Operations Director - North England

Overview

Our client is a long-established, reputable print and packaging business based in the North East of England. They are committed to quality, sustainability, and continuous innovation, and seek a senior operational leader to drive growth and performance excellence.

• Take full ownership for all operational functions including manufacturing, supply chain, quality and continuous improvement.
• Deliver improvements in efficiency, cost and service by embedding a culture of lean manufacturing, process optimisation and operational excellence.
• Lead the development and execution of a strategic roadmap for performance improvement, driving initiatives such as waste reduction, capacity utilisation, flow optimisation, throughput enhancement and productivity uplift.
• Translate business strategy into operational targets, monitor progress through KPIs, and ensure manufacturing operations are aligned with commercial goals.
• Balance day-to-day operations with opportunities to drive innovation and continuous improvement.
• Champion best practice in health & safety, quality assurance and environmental compliance, while maintaining strong management disciplines and governance.
• Foster a high-performance culture, build capable teams, and ensure effective leadership at all levels.

• Proven experience within the print and packaging industry.
• Strong expertise in lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement methodologies (such as Six Sigma or Kaizen).
• Ability to influence at senior levels while driving operational change.
• A hands-on, commercially astute operations executive with a track record of leading significant operational transformations in a manufacturing environment.