Operations Manager

Element Six is a global leader in the design, development and production of synthetic diamond and tungsten carbide supermaterials. Part of the De Beers Group, we employ over 1,700 people.  Our primary manufacturing sites are located in the USA, UK, Ireland, Germany and South Africa.

Our mission

We put our customers first. Using our technological expertise and industrial leadership we deliver innovative solutions to achieve competitive advantage.

Our vision

With access to the most sophisticated R&D technology and the best minds in the business, the future is full of possibilities…

• Lead the production organisation in a 24/7 environment, with direct accountability for the safety and occupational health of all department employees.

• Act as second-in-command to the General Manager for operational matters, providing visible leadership, clear decision-making and effective site coordination; deputise when required.

• Own Utilisation performance and the associated operating routines, measures and improvement plans, ensuring available capacity is converted safely and reliably to technically compliant product.

• Translate demand and capacity requirements into robust production plans, schedules and resource priorities; maintain disciplined execution, recovery and escalation routines.

• Lead, motivate and develop a production team of ca. 40 people, including the Production Manager and front-line leaders; set clear objectives, build capability and hold the organisation to account.

• Work in close partnership with the Engineering & Maintenance Manager, who owns Availability, and the Process Engineering Manager, who owns Yield, to improve overall equipment effectiveness and remove systemic constraints.

• Be a key member of the site leadership team, contributing to site HSE performance, strategy implementation, investment planning, operational excellence, organisational effectiveness and long-term capability development.

• Hold responsibility for production volumes, labour and operational cost, planning adherence, quality and delivery KPIs, and delivery of the department budget.

• Establish clear performance-management routines and use data to identify losses, prioritise actions and drive sustained continuous improvement using Business Excellence principles and tools.

• Build effective interfaces with Supply Chain, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, R&D, external suppliers and other CVD sites so that ORTEC provides in-spec material in line with agreed customer and downstream-site requirements.

• Lead recruitment, succession planning, performance management, coaching and development across the operational team, creating an inclusive, accountable and high-performing culture.

• Take ownership of complex production issues and cross-functional improvement initiatives, balancing immediate operational recovery with lasting improvements to systems, standards and performance.

• At least 10 years’ experience in operations / manufacturing leadership roles within a complex production environment, including substantial responsibility for 24/7 operations & teams of more than 30 people.

• A degree in Engineering or an equivalent technical or operational discipline.

• A strong track record of delivering results across safety, quality, delivery, cost, people and continuous improvement.

• Demonstrated ability to make clear decisions under pressure and leading through ambiguity and change.

• Strong production-planning, capacity-management and performance-management capability, supported by good financial judgement.

• Strong technical aptitude and an ability to work effectively across production, maintenance, engineering, supply chain and quality functions.

• Excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder-management skills, with a collaborative style and the confidence to hold others to account.

• Project-management capability, competence in MS Office and manufacturing systems, and willingness to travel occasionally.