Operations Excellence & Compliance Manager

Bedford Introduction Saab Uk; St Leonards; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Saab UK is seeking an Operations Manager for the BlueBear Business in Bedfordshire. You will provide governance, compliance, trials support, and business coordination to continuously improve BlueBear operations and integration with Saab UK.

You will drive process standardisation, manage risk and audit activity, and lead continuous improvement initiatives across the organisation. A National Security Vetting clearance to SC level is required or obtainable for the role.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership skills to drive organisational change.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Motivated self-starter with minimal supervision.
• Experience implementing change and risk management policies.
• Knowledge of ISO 9001 compliance; ISO 27001 desirable.
• Awareness of UK export controls, health & safety, and environmental management desirable.
• Experience in defence industry and UK MOD desirable.
• NSV clearance to SC level required or obtainable.
• Consent to workforce screening and security checks.

Responsibilities

• Drive continuous improvement and high standards across the organisation.
• Serve as focal point for process standardisation and quality compliance.
• Coordinate export control, health & safety, and security with Saab UK functions.
• Develop and track KPIs aligned with the Strategic Business Plan.
• Capture customer feedback and drive change where needed.
• Promote Operational Excellence and communicate it organisation-wide.
• Coordinate internal and external audit activity.
• Lead risk and business continuity initiatives.
• Support compliance tool adoption and new standards implementation.
• Provide internal training on continuous improvement.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Self-starter

Change management

Risk management

Quality management

ISO 9001

ISO 27001

Export controls

Security clearance

Job description

Saab UK is seeking an Operations Manager for the BlueBear Business in Bedfordshire. You will provide governance, compliance, trials support, and business coordination to continuously improve BlueBear operations and integration with Saab UK.

You will drive process standardisation, manage risk and audit activity, and lead continuous improvement initiatives across the organisation. A National Security Vetting clearance to SC level is required or obtainable for the role.