Manager – Manufacturing Operations; North

We are looking for an experienced and hands-on Manager – Manufacturing Operations (North) to provide visible leadership for our North Region Manufacturing Operations and Barnsley facility.

This is a key operational leadership role responsible for ensuring that manufacturing outputs are delivered safely, efficiently and to the required standards of quality, cost, delivery and customer service. The successful candidate will lead effective planning, resourcing, governance and performance management across the North Region Hub, ensuring strong operational control and clear alignment with business priorities.

The role will also be responsible for developing a capable, accountable and high-performing manufacturing operations team, creating a culture of safety, collaboration, continuous improvement and operational excellence. Acting as the senior site leader for the Barnsley facility, the post holder will provide day-to-day leadership, escalation and oversight to ensure the site operates in a safe, compliant and efficient manner.

• Lead the execution of the business strategy for North Region Manufacturing Operations, translating strategic objectives into clear operational priorities.
• Lead and be accountable for the end-to-end manufacturing operations process across the North Region.
• Ensuring all manufacturing operations comply with company, customer, legal, HSEQ and accredited management system requirements, including relevant ISO standards, BS EN 1090, WIMES and UKCA.
• Lead production planning, capacity management and resource allocation for North Region Manufacturing Operations, ensuring schedules, priorities and available resources are aligned to customer and business requirements.
• Maintaining ERP system discipline, accurate visual management and daily or weekly forecasting to support data-driven operational control and decision-making.
• Managing the North Region Hub facilities, plant and equipment to ensure safe, compliant, sustainable and reliable operations.
• Ensuring regular and effective communication with the workforce regarding departmental performance, priorities and major business announcements.
• Propose, plan and manage the departmental annual operating budget, ensuring expenditure remains within the approved Delegation of Authority.

Essential requirements:

• Relevant qualification in mechanical engineering, manufacturing, operations management or a related discipline, or equivalent experience gained in a senior operational leadership role.
• Operational leadership experience within a manufacturing, engineering or engineered-product environment.
• Proven track record of leading production teams, improving operational performance and delivering measurable continuous improvement.
• Experience managing budgets, cost control, resources and operational performance metrics.
• Experience using ERP systems, operational data and exception reporting to support planning, control and decision-making.
• Experience operating within regulated, safety-conscious or compliance-led environments.
• Experience working within ISO management systems, including ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001.
• Experience in low-volume, high-complexity, project-based or bespoke manufacturing environments.
• Strong understanding of UK health and safety legislation and manufacturing compliance requirements.
• Good commercial awareness, with the ability to balance safety, quality, delivery, cost and customer requirements.
• Practical understanding of manufacturing planning, resource management, inventory control and shop-floor performance management.

Desirable requirements:

• Degree or higher-level qualification in engineering, manufacturing, operations management or business management.
• Relevant professional qualification or membership associated with engineering, manufacturing, operations, health and safety, quality or continuous improvement.
• Experience leading, coaching, developing and recruiting multi-disciplinary teams.
• Experience implementing Lean, Six Sigma, 5S or other structured continuous improvement methodologies in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience of BS EN 1090, WIMES, UKCA or other standards relevant to fabricated, welded or assembled engineered products.
• Previous experience working for an OEM, or within water treatment, environmental technologies, utilities, industrial engineering or adjacent sectors.
• Understanding of municipal water sector requirements in the UK and Ireland.
• Experience scaling, improving or integrating operations across…