Head of Operations

Force Recruitment and Outsourcing; Sligo; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Force Recruitment and Outsourcing is seeking a Head of Operations to lead its UK and Ireland manufacturing sites. This senior role reports to the Managing Director and oversees design, manufacturing, installation and commissioning with 9 managers and ~55 staff across two sites.

The role focuses on creating structure, consistency and accountability, and building scalable systems to drive growth. You will influence at board level with a data-led approach and drive operational excellence.

Qualifications

• Senior operations or manufacturing leadership experience.
• Experience across multiple sites, ideally UK and Ireland.
• Experience in manufacturing, project-driven engineering, and installation/commissioning.
• Experience putting KPIs and performance management systems in place.
• Strong commercial and financial awareness.
• Experience working closely with design and engineering teams.

Responsibilities

• Set and deliver the operational strategy across both sites.
• Work with heads of Projects, Design, Production and Installation to drive consistent standards.
• Implement processes and governance across planning, cost tracking, quality control and change management.
• Lead continuous improvement using Lean or Six Sigma where possible.
• Own operational cost performance and productivity with finance.
• Build a strong safety culture and maintain site compliance.

Skills

Operations leadership

Multi-site experience

Manufacturing

Project-driven

KPIs & performance

Financial awareness

Lean/Six Sigma

Board-level influence

Job description

Head of Operations

A growing engineering and manufacturing group is hiring a Head of Operations to lead its UK and Ireland sites. This is a senior leadership role with a clear path to Operations Director.

The role

You will own the operational strategy across both manufacturing facilities, working alongside the Managing Director and the senior leadership team. Your remit covers projects, design, manufacturing, installation and commissioning, with 9 managers reporting to you and around 55 staff across the two sites.

The focus is on bringing consistency, structure and accountability to how both sites run, and on building the systems that let the business scale.

What you will do

• Set and deliver the operational strategy across both sites
• Work with the heads of Projects, Design, Production and Installation to drive consistent standards
• Put in place strong processes and governance across planning and scheduling, cost tracking, quality control and change management
• Lead continuous improvement work, with Lean or Six Sigma principles a plus
• Own operational cost performance, working with finance on manufacturing costs and labour productivity
• Build a strong safety culture and keep both sites compliant

What we are looking for

• Proven experience in a senior operations or manufacturing leadership role
• A track record across multiple sites, ideally UK and Ireland
• Experience in manufacturing, project-driven engineering businesses, and installation and commissioning
• Experience putting KPIs, performance management systems and operational controls in place
• Strong commercial and financial awareness
• Experience working closely with design and engineering teams is an advantage

You will need presence and the ability to influence at board level, along with a structured, data-led approach and the drive to get things done.

The details

• Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 16:30
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Travel to the other site for one week roughly every 6 weeks