Head of Operations

RE Recruitment Group; Gloucester; On-site; GBP 51,000 - 69,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private healthcare

Car allowance

Professional development

Job summary

RE Recruitment Group is helping a Gloucestershire-based engineering and manufacturing SME recruit a Head of Operations on a full-time, permanent basis. The role covers manufacturing, field engineering, warehouse/materials, logistics and admin with a hands-on leadership style.

The successful candidate will drive performance, manage managers, and oversee budgets while implementing process improvements to support rapid growth. Competitive package includes benefits and development opportunities.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a senior operational leadership role within an engineering, manufacturing or comparable technical environment.
• Experience managing multiple operational functions, ideally including manufacturing, field engineering, warehouse/materials, logistics and operational administration.
• Proven experience managing managers and supervisors, with the ability to establish clear accountability and drive performance.
• Strong commercial awareness with experience managing budgets, labour costs, productivity, margins and/or P&L.
• A proven track record of implementing operational improvements, introducing structure and improving processes within a growing or fast-paced SME.
• Strong people management and leadership skills, with the confidence to challenge performance and develop teams.
• A practical, hands on approach with the ability to work effectively with both operational teams and senior directors.

Responsibilities

• Taking ownership of day-to-day operations across manufacturing, field engineering, warehouse/materials, logistics and operational administration.
• Leading and developing managers and supervisors, ensuring clear responsibilities, accountability and performance standards across the operation.
• Improving operational planning and coordination, ensuring engineers, materials, vehicles and site requirements are effectively organised.
• Introducing practical KPIs, processes and controls to improve efficiency, productivity, and operational visibility.
• Driving continuous improvement initiatives, identifying root causes and implementing sustainable solutions to recurring operational issues.
• Managing operational budgets and supporting improvements in labour utilisation, costs, productivity, stock and overall commercial performance.
• Working closely with the Managing Director, Finance, Technical, Purchasing and HR teams to support continued business growth.

Skills

Senior leadership

Budgeting

Operational excellence

People management

Cross-functional collaboration

Job description

Our client, a growing engineering and manufacturing business based in Gloucestershire, has an exciting new opportunity for a Head of Operations to join their team on a full-time, permanent basis due to continued business growth. If you’re hands on and from a manufacturing or engineering SME, keep reading!

The successful Head of Operations should have:

• Previous experience in a senior operational leadership role within an engineering, manufacturing or comparable technical environment.
• Experience managing multiple operational functions, ideally including manufacturing, field engineering, warehouse/materials, logistics and operational administration.
• Proven experience managing managers and supervisors, with the ability to establish clear accountability and drive performance.
• Strong commercial awareness with experience managing budgets, labour costs, productivity, margins and/or P&L.
• A proven track record of implementing operational improvements, introducing structure and improving processes within a growing or fast-paced SME.
• Strong people management and leadership skills, with the confidence to challenge performance and develop teams.
• A practical, hands on approach with the ability to work effectively with both operational teams and senior directors.

In this role, the Head of Operations will be responsible for:

• Taking ownership of day-to-day operations across manufacturing, field engineering, warehouse/materials, logistics and operational administration.
• Leading and developing managers and supervisors, ensuring clear responsibilities, accountability and performance standards across the operation.
• Improving operational planning and coordination, ensuring engineers, materials, vehicles and site requirements are effectively organised.
• Introducing practical KPIs, processes and controls to improve efficiency, productivity, and operational visibility.
• Driving continuous improvement initiatives, identifying root causes and implementing sustainable solutions to recurring operational issues.
• Managing operational budgets and supporting improvements in labour utilisation, costs, productivity, stock and overall commercial performance.
• Working closely with the Managing Director, Finance, Technical, Purchasing and HR teams to support continued business growth.

Our client is offering the successful Head of Operations a salary in the region of £60,000, plus benefits including performance-related bonus, pension, private healthcare, car allowance or company vehicle and ongoing professional development opportunities.