Operations Manager

GKN Aerospace; East Cowes; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

GKN Aerospace on the Isle of Wight seeks an experienced Operations Team Leader to supervise a manufacturing team and drive Lean improvements. Based at East Cowes, you will report into an Operations Group Leader and ensure safety, quality and delivery targets are met daily.

You will lead by example, coach staff, and embed a culture of continuous improvement and open dialogue while managing a zone budget and coordinating with peers to optimise performance across the area.

Qualifications

• Experience in aerospace manufacturing.
• Proven leadership track record with teams.
• Strong lean/kaizen experience and continuous improvement.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a high-performing team of up to 12 operatives.
• Achieve PSQDCC targets via Lean Operating Model.
• Attain Operational Excellence in area of responsibility.
• Execute Go to Gemba problem solving and drive improvements.
• Foster a Great Place To Work and safe, collaborative culture.
• Oversee Daily Management and Leader Standard Work compliance.
• Cooperate with other Team Leaders for best overall outcomes.
• Manage zone budget and make difficult decisions as needed.

Skills

Leadership

Team Development

Lean Manufacturing

Problem Solving

Communication

Job description

Select how often (in days) to receive an alert:

Fantastic challenges. Amazing opportunities.

GKN Aerospace is reimagining air travel: going further, faster and greener! Fuelled by great people whose expertise and creativity sets the standards in our industry, we’re inspired by the opportunities to innovate and break boundaries. We’re proud to play a part in protecting the world’s democracies. And we’re committed to putting sustainability at the centre of everything we do, opening up and protecting our planet. With over 16,000 employees across 32 manufacturing sites in 12 countries we serve over 90% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers and achieved sales of £3.6bn in 2025. There are no limits to where you can take your career.

Job Summary

We are currently seeking an experienced Operations Manager (known internally as Operations Team Leader) to join our thriving business here on The Isle of Wight. Based at our East Cowes facilities, and reporting into one of our Operations Group Leaders, the Operations Team Leader will be accountable for the following:

• Leading and developing a high-performing team of (typically up to 12) manufacturing operatives;
• Achieving the People, Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cash and Cost (PSQDCC) targets through the disciplined and rigorous deployment of the Lean Operating Model;
• Attaining Operational Excellence across their designated area of responsibility, in line with the Performance Centre objectives.
• Active involvement in problem solving and the management system using a ‘Go to Gemba’ approach to solve problems with the ambition that 95% of issues can be solved within the zone itself
• Creating a 'Great Place To Work' through developing and empowering first class Team Members and driving a culture of continuous improvement, safe working and open dialogue.

Flexibility is required to cover all shift patterns as required by the business; predominately we are operating on 6am to 2pm and 2pm to 10pm shift, weekly rotation, as well as core shift (8am-4.30pm)

Job Responsibilities

• Creating and sustaining a culture that is aligned to the GKN Aerospace 'Great Place To Work' value drivers and Culture Principles by role-modelling behaviours, motivating, encouraging and recognising the contribution of individuals and teams.
• Hold Team Members and Team Leaders accountable to embody the GKNA culture principles
• Be Open and Honest when appraising and managing individuals'performance whilst supporting and coaching individuals to close performance gaps
• Provide opportunities for Team Members to play to their strengths; do what they do best and create on-going opportunities for learning and personal development
• Exemplifying a safety-first mindset and ensuring that the GKN Aerospace Health, Safety and Environmental policies and standards are applied and that their assigned areas are a model of a world class healthy and safe working environment
• Leading and developing their teams to understand the context, mechanics and the delivery of PSQDCC targets to meet customer and stakeholder commitments
• Driving the disciplined and rigorous deployment of the Lean Operating Model (LOM) across their assigned areas
• Active involvement in problem solving and the management system using a 'Go to Gemba'approach to solve problems with the ambition that 95% of issues can be solved within the zone itself
• Cooperate with other Team Leaders to ensure the best performance outcomes for the entire Area
• Ensuring the disciplined execution of Daily Management and Standardised work through the conscientious adherence to Leader Standard Work
• Complying with all legal and regulatory requirements and ensuring that staff are aware of the policies and their individual responsibilities and accountabilities
• Responsibility for managing a Zone budget as agreed with their Group Leader, and taking ownership when having to make difficult decisions linked to their Zone

Job Qualifications

Suitable candidates should be able to demonstrate:

• Previous similar experience gained within an Aerospace (or very similar) manufacturing Industry.
• Demonstrable leadership skills, with a track record of successfully leading, engaging, training anddeveloping high-performing teams.
• Excellent workplace performance, demonstrating rigorous adherence to standardised work, and a track record of Kaizen implementation.
• Self-motivated by meeting and exceeding performance targets.
• Ability to work with various stakeholders.
• Effective and influential communication skills.

We’ll offer you fantastic challenges and amazing opportunities. This is your chance to be part of an organisation that has proven itself to be at the cutting edge of our industry; and is committed to pushing the boundaries even further. And with some of the best training on offer in the industry, who knows how far you can go?

A Great Place to work needs a Great Way of Working

Everyone is welcome to apply to GKN. We believe that we can only achieve our ambitions through a coming together of diverse minds who enjoy collaborating in an inspirational environment. Through our commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging and by living our five powerful principles we’ve created a culture where everyone feels welcome to contribute. It’s a culture that won us ‘The Best Workplace Culture Award’. By embracing and celebrating what makes us unique we encourage everyone to bring their full self to work.

We’re also committed to providing an accessible recruitment process, so if you require reasonable adjustments at any stage during our recruitment process please get in touch and let us know.

We arethe place where human dreams, plus humanendeavour, shape the future of aerospace innovation and technology.