Operations Director
Location: South East London
Salary: Circa £80,000 + Pension + Performance-Related Bonus (DOE)
The Opportunity
A well-established and highly respected packaging manufacturer is seeking an experienced Operations Director to join its senior leadership team.
Following a period of significant investment and business transformation, the company is entering an exciting new phase of growth. As part of a planned leadership transition, this newly created board-level position will play a pivotal role in shaping the future direction, performance and profitability of the business.
With a long-standing reputation for quality, an international customer base and a commitment to continuous improvement, the business offers a unique opportunity for an ambitious operations leader to drive operational excellence across the organisation.
This is a highly visible, hands-on leadership role requiring a strong factory presence and close collaboration with fellow board members across commercial and technical functions.
The Role
Reporting directly to the Managing Director, the Operations Director will have overall responsibility for the safe, efficient and profitable operation of the manufacturing business.
Key areas of responsibility include:
• Manufacturing and production operations
• Quality, Environmental, Health & Safety management
• Purchasing and supply chain activities
• Warehouse and logistics functions
• Facilities and site management
• Customer service performance through delivery, quality and operational excellence
• Operational compliance and governance
• Leadership, development and performance management of departmental managers
• Continuous improvement and manufacturing efficiency
• Bill of Materials (BOM) accuracy and process control
• Legislative and regulatory compliance
As a member of the senior leadership team, the successful candidate will also contribute to:
• Business growth initiatives
• Strategic planning
• New product introduction and development
• Process improvement programmes
• Systems development and operational transformation
The Candidate
We are looking for an experienced manufacturing operations leader with a proven track record of delivering operational excellence within a fast-paced production environment.
The ideal candidate will have:
• Significant senior operational leadership experience within manufacturing
• Packaging industry experience preferred, although candidates from closely related manufacturing sectors will also be considered
• Strong leadership and people management skills
• Experience managing multi-disciplinary teams across production, quality, logistics and supply chain functions
• A hands-on, pragmatic approach with the ability to balance strategic thinking and day-to-day operational requirements
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities
• Experience driving continuous improvement, efficiency and business change initiatives
• A commitment to quality, safety and operational best practice
What's on Offer
• Board-level appointment with genuine influence over business direction
• Opportunity to help shape the future of a successful manufacturing business
• Established and committed workforce with excellent staff retention
• Investment-backed environment focused on growth and continuous improvement
• Competitive salary, pension and performance-related bonus
This is a site-based leadership role and will suit an Operations Director or ambitious Head of Operations looking to make a significant impact within a growing packaging manufacturing business
