Senior Director of Operations

Are you an experienced operations leader ready to drive manufacturing excellence and lead high-performing teams in a market-leading organisation?

We are working with a market leader with a strong reputation for excellence and innovation within packaging machinery. Known for their commitment to quality and continuous growth, this organisation offers a dynamic and supportive environment where talent is recognised and developed.

Job Description

The Senior Operations Leader is responsible for the operational planning and execution of machine builds, including manufacturing, assembly, materials, and paint. This role is accountable for achieving key performance indicators across safety, quality, delivery, and cost.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead Manufacturing and Assembly Team Leaders and team members to maximise efficiency, equipment value, cross-training, and development.
• Develop a high-performing team that supports a culture of continuous improvement and effective use of resources and tools.
• Identify and implement process improvements, ensuring standard work processes are followed through planning, prioritisation, and training.
• Apply Lean Six Sigma methodologies to drive initiatives, improve processes, and reduce defects.
• Develop and track key metrics, using visual tools to communicate performance indicators.
• Coach, develop, and empower leaders and team members to achieve high levels of quality, productivity, and delivery.
• Build team capability through skills development and cross-training initiatives.
• Manage budgets and operational costs, maintaining expenses within targets while driving cost reduction.
• Ensure project schedules align with customer requirements, facility capabilities, and internal capacity.
• Oversee continuous improvement initiatives to enhance operational effectiveness and standardise best practices.
• Partner with Quality teams to address the cost of poor quality through root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Align people, processes, and performance measures with a focus on safety, delivery, quality, and cost.
• Support the growth and development of team members in line with organisational expectations.
• Undertake additional duties as required.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience) in operations, engineering, business, or a related field.
• 10 years of experience, including at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Proven experience delivering large-scale projects from concept through to implementation.
• Experience working with senior leadership during organisational change and transformation.
• Strong track record in defining KPIs and delivering data-driven performance outcomes.
• Experience with Lean / Six Sigma methodologies.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong commercial and business acumen with the ability to communicate and drive strategy.
• Demonstrated leadership in building high-performing teams.
• Excellent team-building and change management capabilities, with the ability to recruit, train, coach, and mentor.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a forward-thinking organisation that values expertise, collaboration, and ambition, offering the chance to make a real impact in a leadership capacity.