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Location: Sheffield (Ecclesfield area)
Permanent | Competitive salary

A long-established, engineering-led manufacturing business is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to take full ownership of day-to-day production across a busy, quality-critical fabrication site. The company delivers large bespoke steelwork for industrial, power and infrastructure clients, operating in a safety-driven, high-standards environment.

This is a senior, autonomous role with full responsibility for people, performance, safety, workflow and delivery. As the site continues to expand, you’ll shape operational culture, embed robust systems and drive consistent, right-first-time output.

The Role

Reporting to the Operations Director, you will lead a complex fabrication environment with responsibility across safety, quality, planning, team leadership, resource management and continuous improvement. The business is preparing for future multi-shift operations, so strengthening systems, standards and behaviours will be a key focus.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead a zero-injury safety culture with strong compliance, accountability and proactive improvements.
• Maintain and enforce a right-first-time, zero-defect mindset across all fabrication and welding activities.
• Plan and manage site performance, ensuring productivity and output targets are hit.
• Implement and enhance structured operational systems including KPIs, planning, workflow and reporting.
• Lead, coach and develop the operations team with clear expectations and regular reviews.
• Work closely with engineering, projects and senior leadership to ensure smooth delivery and aligned goals.
• Strengthen internal processes, procedures and H&S protocols in line with relevant standards and accreditations.

About You

• Degree qualified (or equivalent experience) in Engineering, Manufacturing or a related discipline.
• At least 10 years’ management experience in a complex manufacturing or engineering environment.
• Proven experience leading teams in production, ideally with exposure to multi-shift operations.
• Strong operational systems ability: KPIs, planning, resource control, safety, compliance.
• Deep understanding of quality control, process control and structured quality gates.
• CI, Lean or Six Sigma background beneficial.
• Clear, hands-on leadership style with strong communication and accountability.
• Calm under pressure and used to owning delivery in a high-integrity environment.

Why Apply?

You’ll join a respected, well-invested manufacturing business with a strong order book across industrial and power-related sectors. The role offers genuine influence, full site ownership and the opportunity to help lead the operation into its next phase of growth and maturity