Head of Operations

Universal Business Team; Widnes; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A growing distribution company in Widnes is seeking a Head of Operations to drive and scale operational capabilities in line with ambitious growth plans. This hands-on leadership role requires expertise in managing operations within manufacturing and logistics sectors. The ideal candidate will possess a proven track record in operations leadership and a strong understanding of customs and international logistics. The position offers a salary between £80,000 and £100,000 along with profit share and other benefits.

Benefits

Profit share bonus

Company vehicle

Private medical insurance

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Qualifications

• Senior operations leadership within manufacturing, wholesale or distribution.
• Strong background in metalwork / engineering / manufacturing environments.
• Deep understanding of import/export, customs and international logistics.

Responsibilities

• End-to-end ownership of operations across UK and international sites.
• Oversight of multiple warehouses and subcontract manufacturers.
• Managing 3–4 key manufacturing partners.

Skills

Operational leadership

Solutions-focused

Customer-focused mindset

Commercial awareness

Job description

Head of Operations

Widnes, Cheshire
Full-Time | Senior Leadership Role
£80,000 – £100,000 + Profit Share + Benefits

The Opportunity

I’m recruiting exclusively on behalf of a rapidly scaling UK-based group operating across marine, onsite and wholesale distribution, currently turning over £9.5–£10m with a clearly defined ambition to reach £40m by 2030.

This is a critical, newly created leadership role designed to bring operational rigour, structure and scalability into the business. The organisation is commercially strong, sales-led and entrepreneurial — what’s needed now is a senior operational leader who can strip back, rebuild and future-proof operations without disrupting momentum.

You will operate as a standalone operational silo, Initially reporting to the commercial director, with full autonomy to design systems, set KPIs and drive delivery across production, warehousing, logistics and international supply chains.

This role is not about maintaining the status quo — it’s about doing the extraordinary.

Key Objectives (12–24 month horizon)

• Scale operational capability in line with aggressive growth plans
• Improve DIFOT performance from 91% to 96%+, with international shipments targeted at 100%
• Reduce project lead times to 2 weeks
• Implement scalable systems across manufacturers, warehouses and logistics
• Strengthen the relationship between sales and operations
• Create structure without slowing the business down

What You’ll Be Accountable For

Operational Leadership

• End-to-end ownership of operations across UK and international sites
• Oversight of multiple warehouses (including Europe) and subcontract manufacturers
• Direct management of warehouse leadership and operational teams

Production & Supply Chain

• Managing 3–4 key manufacturing partners (with 10–12 factory-based personnel)
• Production planning, forecasting and component control
• JIT / Lean principles where appropriate
• Oversight of technical specification checks (technical team to transfer into role)

Logistics, Customs & Compliance

• Full responsibility for import/export operations and international delivery systems
• Customs documentation, commercial invoices and shipment control
• ISO, H&S and project delivery compliance

Systems & Process Improvement

• Strip back legacy processes and rebuild scalable, joined-up systems
• ERP / supply chain system optimisation
• Stock control, purchasing, dispatch and delivery performance
• KPI setting, reporting and accountability frameworks

This is a hands-on leadership role — you will be expected to roll your sleeves up where required while still operating at a strategic level.

The Profile That Will Succeed

This role will suit someone who is:

• Humble, hungry and smart — no ego, high accountability
• Solutions-focused, pragmatic and resilient
• Customer-focused mindset that is willing to do the extraordinary
• Comfortable challenging the norm and “taking the bull by the horns”
• Calm under pressure with ability to work with other colleagues to demanding deadlines
• Commercially aware and deeply operationally credible

Experience & Capability

• Senior operations leadership within manufacturing, wholesale or distribution
• Strong background in metalwork / engineering / manufacturing environments
• Proven experience managing subcontract manufacturers
• Deep understanding of import/export, customs and international logistics
• Track record of scaling operations in fast-growth businesses
• Systems-led, data-driven and IT savvy (Excel competence beneficial)

You won’t be fazed by complexity, ambiguity or hard work — you’ll thrive on it.

What’s on Offer

• £80,000 – £100,000 base salary (DOE)
• Profit share bonus
• Company vehicle
• Private medical insurance
• Laptop and phone
• 25 days holiday + bank holidays
• On-site parking
• Autonomy, influence and genuine board-level exposure
• The opportunity to architect operations in a business with serious growth ambition

Working Pattern

• Core hours: 7:30am – 5:00pm
• Flexibility required to meet operational demands