Operations Manager

Atlas Copco Airpower N.V.; Eastbourne; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Culture of trust

Career growth

Innovative environment

Health benefits

Job summary

Edwards UK Eastbourne is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to lead electronics manufacturing, delivering safe, high-quality products on time. You will shape the site strategy, collaborate with Engineering, Supply Chain and Quality, and drive continuous improvement across production functions.

You will manage a team of five functional managers, focus on safety, cost, and performance, and support initiatives to sustain a world-class manufacturing environment at Eastbourne.

Qualifications

• Significant senior management experience in a complex manufacturing setting.
• Proven ability to develop and execute cross-functional operational strategies.
• Track record of leading transformational change and performance improvement.
• Experience shaping leadership culture and developing managers.
• Proven success improving safety, quality, delivery, cost and people metrics.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop managers across Production, Test, Engineering, Planning and Improvement.
• Deliver safety, quality, delivery, cost and people goals with aligned resources.
• Promote a collaborative, high-performance culture across functions.
• Drive Lean deployment and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure manufacturability and NPI support through Engineering collaboration.
• Plan capacity and schedules to meet demand and support S&OP.

Skills

Senior leadership

Lean Manufacturing

Operational excellence

Budget management

Stakeholder management

Safety leadership

Tools

ERP systems

S&OP processes

Job description

Manufacturing Edwards UK - United Kingdom Eastbourne

Your role

An exciting opportunity exists for an Operations Manager to join Edwards at Product Company Eastbourne. You will lead electronics manufacturing, fostering a high-performing culture delivering quality products on time with excellent safety, quality, delivery, cost, and people results. Through leadership and collaboration, ensure the organisation has the people, processes, and technology for a sustainable, world-class manufacturing environment aiming for zero accidents, defects, lead time, and cost growth. Reporting to the General Manager.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop managers in Production, Test, Engineering, Planning, and Improvement. Ensure workforce planning, talent development, and succession planning. Build leadership through coaching and performance management. Create accountability for performance, engagement, and team growth.
• Deliver safety, quality, delivery, cost, and people goals. Align resources with business needs. Drive governance, performance management, and reviews. Improve productivity, efficiency, quality, and service.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, high-performance culture. Build partnerships with Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, Commercial, and support. Promote teamwork, transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Lead Vacuum Technique Production System deployment. Embed Lean and continuous improvement. Improve productivity, quality, lead time, delivery, and cost. Lead cost reduction and excellence initiatives while maintaining satisfaction. Ensure structured problem-solving is embedded.
• Ensure manufacturing and test support business goals. Partner with Engineering for new product introduction and manufacturability. Improve capability via process optimisation, automation, technology, and investment. Maintain equipment and processes for current and future needs.
• Direct planning to support business and customer needs. Align capacity, labour, and schedules with demand. Lead input to S&OP, managing performance, risks, and opportunities. Work with Supply Chain on material availability and demand alignment.
• Provide visible leadership in Health, Safety, and Environment. Ensure compliance with risk assessments, COSHH, and safe work systems. Maintain ISO 45001, 9001, 14001, and regulatory compliance. Promote proactive safety, quality, and environmental culture.
• Contribute to Site Leadership Team and business strategy. Develop operational objectives and improvement plans with General Manager. Lead operational, organisational, and cultural initiatives. Use data and benchmarking for decisions and improvements. Represent Eastbourne in divisional and global forums, sharing best practices and supporting business goals.

To succeed, you will need

• Significant senior management experience within a complex manufacturing environment.
• Proven experience developing and executing operational strategies across multiple manufacturing functions to support business performance and growth.
• Proven experience leading operational change, organisational transformation, cultural development and significant business performance improvement initiatives.
• Proven experience managing and developing managers across multiple operational disciplines.
• Proven track record of creating high-performing, engaged operational teams.
• Demonstrated success in improving safety, quality, delivery, cost and people performance.
• Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Operational Excellence and performance improvement methodologies.
• Excellent communication, coaching and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong commercial and financial awareness with experience managing operational budgets and delivering cost improvements.
• Demonstrated ability to influence, engage and support others through complexity and change.

In return, we offer

• Culture of trust and accountability
• Lifelong learning and career growth
• Innovation powered by people
• Comprehensive compensation and benefits
• Health and well-being

Job location

On-Site
This role requires you to work on-site at our office in Eastbourne, United Kingdom (GB). You will be part of a dynamic team and enjoy the benefits of face-to-face collaboration.

The role requires occasional national and international travel to support cross-site collaboration, leadership activities and business improvement initiatives.

The Operations Manager is a key member of the site leadership team, reporting directly to the General Manager and holding overall responsibility for operational performance across Production, Test, Manufacturing Engineering, Planning and Continuous Improvement.

Leading a team of five functional managers, the role is accountable for the delivery of Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost and People objectives across an operation of approximately 160 employees and annual manufacturing output of $35M+.

The role plays a key part in shaping site strategy and ensuring the organisation has the capability, leadership and operational effectiveness required to support current and future business needs.

Working closely with Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, Commercial and other stakeholders, the Operations Manager represents the Eastbourne operation within divisional and global forums, supporting strategic initiatives, sharing best practice and contributing to operational excellence across the wider organisation.

Contact information

Talent Acquisition Team: Harriet Slater

Edwards is a leader in the vacuum and abatement markets. The brand’s products are essential for industries such as semiconductor, power generation, chemical and food processing. Edwards believes in working with customers to set new standards and creating environments where innovation thrives. This trailblazer prides itself on making a difference in areas that are intrinsic to people’s everyday lives – from the medical care they receive to the coffee they drink. Wherever there is vacuum, Edwards can also be found, leading the way. Edwards is a brand within Atlas Copco Group.