Head of Operations

Blue Oak Recruitment; Huddersfield; Sur place; GBP 63 000 - 77 000; Plein temps

Avantages offerts par ce poste

25 days holiday

Bank holidays

Pension

Résumé du poste

Blue Oak Recruitment is recruiting an experienced Head of Operations for an established engineering and manufacturing business in Huddersfield. Based in Clayton West, you will lead Production, Procurement and Technical/QHSE while driving efficiency, profitability and on‑time customer delivery.

Reporting to the Operations Director, you will manage a senior team and create a more joined‑up, accountable operation.

Qualifications

• Proven senior operations or manufacturing leadership experience.
• Strong knowledge of production planning and scheduling within an engineering environment.
• Hands-on procurement, materials management and supplier relationships.
• Commercial awareness with cost, productivity and performance influence.
• Experience managing and developing teams, including department managers.

Responsabilités

• Take overall responsibility for Production, Procurement and Technical/QHSE performance.
• Lead, coach and develop three departmental managers, creating accountability and continuous improvement.
• Drive improvements in production efficiency, capacity utilisation, scheduling and on-time delivery.
• Oversee purchasing, materials planning, supplier performance and stock management.
• Identify opportunities to reduce costs, improve margins and minimise operational waste.
• Ensure production planning, procurement and customer requirements are aligned.
• Work with the Technical Manager to ensure quality, health & safety and environmental standards are maintained.
• Introduce KPIs to drive operational performance and informed decision-making.
• Identify bottlenecks and implement practical, sustainable improvements.
• Build a stronger, more structured operation with greater autonomy.

Connaissances

Ops leadership

Manufacturing mgmt

Team leadership

KPIs

Continuous improvement

Cost reduction

Procurement

Quality & Safety

Outils

MRP/ERP systems

CNC machining

Description du poste

Head of Operations – Engineering & Manufacturing

Location: Clayton West, Huddersfield

Salary: £70,000 + Company Car or Car Allowance

Benefits: 25 Days Holiday + Bank Holidays, Pension

Full-time | Permanent

We are recruiting for an experienced Head of Operations to join an established engineering and manufacturing business based in Huddersfield.

This is an excellent opportunity for a commercially minded operational leader to take responsibility for three key functions – Production, Procurement and Technical/QHSE – with a clear focus on improving efficiency, performance, profitability and customer delivery.

Reporting directly to the Operations Director, you will lead an experienced management team comprising the Production Manager, Purchasing Manager and Technical Manager.

A key priority will be to bring these functions together, creating a more joined-up, accountable and efficient operation. We are looking for someone who can see the bigger picture but is equally comfortable getting into the operational detail, challenging existing processes and implementing improvements.

The Role

• Take overall responsibility for Production, Procurement and Technical/QHSE performance.


• Lead, coach and develop three departmental managers, creating a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.


• Drive improvements in production efficiency, capacity utilisation, scheduling and on-time delivery.


• Oversee purchasing, materials planning, supplier performance and stock management.


• Identify opportunities to reduce costs, improve margins and minimise operational waste.


• Ensure production planning, procurement and customer requirements are effectively aligned.


• Work closely with the Technical Manager to ensure quality, health & safety and environmental standards are maintained.


• Introduce and monitor meaningful KPIs to drive operational performance and informed decision-making.


• Identify bottlenecks, challenge existing ways of working and implement practical, sustainable improvements.


• Build a stronger, more structured operational function that can operate effectively with greater autonomy.

About You

We are particularly interested in speaking with candidates who have a strong background in engineering, manufacturing or machine shop environments, ideally with experience spanning both production and procurement.

You will need to demonstrate:

• Proven experience in a senior Operations Management, Manufacturing Management or similar leadership role.


• A strong understanding of production processes, planning and scheduling within an engineering environment.


• Hands-on experience of procurement, production buying, materials management and supplier relationships.


• Commercial awareness, with the ability to understand and influence cost, productivity and operational performance.


• Experience managing and developing teams, ideally including departmental managers.


• Confidence working with KPIs, performance data and continuous improvement initiatives.


• A practical, proactive approach to problem-solving and implementing change.


• A good understanding of quality, health & safety and operational compliance.

Experience of CNC machining, fabrication, assembly, MRP/ERP systems, Lean manufacturing and inventory management would be particularly advantageous.

The Opportunity

This is a genuinely influential position within an established manufacturing business, offering the opportunity to take ownership of a broad operational remit and make a measurable difference.

Our client is looking for someone who can bring structure, commercial discipline and stronger collaboration across the business without introducing unnecessary bureaucracy.

You will have the support of the Operations Director, together with the autonomy to develop your management team, improve processes and shape the way the operation runs.

For an ambitious Operations Manager or Manufacturing Manager ready to step into a broader leadership role, this could be an excellent next move.