Talent Solutions

A search and selection consultancy specialising in the permanent and interim recruitment of professionals supporting companies’ change initiatives and the drive towards continuous improvement.

Operations Director

Posted 10.07.25

Metals

West Midlands

Permanent

circa £70,000-£80,000 

Are you a proven Operations Director, or Manager ready to take the next step, with Operational Excellence expertise and a track record in transforming manufacturing? Our client is a profitable, rapidly growing UK designer, manufacturer and installer of bespoke, project-based products fabricated from steel, supplying a wide range of markets including civil engineering, security, defence and utilities.

Long-established in the Black Country, West Midlands, but acquired by a small but successful and growing group in recent times, the business has experienced year on year sales and profit growth. Despite a marked improvement in discipline, management and operating systems over the last 18 months, there is still huge scope to improve operationally, incorporating progressive and modern operational and manufacturing methods that will not only increase capacity and profitability, but will also improve the working culture. With further significant, rapid expansion anticipated, the Operations Director role has been newly created and, as such, you will be critical to the business's future success.

Reporting to the Managing Director, leading Production, Supply Chain, Quality and Engineering teams, you will have the autonomy to be able to express creativity without the usual constraints of large corporate organisations (whilst still harnessing the synergies of the other companies in the group) and have freedom to lead a transformation journey. As the business scales you will lead the people agenda, recruiting and training a growing team.

You will:

  • Be a proven Operations Director/Manager experienced in leading multi-discipline teams through transformation, striving for best-in-class. SME experience would be highly advantageous.
  • Be an expert Continuous Improvement/Operational Excellence practitioner. 
  • Have high levels of EQ with a growth mindset.
  • Be motivated and ambitious about driving change with a problem-solving skillset.
  • Be easily adaptable to changes led by business demand, with the ability to positively influence adaptability and change in those around them.
  • Be experienced in metal manufacturing environments, such as fabrication, stamping or forming, having seen what good looks like. Experience working on a low-volume project basis with design and installation would be highly advantageous.
  • Have a good understanding of design for manufacture and manufacturing principles and techniques. 

To help you succeed you will be supported by an ambitious organisation committed to cultural change, Continuous Improvement and investment.

Are you the one we're looking for?

Why Kaizen

We have developed a track record over more than a decade in recruiting senior executive and mid-level business leaders that operate across many related sectors. These include manufacturing, consumer, logistics, utilities and professional services.

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