Operations Team Lead

Operations Team Lead – Johnson & Johnson Med Tech – Leeds, 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. 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.

Purpose

At J&J, the Operations Team Lead provides front‑line leadership across the manufacturing value stream, reporting into the Base Business Value Stream Leader. This role runs day‑to‑day operational delivery, drives performance management, and ensures alignment of plant activities to supply‑chain roadmaps and business demand.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Requirements & Skills

• 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 Care, and continuous improvement methods.
• Knowledge of quality systems, GMP, traceability, and basic validation concepts.
• Strong communication, mentoring, performance management, and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to translate strategic objectives into actionable operational plans.
• Vocational/technical qualification in manufacturing, engineering, or supply chain, or equivalent experience.
• Resilience and adaptability to manage challenges and unexpected setbacks positively.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Preferred Skills

• Agile Manufacturing
• Analytical Reasoning
• Business Process Design
• Coaching & Developing Others
• Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
• Inclusive Leadership
• Leadership
• Manufacturing Safety
• Plant Operations
• Predictive Maintenance
• Problem Solving
• Process Control
• Process Oriented
• Project Administration
• Quality Assurance (QA)
• Supply Chain
• Workflow Management

Application Process

• Application review:
  We’ll carefully review your CV to see how your skills and experience align with the role.
• Getting to know you:
  If there’s a good match, you’ll be invited to a short call with our recruitment team to discuss the role further.
• Staying informed:
  Our recruitment team will keep you updated on each step of the process.
• Final steps:
  For successful candidates, you will need to complete country‑specific checks before starting the new role.

Thank you for considering a career with Johnson & Johnson. We’re excited to learn more about you and wish you the best of luck.