Operations Team Lead

Job Function:

Supply Chain Manufacturing

Plant Management

People Leader

Leeds, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom

About Orthopaedics

Fueled by innovation at the intersection of biology and technology, we’re developing the next generation of smarter, less invasive, more personalized treatments.

Are you passionate about improving and expanding the possibilities of Orthopaedics? Ready to join a team that’s reimagining how we heal? Our Orthopaedics teams help keep more than 6 million people moving each year while delivering clinical and economic value to surgeons and healthcare systems. Our teams build solutions for joint reconstruction; trauma and craniomaxillofacial; sports, extremities, and elective foot and ankle;

spine; and robotics and digital surgery.

Your unique talents will help patients on their journey to wellness. Learn more at

Johnson & Johnson announced plans to separate our Orthopaedics business to establish a standalone orthopaedics company, operating as DePuy Synthes. The process of the planned separation is anticipated to be completed within 18 to 24 months, subject to legal requirements, including consultation with works councils and other employee representative bodies, as may be required, regulatory approvals and other customary conditions and approvals.

Should you accept this position, it is anticipated that, following conclusion of the transaction, you would be an employee of DePuy Synthes, and your employment would be governed by DePuy Synthes employment processes, programs, policies, and benefit plans. In that case, details of any planned changes would be provided to you by DePuy Synthes at an appropriate time and subject to any necessary consultation processes.

At J&J, we develop capability and career growth. The Operations Team Lead will provide front‑line leadership across the manufacturing value stream reporting into the Base Business Value Stream Leader. This is a Team Lead role, running day‑to‑day operational delivery, drive performance management, and ensure alignment of plant activities to supply‑chain roadmaps and business demand.

• Balance workload across the value stream to maintain steady workflow and minimize bottlenecks.
• Act as the front‑line point of contact for value‑stream issues and plant‑level initiatives.
• Lead and manage individual contributors, ensuring effective performance management, mentoring, and development.
• Conduct regular 1:1 meetings, proficiency assessments, and performance reviews; identify and close training gaps.
• Make and communicate operational decisions to meet production schedules and fulfillment commitments.
• Monitor key operational indicators (efficiency, cycle times, throughput, backlog) and resolve deviations to protect timely delivery.
• Ensure work orders and priorities are executed consistently and meet expected standards.
• Facilitate alignment of plant goals and supply‑chain roadmaps; support integration of business and technology strategies.
• Ensure compliance with SOPs, GMP requirements, technical drawings, and traceability documentation.
• Lead investigations, manage nonconformance handling, and ensure timely completion of corrective actions and batch records.
• Sponsor Lean initiatives (Kaizen, 6S, waste reduction) and improvement projects to enhance efficiency, quality, and scalability.
• Promote safety behaviors, cleanroom protocols, and safe material handling; report unsafe conditions and participate in safety reviews.
• Maintain communication with Planning, Quality, Engineering, Maintenance, and Supply Chain teams.
• Provide accurate operational handovers, shift reports, and input to management on performance, risks, and improvement plans.

• Practical leadership experience in manufacturing or supply‑chain operations; regulated industry experience (medical device, pharma) preferred.
• Understanding of fabrication, processing, cleanroom operations, and warehouse fulfillment processes.
• Familiarity with Lean manufacturing, 6S, Operator Asset…