Operations Manager

Siderise Special Products Ltd is a UK manufacturer of acoustic and fire insulation for the construction, marine, and transport sectors. With 50+ years of experience, we deliver high-quality, cost-effective solutions through innovation and advanced facilities. We invest in our people with ongoing training and a supportive work environment. If you're passionate and driven, join us for a rewarding career.

This is a brilliant opportunity for a current Production Manager or Supervisor to take the next step in their career. This role is a true mix of people management, quality assurance and manufacturing change management.

Roles & Responsibilities

Reporting to the General Manager, the Operations Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, performance and strategic development of Operations across Siderise Special Products Limited.

Key Reponsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Business Performance

• Develop and implement the SSPL Operations strategy aligned with business growth objectives.
• Establish operational objectives, KPIs, budgets and improvement plans.
• Ensure people, equipment, facilities and systems support current and future operational requirements.
• Lead capacity planning, operational forecasting and capital investment planning.
• Provide clear operational performance reporting, risks and recommendations to senior leadership.
• Build effective relationships across Siderise Group functions, customers, suppliers and other stakeholders.

Operational Excellence and Lean Manufacturing

• Lead the deployment of Lean Manufacturing principles and a culture of continuous improvement throughout SSPL.
• Drive improvements in productivity, throughput, OEE, labour utilisation, material flow and delivery performance.
• Reduce waste, process variation, downtime and non-value-added activities.
• Challenge and support operational managers to deliver sustainable performance improvements.
• Lead major operational improvement, automation, facility and equipment projects.
• Drive cost reduction without compromising safety, quality or customer requirements.

Leadership and People Development

• Lead and develop the Operations leadership team, setting clear accountability and performance expectations.
• Establish succession plans and structured development pathways for key operational roles.
• Coach managers and supervisors and build capability for future business needs.
• Promote employee engagement, collaboration, continuous learning and Siderise values.

Quality and Compliance

• Provide executive ownership of operational quality performance and annual improvement objectives.
• Drive year-on-year reductions in customer complaints and internal, supplier and customer NCRs.
• Ensure significant non-conformances receive effective root cause analysis, corrective action and verification.
• Maintain operational compliance with customer requirements and ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 and ISO 50001 nd others identified specific to the sector.
• Support audit readiness, management reviews and continual improvement of the integrated management system.

Safety, Environment and Sustainability

• Ensure safe, compliant and environmentally responsible operations across SSPL.
• Promote a positive safety culture and ensure operational risks are assessed and controlled.
• Lead progress against environmental, energy and sustainability objectives.
• Ensure compliance with applicable legal, regulatory and company requirements.

In addition to these functions employees should carry out such other duties as may be reasonably required.

Qualifications

You will have a combination of technical qualifications and extensive operational leadership experience. Preferably you will have:

• Degree, HND or equivalent qualification in Operations Management, Engineering, Manufacturing or a related discipline.
• Proven senior leadership experience within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience leading multi-functional operational teams.
• Demonstrable success implementing Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement programmes.
• Experience of strategic business planning, operational budgeting and capital investment.
• Strong experience in people development, succession planning and organisational change.
• Working knowledge of ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 and ISO 50001 management systems.
• Lean Practitioner, Six Sigma Green Belt or equivalent qualification advantageous.
• Strong commercial awareness, financial understanding and data-led decision making.

Job Function, Technical Knowledge and Skills

• Strategic operations and manufacturing leadership.
• Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement and operational excellence.
• Capacity planning, resource optimisation and production planning.
• Operational KPI management, data analysis and performance reporting.
• Quality management systems, root cause analysis and corrective action.
• Supply chain, inventory and warehouse operations.
• ERP/MRP systems and digital manufacturing awareness.
• Budgeting, cost control and capital investment planning.
• Programme and project management.
• Leadership, coaching, workforce development and succession planning.
• Health, safety, environmental, energy and regulatory compliance.
• Commercial judgment, stakeholder management and clear executive communication.

Personal Attributes

• Strategic thinker with strong execution capability.
• Visible, credible and engaging operational leader.
• Strong coach and developer of managers and future leaders.
• Commercially aware, data driven and results focused.
• Excellent communicator able to influence at all organisational levels.
• Decisive, accountable and effective under pressure.
• Continuous improvement mindset with the resilience to lead change.
• Committed to safety, quality, sustainability and customer satisfaction.
• Demonstrates integrity, professionalism and Siderise values at all times.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: £40,000.00-£45,000.00 per year

Work Location: In person