Manufacturing Operations Director

Role Purpose

The Manufacturing Director will lead the establishment, scale-up and operational management of a high-performance battery pack manufacturing business focused on low-to-medium volume production (50–5,000 units annually per product) for marine, industrial and automotive applications. This role is responsible for building the manufacturing organisation from the ground up — including facility setup, team recruitment, production systems, manufacturing engineering, quality systems, supply chain coordination, and operational excellence.

The successful candidate will drive the transition from prototype builds through to repeatable production manufacture of battery packs ranging from 60V to 800V using cylindrical and pouch cell technologies. As a key member of the leadership team reporting directly to the CEO, the Manufacturing Director will play a critical role in shaping company strategy, culture, manufacturing capability, and operational scalability.

• Manufacturing Strategy & Facility Development
  • Lead the setup and commissioning of a new battery pack manufacturing facility, including layout, workflow optimisation, equipment specification, utilities, EHS requirements, and production readiness. Develop scalable manufacturing processes capable of supporting prototype, pre-production, and low-to-medium volume production programmes. Establish manufacturing standards, procedures, work instructions, and production documentation. Define and implement manufacturing KPIs focused on quality, cost, delivery, safety, and productivity. Support business growth planning, facility expansion, and future manufacturing scalability.
• Team Leadership & Organisational Development
  • Recruit, develop and lead a multidisciplinary manufacturing team, growing from an initial single employee operation to approximately 20 employees. Build a high-performance manufacturing culture focused on accountability, safety, collaboration, continuous improvement, and technical excellence. Establish organisational structures, roles, training plans, and performance management processes. Mentor and develop manufacturing engineers, technicians, production operators, and support staff.
• Production & Operations Management
  • Oversee daily manufacturing operations including prototype builds, pilot production, and serial manufacture. Ensure production schedules are achieved while maintaining quality and safety standards. Drive operational efficiency improvements through Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies. Implement production planning and inventory control systems appropriate for low-volume, high-mix manufacturing. Co-ordinate manufacturing readiness for new product introduction (NPI) activities.
• Battery Pack Manufacturing & Engineering
  • Support manufacturing process development for high-voltage battery pack assembly using cylindrical and pouch cells. Ensure safe handling, assembly, testing, and validation of high-voltage battery systems from 60V to 800V. Collaborate closely with engineering teams on DFM/DFA (Design for Manufacture and Assembly) initiatives. Support development of battery pack assembly techniques including welding, bonding, thermal management integration, BMS integration, HV harnessing, and end-of-line testing.
    
    Ensure robust traceability systems are implemented for battery cells, components, and assemblies.
• Quality, Safety & Compliance
  • Establish and maintain quality management systems aligned with automotive, marine, and industrial industry standards. Develop manufacturing controls and inspection processes to ensure product reliability and compliance. Lead EHS strategy for manufacturing including HV safety, battery handling protocols, fire risk mitigation, and regulatory compliance. Support certification and compliance activities including UN38.3, ISO
    9001, IATF
    16949 readiness, CE/UKCA, marine approvals, and customer-specific requirements. Lead root cause analysis and corrective action processes for manufacturing and quality issues.
• Supply Chain & Supplier Management
  • Work with procurement and engineering teams to establish robust supply chains for cells, BMS, electronics, mechanical…