Operations Lead

Drayton; West Midlands; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car Allowance

Bonus

Pension

Healthcare

Life Insurance

Holiday

Job summary

Drayton is seeking an Operations Lead to sit as the senior on site, accountable for Manufacturing, Quality, Food Safety, Hygiene, Planning and Stores. You will deliver safe, efficient and profitable operations, ensuring targets across service, quality, cost and compliance are met while leading a cross-functional team.

Working with commercial, supply chain and support functions, you will identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce waste and embed best practice.

Qualifications

• Experience leading in fast-paced, high-volume manufacturing.
• Strong people leadership and communication skills.
• Structured, analytical mindset with continuous improvement focus.

Responsibilities

• Lead manufacturing, quality, food safety, hygiene, planning and stores.
• Drive safe, efficient and profitable operations while meeting targets across service, quality, cost and compliance.
• Develop leadership capability and optimize productivity and inventory accuracy.
• Shape long-term site strategy with cross-functional teams and support functions.

Job description

Salary: c £100,000 Per annum + Car Allowance + Bonus + Pension, Healthcare, Life Insurance and Holiday

Company

This is an excellent opportunity to join a growing manufacturing organisation known for its collaborative culture and commitment to continuous improvement. The business continues to strengthen its operational capability through investment in people, process and modern manufacturing practices. With a clear performance agenda and an ambition to build a high performing operation, the environment offers stability, pace and strong long term career potential.

Role

The Operations Lead is the senior operational leader on site, with accountability for Manufacturing, Quality, Food Safety, Hygiene, Planning and Stores. Responsible for delivering safe, efficient and profitable operations, you will ensure the site consistently achieves its targets across service, quality, cost and compliance. Leading a cross-functional team, you will drive performance through strong operational discipline, clear accountability and a culture of continuous improvement. You will develop leadership capability, optimise productivity, improve planning and inventory accuracy, and ensure the highest standards of quality, food safety and hygiene are maintained at all times.

Working closely with commercial, supply chain and support functions, you will identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce waste and enhance operational performance. As a key member of the leadership team, you will also play a central role in shaping the site's long-term strategy, supporting growth initiatives and embedding best practice across the operation. This is a broad, hands-on leadership role requiring strong people leadership, commercial awareness and the ability to deliver results through others.

Person

The ideal candidate will be an energetic, people centred operational leader with experience in fast paced, high volume manufacturing environments. You will bring credibility on the shop floor, strong communication skills and the ability to lead and motivate diverse teams across shifts. A structured, analytical mindset and a passion for continuous improvement are essential, along with the resilience and adaptability required to operate effectively in a dynamic setting. This could be the perfect next step for an ambitious site number two ready to step up and take full ownership or a hands on Site Manager seeking a high impact role with a fast track path to directorate.

In return, the business offers a supportive culture, meaningful influence over site performance and excellent long term opportunities for progression within an expanding organisation.