Manufacturing Unit Manager

At ABB , we help industries run leaner and cleaner—and every person here makes that happen. You’ll be empowered to lead, supported to grow, and proud of the impact we create together. Join us and help run what runs the world.

Operations Manager

In this role, you will lead the transformation of the UK Emergency Lighting manufacturing unit in Morley, providing overall leadership and accountability for Production, Engineering, Procurement, HSE, Quality, Operational Excellence, Planning and Fulfillment, and Logistics. You will drive operational performance, continuous improvement, and business transformation while building a culture of ownership, accountability, collaboration, and high performance. As the site leader, you will ensure strong execution, regional alignment across EMEA, and achievement of key business objectives including productivity, quality, customer satisfaction, and financial performance.

Our teams support each other, collaborate, and never stop learning. Everyone brings something unique, and together we push ideas forward to solve real problems. Being part of our team means your work matters - because the progress we make here creates real impact out there.

We want you to bring your full self to work—your ideas, your energy, your ambition. You’ll have the tools and freedom to grow your skills, shape your path, and take on challenges that matter. Here, your work creates impact you can see and feel, every day.

In this role, you’ll help run what runs the world, by taking on meaningful work that drives real impact.

Work model: onsite

• Implement the global business unit strategy within the manufacturing unit and ensure alignment with EMEA operational priorities.

• Own and deliver the site transformation roadmap, driving operational excellence, productivity, quality, and customer satisfaction.

• Lead day-to-day operations across production, planning, logistics, supply chain, engineering, quality, and HSE functions.

• Deliver key business KPIs including EBITA, revenue, cost, productivity, and delivery performance while fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

• Build, develop, and inspire a high-performing site leadership team and support long-term talent development and succession planning.

• Ensure compliance with ABB values, Code of Conduct, and all health, safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements.

• Leads and sponsors change initiatives across the site, ensuring successful adoption of new processes, systems, and ways of working to support long-term business objectives.

• Establishes strong customer and supplier partnerships, using feedback and performance data to drive continuous improvement, strengthen service levels, and deliver operational excellence.

• 5/10 years of experience leading a production or manufacturing site.

• Strong understanding of Emergency Lighting products (not required to have strong understanding of EML products, more so strong understanding of running an operation), operations, and manufacturing requirements.

• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage complex product and operational environments.

• Experience in turnaround or transformation environments is advantageous.

• Experience with SAP S/4
  
  HANA is preferred.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with a collaborative, solution-focused mindset.

• Fluency in English is required; additional European languages are beneficial.

• Demonstrated experience leading large-scale operational improvement programmes, with a track record of delivering measurable business, quality, and productivity improvements.

• Strong financial acumen with experience managing budgets, analysing…