Operations Manager

SF Partners; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Quarterly bonus

Benefits

Job summary

SF Partners is seeking an experienced Operations Manager for its Derbyshire site to lead a manufacturing operation of ~70 employees, oversee safety, quality, delivery and productivity, and shape the site’s growth during a period of expansion.

Reporting to the General Manager, you will drive Lean initiatives, develop KPIs, manage budgets and P&L, coach shift leaders, and partner with Engineering, Quality and Maintenance to deliver performance gains and a high-performing culture.

Qualifications

• Experience leading sizeable manufacturing teams with Shift Leaders or Production Managers.
• Proven track record of improving productivity, quality, delivery and overall operational performance.
• Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement.
• Experience working with budgets, forecasting and ideally P&L responsibility.
• Ability to operate both hands-on and strategically.
• Experience supporting growth, increased production volumes, or operational change.

Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day manufacturing operation, ensuring safety, quality, delivery, and productivity targets are achieved.
• Coach and develop Shift Leaders and production teams to maximise performance.
• Drive operational performance through Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement.
• Support ramp-up of production and site growth strategy.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, capacity and output.
• Own operational budgets, forecasting and P&L performance.
• Develop KPIs and use data to drive decision-making and improvement.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, H&S and senior leadership.
• Ensure resources align with future customer demand.
• Create an engaged, accountable, high-performing manufacturing culture.
• Balance immediate production demands with longer-term strategic objectives.

Skills

Leadership experience

Lean Manufacturing

Budgets & P&L

People management

Data-driven decision making

Strategic hands-on

Growth & change management

Operational performance

Continuous improvement

Job description

Operations Manager - Manufacturing
North Derbyshire
£60,000 - £65,000 + Quarterly Bonus + Benefits
Monday - Friday | Permanent | On-site

Are you an experienced Operations Manager, Manufacturing Manager or Production Manager who enjoys leading people, improving performance and shaping operations during a period of significant growth? We're recruiting for an established manufacturing business in Derbyshire that is entering an exciting new chapter following significant investment and ambitious plans for expansion. With additional manufacturing capacity being developed and production expected to ramp up considerably, this is an opportunity to take ownership of a substantial manufacturing operation and play a key role in how the site develops over the coming years. This isn't simply about maintaining the status quo. We're looking for someone who can lead the operation today while helping prepare it for where the business wants to be tomorrow.

The role
Reporting directly to the General Manager, you will take responsibility for a manufacturing operation of approximately 70 employees, with five Shift Leaders reporting directly into you. You'll provide leadership across day-to-day production while taking a broader view of performance, capacity, people, and future growth.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Leading the day-to-day manufacturing operation, ensuring safety, quality, delivery, and productivity targets are achieved
• Managing, coaching, and developing Shift Leaders and production teams
• Driving operational performance through Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement
• Supporting a significant production ramp-up and wider site growth strategy
• Identifying opportunities to improve processes, efficiency, capacity, and output
• Taking ownership of operational budgets, forecasting and P&L performance
• Developing KPIs and using data to drive decision-making and improvement
• Working closely with Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, H&S and senior leadership
• Ensuring resources and operational capability are aligned with future customer demand
• Creating an engaged, accountable, and high-performing manufacturing culture
• Balancing the immediate demands of production with longer-term strategic objectives

What we’re looking for

We’re particularly interested in speaking with experienced manufacturing leaders who have operated in complex, quality-driven production environments. You could currently be an Operations Manager, Manufacturing Manager, Production Manager or Senior Production Manager ready for greater responsibility.

You’ll ideally bring:

• Strong manufacturing/production leadership experience
• Experience managing sizeable operational teams through Shift Leaders or Production Managers
• A proven track record of improving productivity, quality, delivery, and operational performance
• Good knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement
• Experience working with budgets, forecasting and ideally P&L responsibility
• The ability to operate both hands-on and strategically
• Experience supporting growth, increased production volumes, or operational change
• Strong people leadership with the ability to develop and motivate teams
• A commercially aware and data-driven approach to manufacturing

Experience within aerospace, automotive or another highly engineered manufacturing environment would be advantageous but isn't essential. We’re more interested in finding an excellent manufacturing leader with the capability to understand the operation and drive it forward.

Why consider this opportunity?

This is a particularly exciting time to join. The business has recently become part of a major international manufacturing group, bringing substantial investment and ambitious plans for growth. Additional manufacturing capacity is being developed, the operation is expected to scale significantly, and this role will be central to delivering that growth. You’ll be joining a site with an established workforce and engineering capability, while having genuine scope to influence how the operation develops rather than simply inherit an established way of working.