Operations Manager

Jigsaw Business Group; Essex; On-site; GBP 92,000 - 166,000; Full time

Job summary

Interim Operations Consultant is sought by a UK Aerospace & Defence manufacturing business to lead a defined programme of operational improvement and business transformation in a high-precision environment.

You will assess current performance across production, planning, supply chain, logistics and quality, deliver practical recommendations, and guide Lean, Continuous Improvement and KPI frameworks with senior stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Significant experience delivering operational improvement programmes within Aerospace/Defence/Precision Engineering environments.
• Strong understanding of high-mix, low-volume manufacturing operations.
• Demonstrable track record of delivering operational turnaround, efficiency improvements, or transformation projects.
• Experience applying Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, or Operational Excellence methodologies.
• Knowledge of AS9100 and aerospace manufacturing requirements.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive reviews of current manufacturing and operational performance.
• Assess production planning, supply chain, logistics, quality, and operational processes.
• Identify constraints, risks, inefficiencies, and opportunities for improvement.
• Develop and implement improvement plans to enhance safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity.
• Review capacity planning and manufacturing workflows to improve efficiency.
• Support Lean and Continuous Improvement methodologies implementation.
• Establish performance measures, reporting frameworks, and KPI tracking.
• Provide guidance on inventory optimisation and material flow.
• Deliver recommendations to support operational transformation and growth.
• Provide progress updates and outcome-based reporting to sponsors and stakeholders.

Skills

Operational improvement

Lean Manufacturing

Continuous Improvement

Stakeholder engagement

Transformation programmes

Aerospace manufacturing

Tools

AS9100 knowledge

Job description

Interim Operations Consultant (Management Level)

Contract: Interim Assignment (Outside IR35 Subject to Status Determination)

Sector: Aerospace & Defence Manufacturing

Assignment Overview

An Aerospace & Defence manufacturing business is seeking an experienced Interim Operations Consultant to support a defined programme of operational improvement and business transformation.

The assignment will focus on assessing current operational performance, identifying opportunities to improve manufacturing effectiveness, and delivering practical recommendations and improvement initiatives across production, planning, supply chain, logistics, and quality functions.

Working alongside senior stakeholders, the consultant will provide independent expertise and support the delivery of agreed operational outcomes within a high-precision manufacturing environment.

Scope of Assignment

• Conduct a comprehensive review of current manufacturing and operational performance.
• Assess production planning, supply chain, logistics, quality, and operational processes.
• Identify operational constraints, risks, inefficiencies, and improvement opportunities.
• Develop and implement improvement plans to enhance safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity performance.
• Review capacity planning, resource utilisation, and manufacturing workflows to improve operational efficiency.
• Support the implementation of Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement methodologies.
• Establish performance measures, reporting frameworks, and KPI tracking mechanisms.
• Provide guidance on inventory optimisation, material flow, and supply chain performance.
• Support compliance with AS9100, customer, and regulatory requirements.
• Deliver recommendations to support operational transformation, growth initiatives, and business improvement programmes.
• Provide regular progress updates and outcome-based reporting to project sponsors and key stakeholders.
• Support knowledge transfer and the embedding of sustainable operational practices where required.

Required Expertise

• Significant experience delivering operational improvement programmes within Aerospace, Defence, or Precision Engineering environments.
• Strong understanding of high-mix, low-volume manufacturing operations.
• Demonstrable track record of delivering operational turnaround, efficiency improvements, or transformation projects.
• Experience applying Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, or Operational Excellence methodologies.
• Knowledge of AS9100 and aerospace manufacturing requirements.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing capabilities.
• Ability to rapidly assess operational challenges and implement practical solutions.
• Experience supporting NPI, industrialisation, or manufacturing scale-up programmes.
• Exposure to aerospace machining, complex assembly, precision engineering, or defence manufacturing environments.
• Operational performance assessment and findings report.
• Improvement roadmap with prioritised actions and measurable benefits.
• Implementation of agreed operational improvement initiatives.
• KPI and performance management framework.
• Recommendations to support sustained operational performance and continuous improvement.
• Final assignment report detailing outcomes achieved, opportunities identified, and future recommendations.

This assignment would suit an experienced Operations Consultant, Manufacturing Consultant, Operational Excellence Consultant, or Interim Transformation Specialist with a proven track record of delivering measurable improvements within Aerospace & Defence manufacturing environments.

Due to this role being interim, you must the right to work in the UK, and no sponsorship needed.

Please note that applications are reviewed by experienced recruiters and hiring managers, not AI screening tools. We encourage candidates to submit their CV in their own words, as there is no advantage in tailoring content solely to satisfy AI-based application systems.