Operations Manager

Pursuit Aerospace; Sittingbourne; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Pursuit Aerospace in Sittingbourne is seeking an Operations Manager to lead daily site operations, driving safety, quality, cost, delivery and productivity while building capability for future growth. You will lead a lean, data-driven program, develop the operations team, optimise processes and equipment, and collaborate with cross-functional teams for new product introductions.

The role requires strong leadership, excellent communication, and a track record of delivering performance in a

Qualifications

• Proven track record in operations/manufacturing leadership.
• Strong lean manufacturing, CI, and operational excellence.
• Ability to lead teams, build capability, drive accountability.
• Experience managing quality, cost, and delivery in fast-paced environments.
• Data-driven problem solving and decision making.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver under pressure.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel dashboards, Word, PowerPoint).
• Experience with ERP/MRP for production planning.
• Deriving actionable insights from operational metrics.
• Familiarity with SharePoint and Teams.
• Knowledge of quality and production management software.
• Willingness to learn new systems and drive digitalisation.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily site operations, ensuring safe, efficient, and reliable performance across all departments.
• Deliver targets in quality, cost, delivery, and productivity through planning and execution.
• Develop and lead a high-performing operations team with clear direction and performance management.
• Strengthen infrastructure by improving processes, systems, and equipment for growth.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives with lean principles and structured problem-solving.
• Enhance process capability and efficiency through data-driven improvement projects.
• Ensure compliance with safety, quality and regulatory standards.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams for new product introduction and readiness.
• Monitor and report KPIs, risks, opportunities, and improvements.
• Maintain and develop capacity planning.
• Maintain strong customer focus to meet or exceed expectations.

Skills

Operations leadership

Lean manufacturing

Continuous improvement

Team leadership

Quality cost delivery

Data-driven decisions

Communication

Prioritisation under pressure

MS Office / Excel dashboards

ERP / MRP

Data analysis

SharePoint / Teams

Digitalisation

Education

Engineering degree

Sand foundry knowledge

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Job description

Position Summary

The Operations Manager is responsible for leading and optimising all day-to-day activities at the Sittingbourne site. This role ensures strong performance in cost, quality, delivery, and productivity while building the operational capability needed to support future growth. With a focus on continuous improvement and lean principles, the Operations Manager drives efficiency, strengthens processes, and ensures the site consistently exceeds customer expectations.

Position Summary

The Operations Manager is responsible for leading and optimising all day-to-day activities at the Sittingbourne site. This role ensures strong performance in cost, quality, delivery, and productivity while building the operational capability needed to support future growth. With a focus on continuous improvement and lean principles, the Operations Manager drives efficiency, strengthens processes, and ensures the site consistently exceeds customer expectations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead daily site operations, ensuring safe, efficient, and reliable performance across all departments.
• Deliver operational targets in quality, cost, delivery, and productivity through effective planning and execution.
• Develop and lead a high-performing operations team, providing clear direction, coaching, and performance management.
• Strengthen operational infrastructure by improving processes, systems, and equipment to support growth and capacity expansion.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives, embedding lean manufacturing principles and structured problem-solving.
• Enhance process capability and efficiency through targeted improvement projects and data-driven decision-making.
• Ensure compliance with all safety, quality, and regulatory standards.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support new product introduction and operational readiness.
• Monitor and report key performance metrics (KPI’s), identifying risks, opportunities, and improvement actions.
• Maintain and develop capacity planning.
• Maintain strong customer focus, ensuring operational performance consistently meets or exceeds expectations.

Key Competencies

• Proven experience in an operations and manufacturing leadership role.
• Strong understanding of lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams, build capability, and drive accountability.
• Experience managing quality, cost, and delivery performance in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong problem-solving skills with a data-driven approach to decision-making.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder-management abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver results under pressure.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, including Excel (data analysis, reporting, dashboards), Word, and PowerPoint.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems for production planning, inventory control, and performance tracking.
• Strong data analysis capability, with the ability to interpret operational metrics and generate actionable insights.
• Competence with digital workflow and collaboration tools, such as SharePoint and Teams.
• Familiarity with quality and production management software to support process control and continuous improvement.
• Ability to quickly learn and adapt to new systems, supporting ongoing digitalisation and operational technology upgrades.

Qualifications & Experience (Optional Section)

• Degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Manufacturing, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• Experience in sand foundry processes and casting would be an advantage.
• Proven ability to build and develop high-performing teams through effective coaching, mentoring, and performance management.
• Experience with lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, or Six Sigma methodologies is advantageous