Operations Manager

Blue Arrow; West Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working arrangement

Career progression

Company benefits package

Job summary

Blue Arrow is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to lead multiple sites across the UK, driving operational excellence and growth. The role blends field-based responsibilities with home-based elements and requires travel.

You will oversee workforce planning, resource management, and improvements, balancing hands-on engineering insight with strategic leadership to deliver projects on time and safely.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership in mechanical engineering environments.
• Strong people management and workforce planning capabilities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Commercial awareness to support growth and profitability.
• Knowledge of health, safety and quality in engineering environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support operational teams across multiple UK locations.
• Manage workforce planning, resource allocation and labour utilisation.
• Develop and implement operational strategies to support business growth.
• Monitor project delivery, productivity and operational performance.
• Work closely with senior management to identify business improvement opportunities.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, quality and industry standards.
• Support recruitment, training and development of engineering personnel.
• Build strong relationships with clients, suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Drive operational efficiency and promote best practice across the business.
• Provide leadership and direction to site-based management and engineering teams.
• Contribute to future business planning and organisational development.
• Analyse operational data and reporting to support informed decision-making.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Strategic planning

Communication

Safety compliance

Willingness to travel

Education

Engineering qualifications

Leadership/management certifications

Job description

Job Type: Permanent

About the Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced and ambitious Operations Manager to play a key leadership role in driving operational excellence and supporting the future growth of the business.

This is an ideal opportunity for someone with a strong background in the mechanical engineering sector, particularly within welding, fabrication, pipework, mechanical installation or industrial maintenance environments, who is ready to step away from a hands-on role and transition into a strategic operational leadership position.

Working closely with senior leadership, you will oversee workforce management, operational performance, resource planning and business improvement initiatives across multiple sites nationwide. This hybrid role offers a blend of field-based responsibilities, travel to operational locations across the UK, and home-based working.

The Role

As Operations Manager, you will take ownership of the day-to-day operational delivery of the business while helping shape its long-term direction. You will be responsible for ensuring projects are adequately resourced, teams are supported and developed, and operational processes are aligned with the company's growth objectives.

This role requires a hands-on leader who understands the realities of mechanical engineering environments while possessing the commercial awareness and leadership capability to drive continuous improvement and organisational success.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and support operational teams across multiple UK locations.
• Manage workforce planning, resource allocation and labour utilisation.
• Develop and implement operational strategies to support business growth.
• Monitor project delivery, productivity and operational performance.
• Work closely with senior management to identify business improvement opportunities.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, quality and industry standards.
• Support recruitment, training and development of engineering personnel.
• Build strong relationships with clients, suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Drive operational efficiency and promote best practice across the business.
• Provide leadership and direction to site-based management and engineering teams.
• Contribute to future business planning, succession planning and organisational development.
• Analyse operational data and reporting to support informed decision-making.

About You

We are looking for an operational leader who has progressed through a mechanical engineering environment and understands the challenges of delivering engineering services in demanding industrial settings.

• Previous experience within a mechanical engineering, welding, fabrication or industrial services environment.
• Proven leadership experience managing operational teams, projects or multiple sites.
• Strong people management and workforce planning capabilities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Commercial awareness with the ability to support business growth and profitability.
• Understanding of health, safety and quality requirements within engineering environments.
• Willingness to travel nationally as required.
• Background as a Mechanical Supervisor, Site Manager, Project Manager, Operations Supervisor or similar leadership role.
• Experience within industrial maintenance, manufacturing, engineering services or construction-related engineering sectors.
• Knowledge of business improvement, operational transformation or change management initiatives.
• Relevant engineering qualifications or leadership/management certifications.

What's on Offer

• Competitive salary of £60,000 - £80,000 depending on experience.
• Hybrid working arrangement.
• Opportunity to influence the future direction of a growing business.
• Varied role combining operational leadership, strategic planning and workforce management.
• Career progression within a respected mechanical engineering organisation.
• Company benefits package.