Operations Manager

MET Recruitment UK LTD; Wednesbury; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

MET Recruitment UK LTD is recruiting an experienced Operations Manager for a well-established manufacturing business in Wednesbury. You will lead day-to-day factory operations across manufacturing, engineering, quality, dispatch and continuous improvement, reporting to the Plant Manager and working with senior management.

You will develop and coach operational teams, coordinate dispatch and logistics with production schedules, drive improvements in efficiency and safety, and ensure on-time

Qualifications

• Experience leading and developing operational teams in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience in dispatch and logistics operations within manufacturing.
• Understanding of transport and despatch procedures.
• Experience driving continuous improvement and operational efficiencies.
• Strong commitment to health & safety.
• Excellent organisational, communication and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to influence and engage people at all levels.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure and take ownership of operational challenges.

Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day factory operation, ensuring priorities and customer requirements are met.
• Manage and develop Team Leaders and operational staff.
• Oversee the dispatch function, including HGV and forklift drivers.
• Coordinate dispatch with production schedules and customer delivery requirements.
• Ensure safe, accurate storage, handling and dispatch of finished goods.
• Drive improvements in efficiency, equipment utilisation and productivity.
• Identify and resolve operational and people-management issues.
• Support continuous improvement and lean initiatives.
• Promote high standards of health and safety across the factory.
• Monitor KPIs such as OTIF, waste, quality and dispatch performance.
• Foster a collaborative working environment and strong cross-functional communication.
• Build positive relationships with customers and suppliers.

Skills

Operations leadership

People management

Manufacturing experience

Logistics & dispatch

Lean manufacturing

Job description

Operations Manager

Location: Wednesbury

Salary: £45,000 - £55,000 per annum

Job Type: Permanent, Full Time

We are recruiting an experienced Operations Manager to join a well-established manufacturing business based in Wednesbury.

This is a key operational leadership position with responsibility for the effective day-to-day running and continued development of the factory operation, encompassing manufacturing, engineering, quality, dispatch, health & safety and continuous improvement.

Working closely with the Plant Manager and wider senior management team, you will lead and develop the operational teams, ensuring customer requirements are achieved while continually improving performance, productivity, quality and operational efficiency.

A significant part of the position will also involve overseeing the dispatch and outbound logistics operation, ensuring production schedules, resources and delivery requirements are effectively coordinated to achieve accurate and on-time delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day factory operation, ensuring operational priorities and customer requirements are achieved.
• Manage, support and develop Team Leaders and operational employees.
• Oversee the dispatch function, including HGV and Forklift Drivers, ensuring appropriate resources, skills and cover are available.
• Coordinate dispatch activity with production schedules, customer delivery requirements and order priorities.
• Ensure finished products are stored, handled and despatched safely, accurately and efficiently.
• Drive improvements in operational efficiency, equipment utilisation and employee productivity.
• Identify and resolve operational and people management issues.
• Lead and support continuous improvement and lean manufacturing initiatives.
• Drive high standards of health & safety throughout the factory.
• Monitor and report against operational KPIs including OTIF, waste, quality, complaints and despatch performance.
• Develop a positive, accountable and collaborative working environment.
• Work closely with colleagues across the business to improve communication, flexibility and service delivery.
• Build positive relationships with customers and suppliers where required.

About You

We are looking for an experienced operational leader who can combine strong people management skills with a hands-on understanding of a busy manufacturing environment.

You will ideally have:

• Strong experience within a manufacturing environment.
• Previous experience leading and developing operational teams.
• Experience or a good working knowledge of despatch and logistics operations, ideally within manufacturing.
• A sound understanding of transport and despatch procedures.
• Experience driving continuous improvement and operational efficiencies.
• A strong commitment to health & safety.
• The ability to influence and engage people at all levels.
• Strong organisational, communication and problem-solving skills.
• The ability to remain calm under pressure, make decisions and take ownership of operational challenges.

This is an excellent opportunity for an established Operations Manager, or potentially a strong Production/Manufacturing Manager with broader operational and despatch experience, looking to take on a wider leadership remit within an established manufacturing business.