Group Operations Director

Umbilical Advanced; West Midlands; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25% performance bonus

Car allowance or company car

Private healthcare for executive and2?

Job summary

Umbilical Advanced is seeking a Group Operations Director to oversee its multi-site UK manufacturing footprint, with responsibilities spanning precision engineering, assembly and process automation.

The role requires a senior executive capable of driving standardised processes, lean transformation, safety, quality and delivery performance across sites, while guiding an operating P&L and leading a high-calibre leadership team.

Qualifications

• Significant senior operational experience in multi-site manufacturing.
• Proven track record of leading operational transformation, standardisation and continuous improvement programs.
• Strong understanding of lean manufacturing, automation, and digital factory initiatives.
• Experience managing high-volume production environments with complex supply chains.
• Demonstrable P&L ownership and experience in cost optimisation.
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills, capable of motivating and developing operational teams.
• Confident working at Board level and driving strategic operational decisions.
• Degree qualified in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, MBA or equivalent advantageous.
• Based within a reasonable commuting distance of Central England, with flexibility for site travel.

Responsibilities

• Full accountability for operational performance across the group’s UK sites.
• Lead Directors and site managers across multiple manufacturing sites.
• Ensure operational efficiency, quality, safety and cost control.
• Develop and embed standardised manufacturing processes and lean principles.
• Drive continuous improvement and automation initiatives.
• Manage the operational P&L and contribute to business growth.
• Partner with commercial and technical teams to deliver customer requirements for automotive clients.
• Build and mentor a high-performing operations leadership team.
• Support workforce planning, talent development and operational succession.

Skills

Senior leadership

Multi-site ops

Lean manufacturing

P&L ownership

Automation & digital

Stakeholder mgmt

Education

Engineering degree

MBA or equivalent

Job description

Location: Central England – Midlands-based with travel to multiple sites

• Performance bonus – 25%
• Car allowance or fully expensed company car
• Private healthcare for the executive and family
• Life assurance

An ambitious UK automotive manufacturing group is seeking a Group Operations Director to oversee its multi-site operations. The company operates across several UK locations serving major automotive OEM clients.

With a strong focus on precision engineering, assembly and process automation, the group is entering a phase of operational transformation to standardise processes, improve efficiency, and embed a high-performance culture across its UK operations.

The role demands a senior executive who combines strategic vision with practical, hands‑on leadership across operational sites. This is a critical appointment for an experienced leader capable of managing large-scale, high-volume manufacturing operations while driving efficiency, quality, safety, and consistent delivery performance.

Key responsibilities

• The Group Operations Director will have full accountability for all operational performance across the group’s UK sites
• Leading Directors and site managers across multiple manufacturing sites
• Ensuring operational efficiency, quality, safety and cost control
• Developing and embedding standardised manufacturing processes and lean principles
• Driving continuous improvement and automation initiatives
• Managing the operational P&L and contributing to business growth
• Partnering with commercial and technical teams to deliver customer requirements for automotive clients
• Building and mentoring a high-performing operations leadership team
• Supporting workforce planning, talent development and operational succession

Key Requirements

• Significant senior operational experience in multi-site manufacturing, ideally within Tier 1 automotive supply chains
• Proven track record of leading operational transformation, standardisation and continuous improvement programs
• Strong understanding of lean manufacturing, automation, and digital factory initiatives
• Experience managing high-volume production environments with complex supply chains
• Demonstrable P&L ownership and experience in cost optimisation
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills, capable of motivating and developing operational teams
• Confident working at Board level and driving strategic operational decisions
• Degree qualified in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, MBA or equivalent advantageous
• Based within a reasonable commuting distance of Central England, with flexibility for site travel

This is a fantastic opportunity for an operational leader to shape the future of a growing UK manufacturing business. The successful candidate will have the authority and responsibility to standardise operations across multiple sites, embed best practice, and ensure consistent delivery for automotive clients while driving efficiency, profitability and a high-performance culture.

We do not discriminate based on age, gender, sex, relationship status, disability, race, religion/beliefs, or sexual orientation.