Operations Manager

position description

As Operations Manager, reporting to the Business Unit (BU) Manager, this is a superb chance to work with a renowned international business who have achieved recognition with a variety of sectors around the world for their manufacturing and design prowess.

Role Purpose

• Accountable for the operations within the Company Business Unit to achieve results identified by the Corporations WIN Strategy and Company Business Unit Strategy whilst sustaining the quality philosophy and lean culture for the operating division.
• Directs and monitors progress in developing 'Operational Excellence' within the Company BU, to include all aspects of Manufacturing, Lean & Quality, Health & Safety and site Environmental Control.

Main Duties

• To lead Quality activities for the Business Unit (BU) in Milton Keynes to ensure BU, Division, Corporate, external audit and customer expectations are met.
• Quality Policy & Processes: Communicates customer, regulatory and organizational requirements to assure product quality, contract compliance and customer satisfaction.
• Quality System Management: Oversees the effective documentation and implementation of the quality management system to assure compliance with customer and regulatory requirements and the standards set by corporate/division policies.
• Implements the performance measurements necessary to effectively evaluate organizational performance and trends in product quality, services, customer satisfaction and the cost of poor quality. Uses the results of performance evaluation to target improvement efforts.
• Quality Training: Works with Division leadership to ensure that individuals performing functions affecting quality are trained and demonstrate the appropriate skills and performance results;
• Coordinates necessary; Division personnel for internal, customer and third party quality system audits.
• Quality & Customer Interface: Maintains a corrective action system to analyze and correct nonconforming conditions and complaints. Analyze the problem in depth to understand the root cause and eliminate it in order to avoid the same problem occurs in future.
• Quality & Supplier Interface: Collaborates with Purchasing on the development and implementation of a supplier management strategy; Assess supplier capabilities and monitor supplier quality to ensure desired levels of performance
• Quality & New Product Development: Collaborates with Engineering on new product development and design review for quality/reliability issues; oversees Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) process
• Lead the internal quality management system audit programme and ensure corrective action closure.
• Responsible for reporting of quality relevant indicators including Win Certification, Quality Journey and Customer Experience.
• Support external audits from DNV and from customers.
• Ensure Critical To Quality requirements are identified and met through development.
• Support Supply Chain with supplier evaluations.
• Ensure customer warranty claims are actioned in a timely manner within BU targets.
• Represent the Quality function at enquiry, contract and design reviews.
• Lead lean team and Identify and support continuous improvement initiatives and implement Company Lean System within the BU.
• Promote the HPT (High Performance Team) diffusion within the BU and contribute to their success.
• Support the Division team in order to structure yearly plan to support the BU Strategy and to achieve defined objectives in terms of efficiency improvement, COPQ reduction, and implementation of the Automation Roadmap.
• Ensure manufacturing capacity is appropriate to current and future needs
• Close liaison with supply chain to ensure the operation has adequate inventory, production control scheduling, shipping/receiving logistics
• Develops a budget plan and manages operation within budget constraints

Jobholder Requirements

• Ideal candidate has 8 or more years of experience in Manufacturing Management, with at least 4-5 or more years of experience in a leadership role, ideally degree level qualified and with good working knowledge of engineering principles
• Experience in Automotive sector is an advantage
• Ideal candidate has 5+ years of experience in Lean & Quality, Engineering and prior experience in leading projects and managing a team (or teams)
• Previous work experience ideally includes experience with quality improvement tools and techniques (i.e., Lean, Six Sigma, Statistical Process Control, and Failure Mode & Effects Analysis);
• 6 Sigma Green Belt or working towards one
• Demonstrable knowledge of ISO and similar Quality requirements
• Proven experience with Customer Quality Management
• Evidence of coach Q tools across a business is an advantage

Key Competencies

• Must be an innovator and embrace lean enterprises principles and practices
• Excellent communicator with people at all levels
• Excellent leadership, negotiation and presentation skills
• Logical thinker who can work through processes and problem solving
• Ability to implement changes and motivate others to do so
• Completer / Finisher
• Strong customer satisfaction ethos
• Ability to organise, plan, coordinate and execute
• Excellent technical report writing skills
• Lead auditor
• QSi (or similar) database administration
• Possess analytical and technical skills required to understand business practices and recommend proper opportunities
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills for effective interface with all internal and external contacts
• Must be an innovator and embrace lean enterprises principles and practices

For further information or to apply please contact Lisa Darbyshire on 01793 317851 or email

Omega Resource Group Ltd is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.

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