Manufacturing Operations Director

360 Resourcing Solutions; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus up to 15%

Private health care

Company car

Job summary

360 Resourcing Solutions client seeks an accomplished Manufacturing Operations Director to lead a heavy industrial site in the UK. You will oversee production, maintenance, logistics and quality, designing strategic plans to meet throughput and safety targets while driving continuous improvement.

The role requires a strong track record in steel/metallurgy operations, hands-on leadership, and expertise with ERP/MES systems.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in heavy manufacturing or steel/metallurgy.
• Proven ability to drive operational excellence and cost efficiency.
• Strong planning, budgeting and strategic execution skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operations across production, maintenance, logistics, and quality control.
• Ensure processes meet output targets, quality standards, and delivery timelines.
• Develop and implement operational strategies aligned with corporate goals.
• Oversee fabrication, logistics, quality, health and safety operations.
• Optimize production schedules to maximise throughput and reduce bottlenecks.
• Implement Lean, Six Sigma and TPM to improve efficiency and reduce waste.
• Lead product innovations implementation and sustain ISO/regulatory compliance.
• Manage budgets, cost controls and CAPEX planning.
• Oversee workforce planning, training and leadership development.
• Collaborate with procurement to secure raw materials and materials planning.

Skills

Leadership

Manufacturing experience

Lean Six Sigma

Strategic planning

ERP/MES (Navision/Business Central)

Travel flexibility

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Tools

Navision / Business Central

Job description

Our client has grown to become one of the largest family-owned manufacturers of construction products in the UK and Ireland. The group encompasses leading brands across the steel, light & environmental and timber sectors and they are renowned for pioneering, innovating, and a dedicated attitude of 'going through the wall' for their customers. The group continues to grow at pace from their Derbyshire base, and they are now looking for an Operations Director for their masonry led brand. This is an amazing opportunity for an established Operations Director with a manufacturing background to join this fantastic business and to directly manage a team of six. As Operations Director you will be responsible for overseeing and optimising all manufacturing, production, logistics, and operational processes within their steel manufacturing facilities to support operational growth. This role ensures the efficient, safe, and cost-effective production of steel products while maintaining strict quality standards and driving continuous improvement initiatives. The Operations Director provides strategic leadership to plant operations, production planning, supply chain, maintenance, and quality teams.

Manufacturing Operations Director - Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operations across production, maintenance, logistics, and quality control.
• Ensure manufacturing processes meet output targets, quality standards, and delivery timelines.
• Develop and implement operational strategies aligned with corporate goals.
• Oversee fabrication, logistics Quality, Health and Safety operations.
• Optimize production schedules to maximise throughput and reduce bottlenecks.
• Implement methodologies to improve efficiency and reduce waste (Lean, Six Sigma, and TPM).
• Ensure the timely and efficient implementation of product innovations
• Promote a strong safety culture and lead incident investigations as needed.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory, environmental, and sustainability requirements.
• Collaborate with QA lead to meet product specifications and quality benchmarks.
• Maintain ISO and other relevant certifications and relevant certifications across all sites.
• Oversee operational budgets, cost controls, and capital expenditure planning.
• Improve operational cost efficiency through procurement, waste reduction, and productivity initiatives.
• Oversee workforce planning, training programs, and leadership development.
• Collaborate closely with procurement teams to secure raw materials such as Steel, Fixings and consumables.
• Optimise inventory levels, warehousing operations, and outbound logistics to support uninterrupted production.
• Build and maintain strong supplier partnerships, negotiating performance expectations and ensuring reliability.
• Oversee logistics operations to ensure timely, efficient, and cost-effective delivery of finished products

Manufacturing Operations Director - Required Skills

• Bachelor's degree in engineering (desirable, although not essential)
• Significant experience in manufacturing or heavy industrial operations, preferably steel/metallurgy, manufacturing, or related field.
• Senior leadership or plant management director experience, with line management accountability.
• Strong background in metal fabrication operations is highly preferred.
• Expertise in Lean, Six Sigma, and operational excellence programs.
• Strong knowledge of steel manufacturing processes.
• Proven ability to manage complex industrial operations and strategic planning skills.
• Works independently, decisive, strong judgement, problem solver
• Proficiency with ERP/MES systems (Navision / Business Central).
• Flexibility to travel throughout the UK, ROI internationally on occasions.

This role offers the opportunity for a skilled Operations Director to add immediate value with their skillset. It also offers the chance to work for a business with an enviable reputation within their field who reward and encourage development within their teams. The role is largely site based with four days based out of their Derbyshire facility, with one day working from home possible. The role comes with several benefits including a competitive base salary, bonus of up to 15%, private health care, and company car.

• competitive base salary
• bonus of up to 15%
• private health care
• company car

Our client has an amazing office, culture, and working environment. The group has been scaling rapidly over the last few years and has further ambitious plans. This is a key role to them achieving that future growth potential.