Operational Excellence Manager

Alternative Heat; Banbridge; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the UK's Building Services sector is looking for an Operational Excellence Manager to drive continuous improvement initiatives. This role involves leading teams, applying Lean and Six Sigma methodologies, and enhancing operational efficiency across various departments. The ideal candidate will have a degree in a related field and significant experience in manufacturing operations.

Benefits

Career development opportunities

Competitive pension scheme

Health cash plan

Life assurance scheme

Annual leave increasing with service

Free Barista Style Coffee and Fruit provided daily

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience in manufacturing operations.
• Demonstrated success in leading lean transformation or Six Sigma projects.
• Strong working knowledge of OEE, TPM, SMED, 5S.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage continuous improvement projects across operations.
• Identify and analyze operational inefficiencies using Lean and Six Sigma.
• Champion a culture of operational excellence across the organization.

Skills

Leadership

Continuous Improvement

Lean Tools

Analytical Skills

Communication

Education

Degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Management

Tools

ISO 9001

Lean Six Sigma

Job description

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Operational Excellence Manager

Application Deadline: 4 July 2025

Department: Contracts

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Alternative Heat Head Office

Reporting To: Project Director

Description

The opportunity has arisen to join an industry leader in UK's & Ireland's Building Services sector. Alternative Heat design, develop and deliver a wide range of offsite-prefabricated, innovative, and sustainable building service solutions throughout the UK & Europe.

We specialise in the design, supply, and installation of a wide range of prefabricated energy solutions, typically built in NI and shipped throughout the UK & Europe. We also offer turnkey design, build, and operate solutions for commercial energy centres and large-scale district heating solutions and have experience with successfully procuring and delivering many similar packages to a wide range of public bodies throughout UK & Europe.

Role Overview:

The Operational Excellence (OpEx) Manager will lead the continuous improvement initiatives across the business, focusing on streamlining processes, reducing waste, and driving efficiency across all departments. This role is critical in fostering a culture of continuous improvement and embedding Lean and Six Sigma methodologies to achieve business objectives. This role is a truly people focused role and as such we are seeking a human centered, team orientated individual with a sub-servient leadership attitude and approach.

Job Title | Operational Excellence Manager
Location | Banbridge
Hours | Monday-Thursday 8am-5pm and Friday 8am-3pm
Salary | Competitive Depending on Experience
Responsible to | Project Director

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage continuous improvement projects across operations, supply chain, and support functions.
• Identify and analyse operational inefficiencies using Lean, Six Sigma, and other CI tools.
• Champion a culture of operational excellence across the organisation through training, coaching, and stakeholder engagement.
• Collaborate with senior leaders and cross-functional colleagues to define, prioritise, and execute strategic improvement initiatives.
• Develop KPIs and dashboards to monitor progress, ensure accountability, and deliver measurable improvements.
• Facilitate workshops and kaizen events to encourage employee involvement and idea generation.
• Deliver cost-saving and efficiency-driving initiatives that align with corporate goals.
• Monitor industry trends and introduce best practices to maintain competitive advantage.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Essential Criteria:

• People focused with a sub-servient approach to leadership.
• Degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Management, or a related technical field and or minimum 5 years of experience in manufacturing operations, with a strong focus on continuous improvement.
• Demonstrated success in leading lean transformation or Six Sigma projects in a factory or plant environment.
• Strong working knowledge of OEE, TPM, SMED, 5S, visual factory, and other Lean tools.
• Familiarity with ISO 9001 or other quality management systems.
• Analytical and data-oriented approach, with the ability to interpret manufacturing metrics to drive decisions.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; capable of working effectively across all levels of the organization.
• Demonstrable team building, cross-functional project delivery.

Desirable Criteria:

• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or above.
• Additional training in operational excellence, project management (e.g., Prince2, PMP), or change management is desirable.

Benefits

• Full in-house training and career development opportunities.
• Competitive pension scheme.
• Life assurance scheme.
• Health cash plan.
• Full access to smart wellbeing platform.
• Annual flu vaccine
• Free annual health check during working hours.
• Annual leave increasing in line with length of service.
• Lavish Long service awards
• Generously funded social events organised for all employees throughout the year via our Social and Wellbeing committee.
• Electric vehicle charging ports
• Full access to car emergency kit.
• Annual Christmas raffle
• Yearly allowance for AH Branded clothing merchandise
• Secure, free onsite parking.
• Dedicated departmental budget allocated annually for team building events during working hours
• Free Barista Style Coffee, Hot Chocolate, Tea, and Fruit provided daily.
• Friendly and supportive working environment in state-of-the-art facilities.