Interim Director of Strategy & Transformation

Morgan Ryder; England; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Morgan Ryder is assisting an international manufacturing group in the UK to appoint an Interim Director of Strategy & Transformation. The role requires hands-on leadership to translate growth, acquisitions and site transfers into actionable programs across multiple sites.

You will report to the regional Vice-President, drive governance and performance reporting, and deliver measurable improvements in productivity and profitability during a period of accelerated growth and integration.

Qualifications

• Proven track record leading complex transformation programmes in manufacturing or industrials.
• Experience driving post-acquisition integration and site consolidation.
• Ability to translate strategic priorities into executable programmes with measurable benefits.

Responsibilities

• Lead integration of newly acquired businesses across operational, commercial, financial and organisational workstreams.
• Direct manufacturing transfers, relocation and capability transfer programmes across multiple sites.
• Establish transformation governance, programme management and performance reporting.
• Drive value creation, profitability improvements and cash generation initiatives.
• Develop business cases and track benefits realisation with cross-functional teams.

Skills

Transformation leadership

M&A integration

Strategic planning

Program governance

Stakeholder management

Industrial manufacturing

Job description

Interim Director of Strategy & Transformation

UK | International Manufacturing Group | Interim Executive Assignment

Accelerated Growth | M&A Integration | Manufacturing Transformation

An opportunity to make an immediate impact

Are you an experienced interim transformation leader with a track record of delivering complex change within manufacturing or industrial businesses?

We are partnering with an international manufacturing group entering a significant period of accelerated growth, acquisition and operational transformation.

As the business expands its capabilities and manufacturing footprint, it is seeking an experienced Interim Director of Strategy & Transformation to lead critical strategic and operational initiatives across the organisation.

Reporting directly to the regional Vice-President, this is a highly visible interim assignment with a broad mandate spanning strategy execution, acquisition integration, manufacturing transfers and operational performance.

The successful candidate will be someone who can hit the ground running, bring structure to complexity and deliver measurable results in an environment where established processes, infrastructure and resources may still be evolving.

This is an opportunity to make a tangible difference at a pivotal stage in the organisation's development.

The Assignment

The business is embarking on an ambitious growth agenda, supported by acquisitions, operational development and the evolution of its manufacturing footprint.

The Interim Director will play a central role in translating these ambitions into practical execution.

This is not a traditional corporate strategy assignment. The organisation requires a hands-on transformation leader who can operate effectively in a growing, entrepreneurial environment, establish the right level of governance and personally drive complex programmes through to completion.

Key priorities will include:

• Leading the integration of newly acquired businesses.
• Driving manufacturing transfers, production relocation and capability transfers between sites.
• Supporting the development and execution of the business's strategic Value Creation Plan.
• Establishing effective transformation governance, programme management and performance reporting.
• Driving operational improvements, productivity initiatives and manufacturing footprint optimisation.
• Building the processes, management disciplines and capabilities required to support accelerated growth.

The role will require someone who can balance strategic oversight with detailed execution, working closely with senior executives, functional leaders and manufacturing site teams.

Key Responsibilities

M&A Integration & Business Transformation

• Lead the integration of newly acquired businesses across operational, commercial, financial and organisational workstreams.
• Develop and execute structured integration plans, defining milestones, accountabilities, risks and performance measures.
• Coordinate cross-functional integration activity to ensure acquisitions are successfully incorporated into the wider group.
• Identify and deliver synergies, operational improvements and value creation opportunities.
• Establish appropriate integration governance and reporting to ensure progress, risks and outcomes are clearly understood.

Manufacturing Transfers & Operational Footprint

• Lead complex manufacturing transfer and relocation programmes across multiple sites.
• Coordinate the transfer of production activities, manufacturing capabilities, equipment and processes.
• Work closely with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain and Finance to ensure successful implementation.
• Manage operational dependencies, risks, timelines and stakeholder requirements.
• Ensure manufacturing transfers are delivered in a structured and controlled manner, maintaining appropriate consideration of operational continuity, quality and customer requirements.
• Support manufacturing consolidation, capacity optimisation and the strategic development of the operational footprint.
• Translate strategic priorities into executable programmes with clear deliverables, milestones and financial targets.
• Drive delivery of the regional Value Creation Plan.
• Identify opportunities to improve profitability, productivity, cash generation and operational effectiveness.
• Develop business cases and performance measures to support strategic decision-making.
• Work closely with Finance and functional leaders to track progress and validate benefits realisation.

Transformation Governance & Business Scaling

• Establish a practical Transformation Office and programme management framework.
• Introduce effective management operating procedures, KPI reporting and performance governance.
• Build the structures, processes and disciplines required to support a growing and increasingly complex organisation.
• Strengthen accountability, decision-making and cross-functional coordination.
• Implement pragmatic solutions where established infrastructure, resources or processes are not yet in place.

The Ideal Interim Candidate

We are seeking an experienced interim executive who can quickly establish credibility, take ownership and deliver results.

You will ideally bring:

• A strong track record of delivering complex transformation programmes within manufacturing, industrial or engineered-product businesses.
• Significant experience in post-acquisition integration, business restructuring or operational transformation.
• Direct experience of manufacturing transfers, site consolidation, production relocation or capability transfers.
• Experience operating across multiple manufacturing sites and coordinating complex cross-functional programmes.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, with experience in value creation and performance improvement.
• The ability to establish governance, structure and accountability in an evolving business environment.
• A pragmatic, entrepreneurial and hands-on approach.
• The confidence to engage with senior executives while working directly with operational teams.

Industry Experience

We are particularly interested in interim professionals who have operated within:

• Automotive manufacturing and advanced manufacturing.
• Aerospace and defence.
• Industrial manufacturing and engineered products.
• Other complex, multi-site manufacturing environments.