Operations Manager / Plant Manager

Michael Page; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive package

Enhanced pension scheme

Life assurance

Private healthcare

Job summary

Michael Page is partnering with a leading UK fabrication business to appoint an experienced Operations Manager for its Sheffield site. You will lead a c.80-strong team across production, safety, and quality, shaping site performance and continuous improvement.

Reporting to Group Leadership, you will own day-to-day operations, drive lean initiatives, implement robust process controls and ensure delivery against targets in a high-standard manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

• Senior Operations Manager with experience in a complex manufacturing or engineering environment.
• Proven track record leading multi‑shift production teams.
• Strong command of KPI management, planning, resource allocation, safety and compliance.
• Deep knowledge of quality control, process control and quality gates.
• Lean, Six Sigma or CI knowledge and practical implementation experience.
• Excellent leadership and people management; hands‑on and structured.

Responsibilities

• Champion zero-injury safety culture with proactive improvement.
• Maintain zero defect, right-first-time culture with robust quality gates.
• Lead site performance, planning and productivity in a high-standards production environment.
• Embed operational systems for consistency and continuous improvement.
• Develop the operations team with structured reviews and accountability.
• Collaborate with engineering, projects and senior leadership to align targets.
• Improve internal procedures, compliance and H&S protocols.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Strategic thinking

Continuous improvement

Safety culture

Cross-functional collaboration

Job description

A truly exciting opportunity for an experienced Operations Manager / Plant Manager to lead a team of c.80 across the full site operation. This role will drive continuous improvement and process controls across the site, and shape the future performance of this growing manufacturing business.

Client Details

My client is a highly respected UK fabrication business specialising in complex, high-quality engineered products for critical industrial sectors. With a strong reputation for quality, delivery and long-term customer partnerships, the business is entering an exciting phase of growth and operational development. To support this, they are seeking an experienced Operations Manager to lead their manufacturing facility in Sheffield, driving operational performance, process efficiency and future growth.

Description

This is a senior leadership position with full responsibility for the day-to-day performance of a busy manufacturing operation. Reporting into Group Leadership, you will lead site operations across production, safety, quality, performance and people.

Key responsibilities include:

• Champion and lead a zero-injury safety culture, ensuring compliance, accountability and proactive improvement across all teams and shifts
• Maintain and enforce a zero defect, right-first-time culture, with quality gates built into each stage of fabrication and welding to ensure robust, fault-free products
• Lead site performance and workflow planning, ensuring output and productivity targets are met in a high-standards production environment
• Embed and improve structured operational systems (e.g. KPIs, planning, reporting etc.) to support consistency and continuous improvement
• Lead and develop the operations team, with clear communication, structured reviews and an open culture of accountability
• Work cross-functionally with engineering, projects and senior leadership to ensure smooth delivery and aligned targets
• Reinforce and enhance internal procedures, compliance and H&S protocols in line with company standards and accreditations

Profile

Successful candidates will be experienced Operational leaders who can demonstrate:

• Proven success in a senior Operations Management role within a complex manufacturing or engineering environment
• Proven track record leading teams in a production environment, ideally with experience of multi-shift operations
• Strong operational systems experience; comfortable owning KPIs, planning, resource management, safety and compliance
• Deep understanding of quality control, process control and formal quality gates throughout production
• Lean, Six Sigma or CI knowledge and practical implementation experience
• Excellent leadership and people management skills; hands‑on, clear, and structured
• Ability to remain calm under pressure and fully accountable, capable of owning site delivery day in, day out.

Job Offer

• Competitive package including good base salary, bonuses and car/car allowance
• Enhanced pension scheme
• Life assurance, private healthcare and more
• Opportunity to make a significant impact within a successful and growing organisation