Defence Operations & Compliance Lead

Introduction Saab Uk; Great Brickhill; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Saab UK is seeking an Operations Manager to support the BlueBear Business in Bedfordshire. You will provide governance, compliance, trials, and cross-functional business coordination while driving continuous improvement and KPI tracking to enhance operational excellence across the organisation.

The role requires strong leadership, risk management experience, and familiarity with ISO 9001/27001 frameworks, export control, and security requirements within the defence sector.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership and ability to drive change across the organisation.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Highly motivated self-starter requiring minimal supervision.
• Experience implementing effective change and managing risks.
• Experience with Quality Management Systems and ISO 9001 compliance.
• ISO 27001 desirable.
• Awareness of UK export control, health & safety and environmental management.
• Experience in the defence industry and UK MOD desirable.
• National Security Vetting clearance to SC level or ability to gain it.

Responsibilities

• Drive continuous improvement across the organisation to achieve high standards.
• Be the focal point for process standardisation and compliance with the quality management system.
• Be the focal point for critical compliance areas including export control, health & safety, and security.
• Develop and track KPIs to support the Strategic Business Plan.
• Capture and act on customer feedback to drive improvement.
• Communicate Operational Excellence across the organisation.
• Coordinate internal and external audit activity.
• Act as Risk and Opportunity Co-ordinator and lead business continuity activities.
• Coordinate export control and ensure adequate resources and processes.
• Implement new compliance standards and business tools.
• Capture internal feedback to drive process improvements.
• Deliver internal training on continuous improvement.
• Champion information management within BlueBear.
• Support internal project activity and manage the Facility Coordinator.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Change management

Self-starter

Risk management

ISO 9001

ISO 27001

Export control

H&S awareness

Defence industry

NSV clearance

Job description

Saab UK is seeking an Operations Manager to support the BlueBear Business in Bedfordshire. You will provide governance, compliance, trials, and cross-functional business coordination while driving continuous improvement and KPI tracking to enhance operational excellence across the organisation.

The role requires strong leadership, risk management experience, and familiarity with ISO 9001/27001 frameworks, export control, and security requirements within the defence sector.