Operations Director

Gill Group; Pennington; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Gill Group in Lymington, Hampshire, is seeking an experienced Operations Director to shape the company's operational platform for the next growth phase. This hands-on leadership role within a growing SME will influence strategy, build capability and drive operational excellence across manufacturing and engineering.

Reporting to the CEO, you will lead supply chain, procurement, production and manufacturing engineering, strengthen performance, and embed lean and continuous improvement culture

Qualifications

• Experience as an Operations Director or senior operational leader in manufacturing/engineering.
• Proven track record of improving operations, manufacturing efficiency and profitability.
• Strong leadership with ability to develop teams and drive accountability.
• Expertise in Lean, Six Sigma and continuous improvement.
• Commercial and analytical skills with ERP/MRP knowledge.
• Ability to implement structure, processes and scalable operations.
• Strategic thinker who can execute effectively within an SME.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the operational strategy aligned to business objectives and delivery targets.
• Drive manufacturing performance, productivity and margin improvement.
• Lead production, planning, warehousing, dispatch and procurement.
• Embed lean principles and continuous improvement across the business.
• Develop operational leaders and build organisational capability.
• Support growth through improved scalability and performance.
• Contribute to the senior leadership team and broader business strategy.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Continuous Improvement

ERP/MRP knowledge

People leadership

Strategic thinking

Operational planning

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Gill Group – Operations Director

Lymington, Hampshire

Berwick Partners is delighted to be partnering with Gill Group (‘Gill’) to appoint an Operations Director.

Gill is an independent British engineering business with more than 40 years of experience developing high performance sensing, measurement and environmental monitoring technologies used across the world. The Group has built an enviable reputation for technical innovation, quality and reliability, serving markets including renewable energy, meteorology, marine, defence, industrial automation and transportation.

In 2025, Gill was recognised with the King's Award for Enterprise in International Trade, reflecting both the quality of its technology and continued international growth.

We are seeking to appoint an experienced Operations Director to help create the operational platform required for the next phase of growth. This is a hands‑on leadership role within a growing SME, offering the opportunity to influence strategy, develop organisational capability and drive operational excellence across the business.

The Role

Reporting directly to the CEO, the Operations Director will lead Supply Chain, Procurement, Production and Manufacturing Engineering, whilst playing a key role within the senior leadership team. The successful candidate will be responsible for strengthening operational performance, improving manufacturing effectiveness and embedding a culture of continuous improvement across the organisation.

Key responsibilities include:

• Developing and executing the operational strategy aligned to business objectives and delivery targets
• Driving manufacturing performance, productivity and margin improvement
• Leading production, planning, warehousing, dispatch and procurement activities
• Embedding lean principles and continuous improvement methodologies across the business
• Developing operational leaders and building organisational capability
• Supporting business growth through improved operational scalability and performance
• Contributing to wider business strategy as a member of the senior leadership team

The Person

This role will suit a visible, hands‑on operational leader who enjoys improving organisations, developing teams and delivering meaningful change within a manufacturing environment.

You are likely to bring:

• Experience as an Operations Director or senior operational leader within a manufacturing or engineering environment
• A track record of improving operational performance, manufacturing efficiency and profitability
• Outstanding people leadership credentials, with experience developing teams and driving accountability
• Expertise in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma and continuous improvement methodologies
• Commercial and analytical capability, supported by strong ERP / MRP knowledge
• Experience introducing greater structure, process discipline and operational scalability
• A pragmatic, collaborative leadership style combined with the ability to think strategically and execute effectively

Experience within an SME environment would be particularly attractive, especially where doing is as important as directing.

The Opportunity

This is an outstanding opportunity to join a highly respected British engineering business with strong foundations, recognised technical expertise and significant growth potential.

The successful candidate will have genuine visibility, influence and autonomy, together with the opportunity to make a lasting impact on the future direction and operational performance of the Group.

Package and benefits will be discussed during conversations with Berwick Partners.