Head of Manufacturing

ODS Engineering; Thurles; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

ODS Engineering is seeking a Head of Manufacturing to lead strategic vision and hands-on execution across tender, design, procurement, fabrication, assembly and M&E fit-out. The role ensures programme certainty, operational efficiency and scalable performance across multiple sites in Ireland, aligning cross‑functional teams from concept to delivery.

You will drive standardised processes, KPIs, and real-time performance monitoring, balancing cost, productivity and delivery.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership of multi-site manufacturing operations in M&E and modular/offsite construction.
• Experience in structural steel or similar project-based industries.
• Strong planning, sequencing and programme delivery expertise.
• Ability to operate at strategic and operational levels.
• Demonstrated success driving productivity across operations.
• Strong influencing skills across senior leadership and cross-functional teams.
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in relevant industries with multi-site responsibility.

Responsibilities

• Develop and own integrated planning across tendering to M&E fit-out.
• Align design release, procurement and production sequencing.
• Deliver programme certainty across live projects.
• Lead performance across multiple sites; standardise processes.
• Balance workload and capacity across sites for productivity.
• Define and implement operational KPIs across departments.
• Monitor performance in real time and resolve risks.
• Drive productivity through planning, sequencing and resource use.
• Champion improvements in modularisation and off-site methods.
• Introduce systems to enhance planning, tracking, reporting.
• Work with design, procurement, production, assembly and commercial teams.

Skills

Multi-site leadership

M&E

Modular / offsite construction

Structural steel projects

Planning & sequencing

Strategic & operational

Productivity improvement

Stakeholder influence

10+ years experience

Job description

Role Overview

The Head of Manufacturing role combines strategic leadership with hands‑on operational control, ensuring alignment from tender through design, procurement, fabrication, assembly, and M&E fit‑out. The focus is on driving programme certainty, operational efficiency, and scalable performance across all manufacturing sites.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and own integrated planning processes across: Tendering, Design, Procurement, Production & fabrication, Assembly & modular build, M&E fit‑out (multi‑site).
• Ensure alignment between design release, procurement, and production sequencing
• Deliver programme certainty across all live projects
• Lead and align performance across multiple manufacturing and fit‑out sites
• Standardise processes, reporting, and ways of working across all locations to optimise our operations
• Balance workload and capacity across sites for maximum productivity
• Define and implement operational KPIs across all departments that will maximise our operational planning and delivery
• Ensure functional leads are delivering against those KPIs to maintain efficiency across operations
• Monitor performance in real time and intervene to resolve risks and bottlenecks
• Drive productivity improvements through planning, sequencing, and resource utilisation
• Optimise the balance between cost, productivity, and delivery performance
• Align manufacturing capacity and capability with forward project pipeline
• Ensure resource planning supports growth without compromising delivery
• Provide input into bid/tender decisions based on operational capacity and risk
• Drive "right-first-time" culture across fabrication, assembly, and M&E installation
• Reduce rework, defects, and programme slippage
• Implement continuous improvement initiatives across all operations
• Work closely with design, procurement, production, assembly and commercial teams
• Support early‑stage design and tendering to improve manufacturability and delivery efficiency
• Champion improvements in modularisation, off‑site construction methods, and workflows
• Introduce systems and tools to enhance planning, tracking, and reporting
• Drive a culture of continuous improvement across all teams

Essential Skills & Experience

• Proven leadership of multi‑site manufacturing operations in:
• M&E
• Modular / offsite construction
• Structural steel or similar project‑based industries
• Strong expertise in planning, sequencing, and programme delivery
• Ability to operate at both strategic and operational levels
• Demonstrated success in driving productivity across operations
• Strong influencing skills across senior leadership and cross‑functional teams
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in relevant industries, with multi‑site responsibility