Operations Manager

AWD online; Mobberley; On-site; GBP 53,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexitime

Annual leave

Buy extra leave

Death-in-service

Discounts

Job summary

AWD online is seeking an Operations Manager to lead a sizeable production team in an order-driven manufacturing environment. You will influence operational strategy, drive performance and unlock future growth with the engineering, quality, and supply chain teams.

The role requires strong mechanical aptitude, experience with CI and Lean Six Sigma, and a proven ability to lead, coach and deliver results. Flexible leave options and comprehensive benefits are available.

Qualifications

• Strong mechanical aptitude and understanding of machinery, maintenance, asset care and process improvement.
• Experience using structured root cause analysis and continuous improvement techniques, including Lean Six Sigma.
• Confident analytical decision-making with ability to turn complex problems into clear actions and measurable results.
• Ability to lead, coach and develop managers and build effective working relationships.

Responsibilities

• Lead the production department through direct reports, ensuring performance and quality.
• Develop managers, delegate effectively and foster cross-functional collaboration.
• Maximise equipment performance and reliability via asset care and process improvements.
• Apply structured CI techniques to solve problems and raise productivity.

Skills

Mechanical aptitude

Lean Six Sigma

Analytical decision-making

Leadership & coaching

High delegation skills

Ownership & integrity

Tools

Root cause analysis

Job description

Operations Manager

This is an exciting opportunity for a manufacturing leader with strong mechanical aptitude to shape operational performance, improve asset reliability and help unlock future growth within an invested, order-driven production environment.

If you’ve also worked in the following roles, we’d also like to hear from you: Manufacturing Manager, Production Manager, Plant Manager, Factory Manager, Department Manager, Site Manager, Manufacturing Lead, Production Lead

Benefits include flexitime, 27 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, the option to buy up to one week of additional annual leave and death-in-service cover.

SALARY: £59,290 per annum + Benefits

LOCATION: Mobberley, Cheshire, North West England (WA16)

JOB TYPE: Full-Time, Permanent

WORKING HOURS: 37.5 hours per week; flexitime with flexible start and finish times and the ability to build up and take additional time off work

WHY APPLY?

What if your next manufacturing role gave you the opportunity to make a genuine difference — not just to production performance, but to the future of an entire organisation?

As the Operations Manager you will influence operational strategy, performance and capacity within an ambitious manufacturing environment. You will lead a sizeable production team through direct reports and work closely with Engineering, Quality, Technical and Supply Chain.

The Operations Manager will have autonomy to make operational decisions, influence priorities and recommend improvements while helping maximise equipment performance, process robustness and productivity.

Following significant investment in new manufacturing and film-spooling equipment, the Operations Manager will help unlock asset potential, embed continuous improvement and support future growth.

DUTIES

Your duties as the Operations Manager include:

• Operational Leadership: Lead the production department through direct reports, setting clear expectations and maintaining focus on performance, quality and customer delivery
• People Leadership and Development: Lead, coach and develop managers, delegate effectively and build strong working relationships across the team
• Asset Performance and Reliability: Maximise equipment performance and reliability through sound asset care, maintenance awareness and process improvement
• Continuous Improvement: Apply structured root cause analysis and continuous improvement techniques to solve problems, prevent recurrence and raise productivity standards
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with Engineering, Quality, Technical and Supply Chain to maintain robust processes and deliver quality products when customers need them
• Operational Strategy and Growth: Influence operational priorities, recommend improvements and create capacity to support future growth
• Shop-Floor Leadership: Maintain visible engagement with operations while balancing hands‑on involvement with effective delegation

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS

• Strong mechanical aptitude with an understanding of machinery, maintenance, asset care and process improvement
• Experience using structured root cause analysis and continuous improvement techniques, including approaches such as Lean Six Sigma
• Confident analytical decision-making with the ability to turn complex problems into clear actions and measurable results
• Ability to lead, coach and develop managers, set clear expectations and build effective working relationships
• Strong delegation and leadership skills with a practical, shop-floor approach
• Constructive ownership, integrity and a willingness to challenge the status quo
• Existing right to work in the UK; sponsorship is not available for this role

BENEFITS

• Flexitime with flexible start and finish times and the ability to build up and take additional time off work
• 27 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays
• Option to buy up to one week of additional annual leave
• Death-in-service benefit of four times annual salary
• Discounts across the company’s product range