Location: Surrey
Salary: £60,000-£75,000 doe + benefits
Employment: Full‑time, permanent
Why This Role Matters
This is your chance to step into a pivotal leadership role within one of the UK's most innovative and fast‑growing manufacturers in the life‑safety sector. They design and manufactures ventilation systems that protect thousands of people in high‑rise residential, commercial, and public buildings across the UK.
As Operations Manager, you'll be the driving force behind production, warehouse operations, logistics, and quality assurance, ensuring that life‑saving products are manufactured, tested, and delivered with precision, speed, and absolute compliance.
If you thrive in a fast‑paced, technical manufacturing environment and love building high‑performing teams, this is the role that will elevate your career.
What You'll Be Doing
Leading day‑to‑day manufacturing and assembly operations, ensuring efficient production flow
Managing the warehouse, including goods‑in, stock control, pick/pack, and dispatch
Overseeing logistics and delivery scheduling, ensuring fast and reliable customer fulfilment
Implementing and improving quality assurance processes for safety‑critical products
Working closely with engineering, sales, and technical teams to align production with demand
Driving continuous improvement, lean processes, and operational efficiency
Ensuring compliance with relevant standards (e.g., EN 12101, BS 9991)
Managing and developing production, warehouse, and logistics staff
Reporting on KPIs, capacity planning, and operational performanceRequirements
Who We're Looking For
A confident, hands‑on leader who understands the unique demands of manufacturing technical, safety‑critical products. Someone who can balance strategic thinking with operational execution.
Essential Skills & Experience
Proven experience as an Operations Manager, Production Manager, or Manufacturing Manager
Background in manufacturing, engineering, HVAC, building services, mechanical/electrical assembly, or life‑safety systems
Strong understanding of warehouse operations, stock control, and logistics
Experience implementing lean manufacturing, 5S, or continuous improvement methodologies
Excellent people‑management skills — able to motivate, coach, and develop teams
Strong understanding of quality assurance and compliance processes
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑moving environment
Confident communicator who can work cross‑functionally with technical and commercial teams
Highly Desirable
Experience in smoke ventilation, fire safety, mechanical extract systems, or building compliance
Knowledge of EN 12101, BS 9991, or similar regulatory frameworks
Experience scaling operations in a growing manufacturing business
Sector Experience That Fits Best
Candidates from the following sectors tend to excel in this environment:
HVAC or M&E manufacturing
Building services equipment
Electrical or mechanical assembly
Industrial ventilation or air‑movement systems
Safety‑critical product manufacturing
Modular plantroom or packaged plant manufacturingBenefits
Benefits:
Growth Bonus - share in the company's success
Free on-site parking
Free lunch provided daily
20 days holiday + 8 bank holidays
Option to purchase up to 5 additional holiday days
Your birthday off
Early finish every other Friday (2 hours earlier)
Competitive salary
Salary description
£60000.00 - £75000.00 per year