Operations & Compliance Lead – Continuous Improvement

Bedford Introduction Saab Uk; Grafton Underwood; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Saab UK is seeking an Operations Manager for Bedford to lead governance, compliance, trials, and business coordination for the BlueBear operation in Bedfordshire. The role focuses on continuous improvement, KPI tracking, and ensuring alignment with Saab UK policies and UK regulatory requirements.

You will liaise with cross-functional teams to maintain quality and security standards across the organisation. As part of Saab UK’s defence and security portfolio, this role requires National Security

Qualifications

• Demonstrable leadership to drive change in the organisation.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Highly motivated self starter who requires minimal supervision.
• Experience implementing effective change in an organisation.
• Proven experience managing risks and implementing risk management policies incl. business continuity plans.
• Experience with implementation Quality Management Systems and compliance with ISO 9001.
• Experience with ISO 27001 desirable.
• Awareness of critical compliance areas including UK export control, health & safety and environmental management desirable.
• Experience with defence industry and UK MOD desirable.
• National Security Vetting clearance at SC level or ability to gain it.

Responsibilities

• Drive continuous improvement across the organisation to high standards.
• Be the focal point for process standardisation and compliance with the quality management system.
• Be the focal point to Saab UK functions for critical compliance areas including export control, health & safety and security.
• Develop and track KPIs to support the delivery of the organisation's Strategic Business Plan.
• Implement processes for capturing customer feedback, communicate success and track change where required.
• Communicate Operational Excellence throughout the organisation.
• Co-ordinate internal and external audit activity.
• Act as Risk and Opportunity Co-ordinator and lead all business continuity management activities.
• Co-ordinate compliance activity such as export control ensuring sufficient resources and processes are in place.
• Co-ordinate the implementation of new compliance standards and business support tools.
• Capture and track internal feedback on processes to drive continuous improvements.
• Delivery internal training on continuous improvement / operational excellence where required.
• Champion information management within BlueBear.
• Support internal project activity where required and manage the activities of the Facility Coordinator.

Skills

Leadership

Change management

Communication

Self-starter

Risk management

ISO 9001

ISO 27001

Export controls

Defence industry

Security vetting

Job description

Saab UK is seeking an Operations Manager for Bedford to lead governance, compliance, trials, and business coordination for the BlueBear operation in Bedfordshire. The role focuses on continuous improvement, KPI tracking, and ensuring alignment with Saab UK policies and UK regulatory requirements.

You will liaise with cross-functional teams to maintain quality and security standards across the organisation. As part of Saab UK’s defence and security portfolio, this role requires National Security