Shape the future of a fast-growing manufacturing business

South Yorkshire

Competitive salary and benefits

Our client is an award-winning manufacturer of industrial consumables, machine manufacturer, and sharpening service provider, with a heritage dating back almost two hundred years. They have continually embraced modern manufacturing techniques, operating state-of-the-art CNC machining centres, robotics, and grinding machines from their new 33,000 sq. ft. facility in Sheffield. Serving multinational customers across the food, plastics, construction, printing, packaging, agriculture, and paper industries in the UK, Europe, Americas, and Asia, they are highly regarded for quality and innovation.

With a proven track record of growth and a clear ambition to double in size over the next five years, our client is committed to delivering the highest levels of quality and service in the industry. Their team of over eighty professionals operates across three sites, and as they grow, they remain dedicated to maintaining a culture of excellence, integrity, and customer focus.

This is an excellent opportunity for a Head of Operations to help lead them into the next stage of their journey. This pivotal role offers the opportunity to shape the operational strategy of a dynamic and ambitious company, driving performance and ensuring the achievement of their ambitious growth plans.

In this role, you will lead and develop the operations team, delivering excellence at every stage of production. You will be responsible for organising production to flow seamlessly, ensuring efficiency and quality without unnecessary intervention. By implementing robust routines and strategies, you will optimise processes, reduce costs, and enhance the skills of the workforce. Your leadership will also be key in integrating new products into the factory, improving purchasing efficiency and supply chain reliability, and professionalising safety and housekeeping standards to ensure they are always at 'visit-ready' levels. Safety and housekeeping will remain critical priorities, with a focus on maintaining zero lost-time accidents.

Ideal candidates will have worked for a major UK corporate or first tier supplier for at least five years, ideally having completed a management development programme, and have held a responsible position. A track record of having applied your skills successfully developing a large SME would be a distinct advantage. You will be a strategic thinker with a proven ability to achieve significant growth in a manufacturing environment. You will have extensive experience with quality-critical, complex engineered products and bring a deep understanding of metal manufacturing, including steel metallurgy, heat treatment, and engineering processes. Proficiency in modern manufacturing techniques, including lean tools and the theory of constraints, will be essential.

Educationally, you will hold a good degree in an engineering or technical discipline, and preferably a postgraduate qualification in leadership or business administration, complemented by ongoing personal development.

This role represents a unique opportunity to drive real change within a thriving organisation, delivering both personal and professional growth. You will embody our client’s core values of Passion, Investment, Customer Focus, Quality, and Integrity, acting as a catalyst for positive change and a leader of a dedicated and talented team.

If you would like to be considered for this opportunity, Adderleys Executive Search invites you to submit your curriculum vitae in absolute confidence for consideration in the first stage of the interview process.

Operations jobs

Head of Operations