Senior Operations Manager

Senior Operations Manager

Sheffield

Highly competitive package

Some operations run themselves. Others need someone who knows how to get the very best out of people, processes and machinery.

We're working with an established manufacturing business looking to appoint a Senior Operations Manager to take ownership of its site operations and help drive the next stage of its performance.

This is a senior leadership position, not a glorified production management role. You'll have responsibility for the bigger picture: setting operational direction, developing your management team, improving manufacturing performance and making sure the site delivers on safety, quality, productivity and cost.

What you'll be doing

• Taking overall responsibility for site operations, ensuring safe, efficient and profitable performance.
• Leading production, engineering, maintenance, manufacturing support and associated operational functions.
• Driving improvements in productivity, throughput, yield, asset utilisation and manufacturing costs.
• Developing and delivering operational strategies aligned with wider business objectives.
• Building a strong performance culture, with clear accountability and high standards at every level.
• Working closely with Engineering, Technical, Quality, HSE, Commercial and Supply Chain teams.
• Managing operational budgets, financial performance, capital investment and improvement projects.
• Developing people, strengthening management capability and building succession across the operation.
• Ensuring the highest standards of health, safety, environmental and quality compliance.

What we're looking for

We're interested in established manufacturing leaders who understand what it takes to run a complex industrial operation.

You'll ideally bring:

• Significant senior operational leadership experience within steel, metals, aerospace, forging or another heavy manufacturing environment.
• A proven track record of leading sizeable manufacturing teams and multiple operational functions.
• Strong commercial understanding, including P&L, budgets, cost control and capital investment.
• A genuine understanding of engineering, maintenance, asset reliability and manufacturing processes.
• Experience driving Lean, CI, TPM or wider operational improvement programmes.
• A strong background in health, safety, quality and regulatory compliance.
• The ability to develop people, challenge existing practices and bring teams with you.

An engineering, manufacturing or related degree would be advantageous, but we're more interested in what you've actually delivered than simply what's written on your certificates.

The opportunity

This is an opportunity to take genuine ownership of a significant manufacturing operation, influence its strategic direction and make a measurable difference to its future performance.

We're looking for someone who can operate at boardroom level but isn't afraid to get out onto the shop floor, challenge performance and understand what's really happening across the business.

Shillito Group is a specialist recruitment and executive search partner, working with ambitious businesses to secure high-impact talent across commercial and engineering markets. Our reputation is built on deep expertise, trusted relationships and delivering results that go beyond the brief.