Operations Manager

Barker Ross; West Midlands; On-site; GBP 39,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Barker Ross Group is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to lead a large-scale site in the West Midlands. You will own day-to-day operations across production and engineering, directing multidisciplinary teams to deliver safety, quality, and performance.

This role offers a clear path to senior operational leadership within a fast-paced, customer-driven environment, with significant investment in people, process improvement, and long-term succession planning.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience within manufacturing, production, or industrial services.
• Strong experience in managing performance, people, and site delivery.
• Experience leading engineering and production teams in high‑volume operations.
• Solid understanding of health and safety legislation and compliance.
• IOSH or NEBOSH qualification highly advantageous.
• Demonstrated track record in continuous improvement and operational efficiency.
• Strong commercial awareness with budgeting, KPI, and target management.
• Confident communicator capable of leading and developing teams at all levels.
• Resilient, highly organised, and able to operate in demanding environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead all site operations across production and engineering.
• Drive performance, efficiency, engagement and standards.
• Manage KPIs, budgets, cost control.
• Lead Lean/continuous improvement initiatives to reduce waste.
• Ensure maintenance supports reliability and continuity.
• Champion health and safety culture.
• Develop management teams and leaders.
• Manage change in a fast-paced environment.
• Collaborate with senior leadership on strategic objectives.

Skills

Leadership

Operational management

Health & safety

Continuous improvement

Budgeting & KPIs

Education

IOSH or NEBOSH qualification

Job description

Lead Operational Excellence in a High Performing Industrial Environment

An established and market leading industrial services and manufacturing organisation is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to lead a large-scale operational site within the West Midlands region.

This is a significant leadership opportunity within a fast paced, customer driven environment where operational performance, engineering reliability, health and safety, and continuous improvement are critical to success. The business operates nationally, with a strong reputation for service delivery, innovation, and long term investment across its people and operations.

The Opportunity

This role is ideally suited to an ambitious operational leader with a background in manufacturing, industrial processing, production, engineering, or high volume operational environments.

You will take full ownership of day to day site operations, leading multidisciplinary teams across production, engineering, compliance, and support functions while driving performance, efficiency, engagement, and operational standards.

The organisation is investing heavily in operational improvement and leadership capability, making this an excellent opportunity for an individual seeking long term progression into senior operational or General Management leadership.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead all operational activity across the site, ensuring high levels of productivity, service, quality, and safety
• Drive operational performance through strong leadership, accountability, and engagement across production and engineering teams
• Manage operational KPIs, budgets, performance metrics, and cost control initiatives
• Lead continuous improvement and LEAN initiatives to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and optimise operational performance
• Ensure engineering and maintenance functions support operational reliability and business continuity
• Champion a strong health and safety culture across all operational areas
• Support, mentor, and develop management teams and operational leaders
• Manage change effectively within a fast-paced operational environment
• Work collaboratively with senior leadership to support long term strategic objectives and operational growth

What We're Looking For

• Proven leadership experience within manufacturing, production, industrial services, engineering, processing, or similar operational environments
• Strong operational management experience with responsibility for performance, people, and site delivery
• Experience leading engineering and production teams within high volume operations
• Strong understanding of health and safety legislation and operational compliance
• IOSH or NEBOSH qualification highly advantageous
• Demonstrated experience driving continuous improvement and operational efficiency
• Strong commercial awareness with experience managing budgets, KPIs, and operational targets
• Confident communicator with the ability to lead, influence, and develop teams at all levels
• Resilient, highly organised, and capable of operating effectively within demanding operational environments

What's on Offer

• Salary up to £65,000 plus benefits
• Significant long term progression opportunities
• Highly visible leadership role within a growing national organisation
• Stable, well invested operational environment
• Supportive leadership culture focused on development and succession planning
• Opportunity to make a genuine impact across operational performance and site culture

This is an outstanding opportunity for an ambitious operational leader looking to step into a highly influential role.

Barker Ross Group values diversity and promotes equality. No terminology in this advert is intended to discriminate against any of the protected characteristics that fall under the Equality Act 2010. We encourage and welcome applications from all sections of society and are more than happy to discuss reasonable adjustments and/or additional arrangements as required to support your application.

For the purposes of the Conduct Regulations 2003, when advertising permanent vacancies we are acting as an Employment Agency, and when advertising temporary/contract vacancies we are acting as an Employment Business