Operations Manager

• 25–30 days annual leave (service related)
• Life assurance
• Income protection
• Free on-site parking
• Potential for international travel

Our client is a long-established and highly respected UK-based engineering and manufacturing business with over 100 years of heritage. Originally founded to set technical standards within a specialist manufacturing sector, the organisation has evolved into a global provider of high-quality testing equipment and technical solutions.

Operating from a modern manufacturing facility in Northamptonshire, the business designs, manufactures and exports precision physical testing machinery to leading brands worldwide, supporting quality and performance standards across multiple industries.

The Operations Manager will take full responsibility for the end-to-end coordination of production, service, logistics and operational delivery. The focus of the role is to ensure customer commitments are achieved on time, to the required quality standards and within agreed margin expectations.

This is a hands‑on leadership role requiring a strong engineering background, proven production management experience and sound commercial awareness. The successful candidate will act as the key link between engineering, production, sales and customers, ensuring that sold projects are delivered profitably, efficiently and reliably.

The role also includes a customer‑facing element and will contribute operational and technical insight into business development and strategic marketing activities.

• Operational Delivery & Planning
• Own and continuously improve end‑to‑end delivery performance from order acceptance through to shipment, installation, commissioning and service
• Lead integrated planning across sales, engineering, production, service and procurement to ensure clear visibility of priorities, capacity and risk
• Act as escalation point for delivery issues, ensuring early communication and effective mitigation
• Production & Service Oversight
• Lead and support team leaders across:
• Mechanical production and assembly
• Electrical build, calibration and commissioning
• Global service and technical support
• Logistics and order fulfilment
• Ensure all production, calibration and service activities follow agreed processes and quality standards
• Maintain clear logging and escalation processes for design, supplier or manufacturing defects
• Deliver financial objectives through effective operational decision‑making
• Reduce avoidable cost leakage through improved planning, sourcing feedback and make‑versus‑buy decisions
• Collaborate closely with Sales, Engineering and Procurement to ensure commercially robust project delivery
• Report on operational financial performance against budget
• Act as senior operational contact for key customers, reinforcing confidence in delivery and service performance
• Support the development of service offerings, training, upgrades and aftermarket opportunities
• Provide operational and technical input into marketing materials and product positioning
• Leadership & Team Development
• Lead, coach and develop team leaders to improve planning discipline, accountability and performance
• Promote a commercially aware and customer‑focused culture across production and service teams
• Support skills development, training documentation and succession planning
• Improve operational consistency while maintaining a pragmatic, non‑bureaucratic approach
• Ensure effective feedback loops between production, service and engineering teams
• Drive ongoing operational efficiency and process improvements

• Engineering background (mechanical and/or electrical)
• Proven experience in production or operations management within a manufacturing environment
• Experience leading technical or production teams
• Strong planning, coordination and problem‑solving skills
• Commercial awareness with understanding of margin and cost control
• Confident communicator, comfortable engaging with both internal teams and customers
• Experience working within a low‑volume, high‑value manufacturing environment
• Experience with in test equipment, machinery or capital equipment manufacturing
• Exposure to commissioning, calibration or field service operations
• Customer‑facing or account support experience
• Involvement in product development or business development activities
• Knowledge of CE/UKCA or regulated machinery environments
• Experience managing subcontract manufacturing