Senior Operations Manager

Senior Operations Manager – Aerospace & Defence Manufacturing
Location: Llangeinor, Bridgend
Employment Type: Permanent
Sector: Aerospace and Defence Manufacturing
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience
The Opportunity
We are recruiting an experienced Senior Operations Manager to lead manufacturing operations within a highly regulated aerospace and defence environment. Reporting to the VP of Operations, you will provide visible, hands-on leadership across the operation and take responsibility for delivering against safety, quality, delivery, cost, productivity and people objectives.
This is a senior operational role requiring a strong manufacturing leader who can translate business strategy into practical priorities, improve performance and develop a culture of accountability, teamwork and continuous improvement. You will work closely with Business Unit Managers and colleagues across Planning, Supply Chain, Manufacturing Engineering and Quality to ensure production plans are achievable, operational risks are controlled and customer commitments are consistently met.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead the day-to-day delivery of manufacturing operations across safety, quality, delivery, cost, productivity and people.
* Translate the wider operations strategy into clear departmental priorities, improvement plans and measurable objectives.
* Provide visible and consistent leadership across manufacturing and production teams.
* Lead daily, weekly and monthly performance reviews, ensuring issues are identified early and corrective actions are completed.
* Improve on-time delivery, schedule adherence and the recovery of past-due customer orders.
* Coordinate cross-functional activity to remove production constraints and improve operational flow.
* Lead continuous improvement and productivity initiatives covering labour efficiency, throughput, waste reduction, automation and process standardisation.
* Support operational planning, forecasting, capacity reviews, headcount planning and capital expenditure proposals.
* Identify and manage operational risks and opportunities, escalating issues when appropriate.
* Promote a safe working environment and ensure compliance with health, safety, environmental, security and quality requirements.
* Develop managers, supervisors and operational teams through coaching, objective setting, performance management, succession planning and skills development.
* Build effective relationships with internal stakeholders, customers, suppliers and regulatory bodies.
* Support customer visits, regulatory reviews and internal or external audits.
* Use operational data and structured problem-solving techniques to drive informed decisions and sustainable improvements.
About You
You will be an established manufacturing or operations leader with experience gained within aerospace, defence, engineering or another complex and highly regulated production environment. You should be able to demonstrate:
* Proven experience leading manufacturing or production operations.
* At least two years’ experience managing a manufacturing or production-line environment.
* Experience leading managers, supervisors and multidisciplinary operational teams.
* A strong understanding of production planning, manufacturing flow, supply chain interaction and quality systems.
* A demonstrable record of improving delivery, productivity, cost control and operational capability.
* Confidence using KPIs, performance data and structured problem-solving methods.
* Experience delivering continuous improvement and operational change.
* Strong communication, influencing and stakeholder-management skills.
* Commercial awareness, including an understanding of how operational decisions affect margin, working capital and customer satisfaction.
* The ability to manage competing priorities and make sound decisions in a demanding operational environment.
* A positive, resilient and improvement-focused leadership style.
Qualifications
A degree, HND, HNC or equivalent practical experience in operations management, engineering, manufacturing, supply chain or a related discipline would be advantageous. Qualifications or formal training in leadership, Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement or project management would also be beneficial. Knowledge of aerospace, defence and associated quality or regulatory standards is desirable.
Additional Requirements
* You must be able to work within a defence-related environment and satisfy the applicable security requirements.
* Some travel to other company sites and customer or supplier locations may be required.
* A valid UK driving licence would be advantageous.
Why Apply?
This is an opportunity to take on a highly influential leadership position within a business supplying mission-critical products and services across the aerospace and defence sectors. You will play a central role in developing people, strengthening manufacturing performance, meeting customer commitments and supporting the organisation’s continued growth. If you are an experienced operational leader who combines strong manufacturing knowledge with a genuine commitment to people development and continuous improvement, we would be pleased to hear from you