Thursday & 07:30 - 12:30 Friday.

What We’ll Offer

• Comprehensive salary and benefits package
• Benefits package including annual bonus, car allowance, fuel allowance, private medical cover
• Industry Leading Pension Scheme = we’ll match your contributions up to 8% on a 1 : 1.5 basis
• Life Assurance 8 x salary
• 185 hours holiday + bank holidays
• Income protection
• Shopping discounts
• Cycle To Work Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Virtual GP Clinic for you and immediate family
• Electric Vehicle (EV) salary sacrifice scheme (Insurance, servicing, maintenance, roadside assistance and more included)
• Free onsite parking
• Local gym discount
• Free airport parking
• Enhanced family friendly leave
• A collaborative, dynamic working environment

As well as a competitive package we’ll offer you a world of opportunity. We want to see your career fly! We’ll support your career progression by providing you with learning and development opportunities. That’s the beauty of being part of a global business, once you’re on board you never know where you career journey may take you!

A Great Place to work needs a Great Way of Working

Everyone is welcome to apply to GKN. We believe that we can only achieve our ambitions through a coming together of diverse minds who enjoy collaborating in an inspirational environment. Through our commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging and by living our five powerful principles we’ve created a culture where everyone feels welcome to contribute. It’s a culture that won us ‘The Best Workplace Culture Award’. By embracing and celebrating what makes us unique we encourage everyone to bring their full self to work.

We’re also committed to providing an accessible recruitment process, so if you require reasonable adjustments at any stage during our recruitment process please get in touch and let us know.

We are the place where human dreams, plus human endeavour, shape the future of aerospace innovation and technology.

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