UK Operations Manager

Lead performance. Develop people. Drive operational excellence.

About the role

We’re looking for an experienced UK Operations Manager to lead our Manufacturing, Warehouse, Dispatch and Quality Control teams at Zotefoams in Croydon.

This is a senior operations leadership role with responsibility for safety, production, quality, cost, delivery and people, with a strong focus on continuous improvement and operational excellence.

Whether you’re currently an Operations Manager, Manufacturing Manager, Production Manager or Senior Operations Manager, we’d be keen to hear from you if you’ve led large teams within a manufacturing or process environment.

What you’ll be doing

• Lead and develop teams across Manufacturing, Warehouse, Dispatch and Quality Control.

• Drive improvements across safety, quality, cost, delivery and operational performance.

• Improve manufacturing performance through Lean, Six Sigma and continuous improvement.

• Monitor and improve key KPIs including OEE, OTIF, quality, scrap and productivity.

• Work with Supply Chain and Sales to improve production planning and meet customer demand.

• Partner with Engineering to improve preventative maintenance and reduce downtime.

• Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions using tools such as 8D, 5 Whys and Ishikawa.

• Manage operational budgets, workforce planning and labour utilisation.

• Identify and lead CAPEX and equipment improvement projects.

• Build a strong safety culture across Operations.

What we’re looking for

• Significant experience leading manufacturing or production operations within a process or product environment.

• Experience managing and developing large operational teams.

• Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma or Operational Excellence.

• Experience improving safety, quality, productivity and delivery performance.

• Good understanding of production planning, engineering and manufacturing processes.

• Strong problem solving and continuous improvement skills.

• Degree level education or equivalent experience.

• IOSH qualification, with NEBOSH advantageous.

• Lean or Six Sigma qualifications would be beneficial.

We know strong candidates don’t always tick every box. If you have relevant manufacturing leadership experience and believe you can make an impact, we’d still like to hear from you.

Why join Zotefoams?

Zotefoams is a world leader in cellular materials technology, manufacturing high performance foams used across automotive, aviation, healthcare, sport, rail, marine and industrial markets.

This is an opportunity to lead a significant part of our Croydon manufacturing operation, develop our people and make a visible impact on safety, quality, customer delivery and operational performance.

Our values

Courage – We challenge, act and push for better.
Impact – We focus on what matters and deliver results.
Respect – We value different perspectives and work as one team.

Zotefoams is an equal opportunity employer. We’re committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive.