Full job descriptionOperations Manager
Location: Rugby, Warwickshire
Starting Salary: £50,000 per annum
The Opportunity
We are recruiting on behalf of an established manufacturing and engineering business seeking an experienced, hands-on Operations Manager to take responsibility for the day-to-day running and continued development of its manufacturing operations.
This is an excellent opportunity for an individual with a strong background in manufacturing, production or engineering operations who enjoys being visible on the shop floor, leading teams and driving operational performance.
Key Responsibilities
*Take overall responsibility for the daily running of assembly, packing and picking operations.
*Ensure production schedules and customer orders are effectively planned, prioritised and delivered on time.
*Monitor productivity, workflow, labour utilisation and operational performance, identifying and resolving bottlenecks.
*Work closely with the Production Planner to ensure resources are appropriately allocated.
*Maintain high standards across production areas, equipment, processes and operational procedures.
*Take a proactive, hands-on approach to resolving day-to-day operational challenges.
*Support the introduction of new products and the improvement of existing manufacturing processes.
*Develop and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to improve consistency and efficiency.
*Work alongside technical and engineering teams to ensure products can be manufactured efficiently and to specification.
Team Leadership & Development
*Provide leadership and direction to the Production Planner and wider operational team.
*Manage and develop a workforce of approximately 10–15 employees.
*Set clear expectations around performance, attendance, quality, productivity and safe working practices.
Quality Management – ISO 9001
*Maintain and support the implementation of ISO 9001 quality management standards.
*Ensure procedures, work instructions and quality records are accurate and up to date.
*Support internal and external audits and ensure corrective actions are completed.
*Investigate quality issues, non-conformances and recurring defects.
*Promote a right-first-time approach and continuous quality improvement.
Environmental Management – ISO 14001
*Maintain and support ISO 14001 environmental management requirements.
*Ensure environmental procedures and records are maintained.
*Monitor waste management, recycling, resource usage and general housekeeping.
*Support environmental audits and compliance requirements.
*Identify opportunities to reduce waste and improve environmental performance.
Health, Safety & Compliance
*Take an active role in promoting and maintaining high health and safety standards across the site.
*Ensure risk assessments and safe working procedures are reviewed and maintained.
*Identify and address unsafe working practices and workplace conditions.
*Ensure accidents, incidents and near misses are appropriately investigated and recorded.
*Oversee fire safety checks, emergency procedures and fire drill records.
*Support employee health and safety training and ensure relevant records are maintained.
*Liaise with external health and safety advisers where required.
Training & Competency
*Maintain accurate employee training records and individual training files.
*Develop and maintain training and skills matrices.
*Identify mandatory, role-specific and refresher training requirements.
*Coordinate induction and ongoing employee development.
*Ensure relevant qualifications, authorisations and competency assessments are recorded.
Site & Facilities Management
*Maintain high standards of housekeeping, organisation and general site presentation.
*Coordinate maintenance, repairs and servicing requirements.
*Ensure buildings, equipment and working areas remain safe and fit for purpose.
*Monitor site inspections and ensure any required actions are completed.
Reporting & Continuous Improvement
*Develop and maintain operational reports and key performance indicators (KPIs).
*Monitor production output, productivity, labour efficiency, delivery performance, quality, waste and downtime.
*Provide regular operational updates to the Managing Director.
*Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce costs and minimise waste.
*Lead practical continuous improvement initiatives across the operation.
*Work closely with Quality and Technical departments to ensure components meet the required specifications.
*Assist with the testing and introduction of new and existing products where required.
*Encourage employee involvement in identifying and implementing operational improvements.
The successful candidate will be:
*A hands-on and visible manager who enjoys being involved in day-to-day operations.
*A confident leader who can motivate, develop and engage a team.
*Approachable, fair and capable of managing performance effectively.
*Practical, organised and solutions-focused.
*An effective communicator who can work with employees and management at all levels.
*Adaptable and resilient, with the ability to manage changing priorities.
*Proactive in identifying opportunities for improvement.
*A team player who can build strong working relationships across the business.
The Package
*Starting salary of £50,000 per annum.
*Permanent opportunity within an established manufacturing and engineering business.
*A key management position with direct exposure to the Managing Director.
*Opportunity to influence operational performance, processes and future business development.