Operations Director

Become the go-to Operations Lead for one of the UK's leading composite manufacturing organisations, focused on the delivery of complete engineering solutions for its clients in F1, motor sport, automotive and more.

Are you a great collaborator with experience of working with a range of stakeholders? Do you want to work on exciting and varied projects? Keen to join an established organisation and help spearhead their exciting new chapter?

If so, read on!

Our client is a rapidly growing, leading independent manufacturer of composite and GRP products, producing pattern work, tooling and final components across industry from the worlds of Formula One, automotive, engineering, marine, aerospace, rail and more. Strengthened by recent and significant investment, the client now wishes to appoint a new Operations Director to ensure they remain at the cutting edge of composites technology.

That's where you come in.

We are looking for an experienced Operations Director, with a strong understanding of composites within automotive, motor sport and/or F1 sectors, to own end‑to‑end operational performance and scale the client's manufacturing capability.

• Operational strategy & P&L:
  Define and execute the operations strategy, set and deliver cost, quality, delivery and safety targets, and manage the operational budget.
• Leading manufacturing processes:
  Oversee daily operations and ensure efficiency and quality.
• Manufacturing excellence:
  Oversee pattern & tooling, lay‑up/autoclave, trim & fit, machining, assembly and dispatch; drive throughput, OEE and schedule adherence.
• Quality & compliance:
  Maintain and enhance QMS; partner with HSE to ensure legal compliance and continuous improvement (e.g. ISO 9001).
• People & culture:
  Build and develop multi‑disciplinary teams, workforce planning (including shift patterns), skills pipelines and leadership succession.
• Supply chain & materials:
  Secure on‑time inbound, right‑first‑time materials; improve vendor performance and inventory turns.
• Digital operations:
  Improve planning, ERP/MRP, and data visibility; publish weekly/monthly KPI dashboards and corrective actions.
• Customer focus:
  Escalation point for critical programmes; work with Commercial/Engineering to align capacity with demand and win repeat business.

• Proven senior leadership of complex composite manufacturing (e.g., motor sport/automotive/aerospace), delivering to stringent quality and timing requirements.
• Track record in lean/CI, problem‑solving, and performance turnarounds (SQDCP).
• Strong programme and stakeholder management across Operations, Engineering, Quality and Commercial.
• Working knowledge of QHSE frameworks and regulated environments; able to evidence improvements in safety, quality, and audit outcomes.
• Confident communicator; able to set strategy and coach managers; hands‑on when needed.

• Extremely competitive salary
• 23 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Holiday buy/sell options
• Company pension
• Flexible schedule
• Wellness programme
• Salary sacrifice electric car scheme

Bring your expertise and be the driving force to our fantastic client's bright future! We look forward to hearing from you.