Director of Operations

CheckFire Ltd; Bedwas; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday

Profit sharing

Salary sacrifice pension scheme

EAP TELUS Health

Digital GP Appointments

Free parking

Modern onsite facilities

Job summary

CheckFire Ltd, a long-established leader in the fire trade, seeks an Operations Director to oversee FireCycle, Warehousing, Transport and Production within the Active Fire Division. You will shape and deliver the operational strategy, drive safety, efficiency and continuous improvement, and report to the Managing Director.

This role demands senior leadership experience across multiple sites and functions. Reporting to the Managing Director, you will direct budgets and KPIs, lead safety and

Qualifications

• Minimum of five years' experience in a senior operational leadership role, including Senior Leadership Team level.
• Strong operational knowledge across warehousing, transport, production and recycling environments.
• Experience leading multi-site operational functions.
• Proven experience driving operational excellence, process transformation and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing and production processes, including process improvement and automation. Excellent budget management, cost control and operational performance management experience.
• Strong understanding of operational performance metrics, OPEX delivery and cost drivers.
• Experience leading and developing high-performing teams.
• Demonstrated ability to influence stakeholders and deliver results in the best interests of the organisation.
• Ability to diagnose problems quickly, manage risk and identify future operational challenges.
• Excellent communication, presentation and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong analytical and data-driven decision-making capability.
• Experience working within regulated environments and maintaining compliance with applicable legislation and standards.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver the operational strategy across FireCycle, Warehousing, Transport and PJ Fire Production, ensuring alignment with business growth objectives.
• Provide leadership across all operational functions, driving accountability, performance and operational excellence.
• Lead continuous improvement and OPEX initiatives, delivering measurable gains in efficiency, productivity, automation and cost control.
• Oversee warehouse, transport, production and recycling operations, ensuring safe, compliant and effective service delivery.
• Drive improvements in operational processes, stock management, production performance and customer service standards.
• Work closely with operational leaders to optimise capacity, resources, productivity and operational flow.
• Lead Health & Safety performance across all operational areas, ensuring compliance with legal, regulatory and ISO requirements.
• Manage operational budgets, KPIs and performance metrics to achieve profitability, efficiency and growth targets.
• Ensure effective coordination between departments to support business objectives and customer requirements.
• Provide operational insight, reporting and recommendations to the Senior Leadership Team.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, accountability and high performance across the Active Fire Division.
• Ensure operational functions are scalable, efficient and capable of supporting future business growth.

Job description

CheckFire – serving the fire trade since 1975. With 50 years’ experience in the Fire Safety, nobody knows the trade better. We have established a proven track record of excellence and have earned the respect of our customers by delivering quality products and dependable service. As the market leader in the Fire Trade, we offer an unparalleled level of capability and reliability. Our stocks are enormous, our service is personal, and our promises are genuine.

About the Role

The Operations Director will be responsible for the end-to-end performance of key operational functions within the Active Fire Division, with direct oversight of FireCycle, Warehousing, Transport and Production responsibilities.

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the successful candidate will lead the creation and delivery of the operational strategy, ensuring that all functions operate safely, efficiently and effectively while supporting the Division's growth objectives. The role will also provide leadership across Health & Safety, Operational Excellence (OPEX) and process improvement initiatives, driving continuous improvement and operational excellence throughout the business.

Reporting to the Managing Director, Active Fire Division, the Operations Director will play a pivotal role in shaping the future operational capability of the business.

Direct Reports

• Head of Warehouse Operations
• Transport Operations
• OPEX
• Production & Recycling Manager
• HSE Manager
• Technical Engineer

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver the operational strategy across FireCycle, Warehousing, Transport and PJ Fire Production,ensuring alignment with business growth objectives.
• Provide leadership across all operational functions, driving accountability, performance and operational excellence.
• Lead continuous improvement and OPEX initiatives, delivering measurable gains in efficiency, productivity, automation and cost control.
• Oversee warehouse, transport, production and recycling operations, ensuring safe, compliant and effective service delivery.
• Drive improvements in operational processes, stock management, production performance and customer service standards.
• Work closely with operational leaders to optimise capacity, resources, productivity and operational flow.
• Lead Health & Safety performance across all operational areas, ensuring compliance with legal, regulatory and ISO requirements.
• Manage operational budgets, KPIs and performance metrics to achieve profitability, efficiency and growth targets.
• Ensure effective coordination between departments to support business objectives and customer requirements.
• Provide operational insight, reporting and recommendations to the Senior Leadership Team.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, accountability and high performance across the Active Fire Division.
• Ensure operational functions are scalable, efficient and capable of supporting future business growth.

We are looking for an energetic and results-driven operational leader who combines strategic thinking with practical execution and has a proven track record of delivering transformational change within complex operational environments.

• Minimum of five years' experience in a senior operational leadership role, including experience operating at Senior Leadership Team level.
• Strong operational knowledge across warehousing, transport, production and recycling/recovery environments.
• Experience leading multi-site operational functions.
• Proven experience driving operational excellence, process transformation and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing and production processes, including process improvement and automation.Excellent budget management, cost control and operational performance management experience.
• Strong understanding of operational performance metrics, OPEX delivery and cost drivers.
• Experience leading and developing high-performing teams.
• Demonstrated ability to influence stakeholders and deliver results in the best interests of the organisation.
• Ability to diagnose problems quickly, manage risk and identify future operational challenges.
• Excellent communication, presentation and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong analytical and data-driven decision-making capability.
• Experience working within regulated environments and maintaining compliance with applicable legislation and standards.

Personal Attributes

• Positive, high-energy leader with a collaborative approach.
• Transformational in thinking, practical in execution.
• Results-focused with a passion for continuous improvement.
• Strong decision-maker with excellent problem-solving skills.
• Passionate about developing people and building high-performing teams.

In return we offer the following benefits:

• 25 days holiday + up to 4 days for Christmas Shutdown + Bank Holidays
• Profit Sharing - Receive a percentage of your salary based on the company achieving EBITDA results
• Salary Sacrifice Pension Scheme with Royal London
• EAP Provider with TELUS Health
• Access to Digital GP Appointments and medical professionals
• Free parking including electric charge points
• Excellent and modern onsite facilities including free tea, coffee and fruit