Operations Director - Manufacturing

Autochair; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Autochair, a leading manufacturer of mobility solutions, seeks an Operations Director to lead and transform their manufacturing operations. This strategic role involves driving operational excellence, ensuring safety and quality, and managing cross-functional teams to meet growing demand. If you're an inspirational leader with extensive experience, we'd love to hear from you.

Benefits

26 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Life Insurance

Private Health Care

Profit Related Pay

5% employer pension contribution

Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• 8-10+ years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing.
• Proven track record in business operations and management.
• Deep understanding of lean manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership to drive operational performance.
• Champion health, safety, environmental, and quality culture.
• Lead and develop engineering functions to enhance productivity.

Skills

Leadership

Lean Manufacturing

Continuous Improvement

Data-Driven Decision Making

Cross-Functional Management

Supply Chain Optimization

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Business Administration

Tools

ERP/MRP systems (Microsoft Dynamics)

Job description

Operations Director Manufacturing

Location: Alfreton, Derbyshire, DE55 7JR
Salary: Very competitive DOE + Car Allowance + Management Bonus Scheme
Contract: Full Time, Permanent
Hours: Monday to Friday
Benefits: 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays, Life Insurance, Private Health Care, Profit Related Pay, 5% employer pension contribution, Employee Assistance Programme, and more.

Are you a visionary and enterprise-driven leader with a passion for operational transformation and continuous improvement

Are you ready to drive Operational Excellence in a Purpose-Led Manufacturing Business

Autochair is a market-leading manufacturer of life-changing mobility solutions!

As our business scales, we are looking for a dynamic and strategic Operations Director to lead our Manufacturing, Engineering, HSEQ & BI, and Sales Operations teams into the next phase of growth.

This is a rare opportunity to shape and optimise our operational model, deliver meaningful change, and empower high-performing teams all while keeping safety, quality, and customer satisfaction at the heart of everything we do.

You will report directly to the Managing Director and take full ownership of our operational performance across departments, ensuring we re ready to meet increasing demand both in the UK and internationally.

As our Operations Director you ll be responsible for:

• Providing strong, strategic leadership across operational functions to drive high performance and collaboration.
• Championing a proactive Health, Safety, Environmental and Quality culture.
• Maintaining profitability during rapid business expansion.
• Using data-driven KPIs and metrics to guide planning and decision-making.
• Driving lean manufacturing and operational efficiency.
• Leading and developing the Engineering function.
• Managing growth across our international operations.
• Implementing effective production workflows to boost productivity and minimise waste.
• Taking ownership of the post-sales process to enhance cross-team collaboration and service delivery.
• Identifying cost-saving initiatives without compromising quality.
• Embedding a culture of continuous improvement across all teams.
• Championing a zero-defect mindset to improve overall quality standards.

About You What We re Looking For:

You re a hands-on, inspirational leader with a proven ability to scale operations and drive results in fast-paced manufacturing environments.

You lead by example, bring clarity to complex situations, and thrive in high-performance cultures.

Essential Skills & Experience:

• 8 10+ years progressive leadership experience in manufacturing or production operations.
• Proven track record in business operations and cross-functional management.
• Deep understanding of lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Commercially astute with experience in budgeting, forecasting, and cost control.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems ideally Microsoft Dynamics.
• Strong knowledge of inventory, supply chain, and workflow optimisation.
• International operations management experience.
• Bachelor s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or related discipline.

Your Leadership Style:

• Collaborative, people-focused, and inspirational.
• Strategic and data-led with a practical, results-driven mindset.
• Strong communicator and cross-functional influencer.
• Skilled in leading change and holding teams accountable to high standards.

Why Join Autochair

We re a values-led, forward-thinking business that s changing lives through innovation. You ll have the opportunity to directly influence how our company grows while being part of a collaborative team that genuinely cares.

If you re ready to take the lead in a growing, purpose-driven organisation we d love to hear from you!

Apply Now

Submit your CV today to start a conversation about your future with Autochair.

No agencies, please.