Job Description
Operations Director
Location: West Yorkshire
Salary: Competitive + benefits
Reports to: CEO
The Role
Full Right to Work in UK Required
We are seeking an experienced Operations Director to lead and integrate our end-to-end operational and supply chain (including procurement) functions within a low-volume, highly technical manufacturing SME. This is a critical leadership role with full responsibility for Production, Quality, Supply Chain, Purchasing, Logistics, and Warehouse operations.
The successful candidate will balance strategic direction with hands-on operational leadership, ensuring operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and scalable processes while supporting innovation and customer delivery in a technically demanding environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Operational Leadership
- Provide overall leadership and direction across Production, Quality, Supply Chain, Purchasing, Logistics, and Warehouse functions.
- Develop and execute operational strategies aligned with business objectives and growth plans.
- Lead, mentor, and develop multi-disciplinary teams, fostering accountability, continuous improvement, and collaboration.
Production & Manufacturing
- Oversee low-volume, high-complexity manufacturing operations, ensuring delivery to quality, cost, and schedule.
- Drive capacity planning, resource optimisation, and production planning.
- Support engineering and NPI activities, ensuring smooth transition from design to manufacture.
Quality & Compliance
- Own the Quality Management System and ensure compliance with relevant industry standards (e.g. ISO, regulatory or customer-specific requirements).
- Drive a culture of right-first-time, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement.
- Act as senior point of contact for audits, customers, and regulatory bodies.
Supply Chain & Purchasing
- Develop and manage a resilient supply chain capable of supporting technically complex, low-volume production.
- Lead supplier selection, negotiation, performance management, and risk mitigation.
- Ensure effective purchasing strategies for bespoke, high-value, and long-lead components.
Logistics & Warehouse
- Oversee inbound and outbound logistics, inventory management, and warehouse operations.
- Ensure material availability while optimising stock levels and working capital.
- Implement systems and processes to improve traceability, accuracy, and efficiency.
Continuous Improvement & Systems
- Drive Lean, CI, and operational excellence initiatives appropriate to an SME environment.
- Improve processes, data visibility, KPIs, and ERP/MRP utilisation.
- Support scalability as the business grows, without over-engineering solutions.
About You
Essential
- Proven senior operations leadership experience within an SME manufacturing environment.
- Background in low-volume, high-mix, technically complex manufacturing.
- Strong understanding of Production, Quality, Supply Chain, Purchasing, Logistics, and Warehouse functions. You must display strong engineering and manufacturing skills.
- Comfortable operating strategically while remaining hands-on and detail-focused.
- Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
Desirable
- Experience in regulated or high-reliability industries (e.g. aerospace, defence, nuclear, medical, advanced engineering, electronics, precision manufacturing).
- Formal operations, engineering, or supply chain qualification.
- Track record of scaling operations within a growing SME.
Why Join Us?
- Key leadership role with real influence and autonomy reporting directly to the CEO
- Opportunity to shape and scale operations in a technically exciting business.
- Close collaboration with senior leadership and engineering teams.
- Agile SME environment where decisions turn into action quickly.
