Production Operations Manager

Competitive salary + Car Allowance + Bonus + Life Assurance

South Coast / Hampshire Region

A well‑established, highly respected engineering and manufacturing business is seeking an exceptional Operations Leader to manage its end‑to‑end operational function. This role requires a seasoned leader with proven experience of driving performance in a complex, precision‑focused production environment.

This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a low-volume, high-accuracy machining or engineered components setting and who can elevate operational standards using data, discipline and strong leadership.

The Opportunity

Reporting at senior leadership level, you will take full accountability for:

Operational performance, KPI management and governance Production, planning and workflow execution Maintenance strategies and equipment optimisation Workforce capability, engagement and leadership development Health, safety, compliance and operational excellence Continuous improvement and Lean initiatives

You will shape and execute operational strategy, ensuring the business meets its commitments on quality, performance, delivery and cost.

Key Responsibilities

Translate KPIs into measurable operational improvements Drive high standards across production, quality and throughput Strengthen controls, reporting discipline and process governance Lead Lean, TPM and CI programmes to enhance efficiency Deliver robust operational plans aligned with business objectives Support CAPEX decisions and champion investment cases Optimise operational budgets, resource planning and cost performance Develop strong internal and external stakeholder relationships Maintain a safe, compliant and audit-ready environment Ensure equipment availability and effectiveness

Key Requirements:

Proven experience leading operations in a precision machining environment Strong understanding of low-volume, batch manufacturing Financial and commercial acumen Confident in data-led decision making and ERP systems Lean/CI trained with real examples of delivered improvement A resilient, clear, influential leader with high standards Engineering or professional qualification (HNC/HND/Degree)

What's on Offer

Competitive salary Car allowance Performance bonus Private healthcare, pension, life assurance Wellbeing and development benefits

At Morgan Ryder we can provide you with a full range of employment opportunities from short term and fixed term temporary vacancies to permanent positions.

We recruit for companies that operate in the following industries: Defence Equipment, Food and Drink Manufacturers, FMCG, Packaging, Engineering, Automotive, Aerospace, Warehousing, Logistics, Waste Management, Petro Chemical, Pharmaceutical, Power & Renewable Energy.

Our commitment:

Equal opportunities are important to us. We believe that diversity and inclusion at Morgan Ryder Associates are critical to our success as DE&I positive company, so we want to recruit, develop, and keep the best talent. We encourage applications from everyone, regardless of background, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, ethnicity, belief, age, family or parental status, and any other characteristic.

Please note that calls to and from the offices of Morgan Ryder Associates Ltd. may be monitored or recorded. This is to ensure compliance with regulatory procedures, record business transactions and for training purposes