Head of Operations / Operations Manager

Results Focus:

• Develop and implementing a strategy to maximise manufacturing and total business efficiencies including delivering improvements in Safety, Quality, On Time Delivery, Lead Time, and Labour Productivity


• Manufacture Fan Assemblies to meet delivery customer requirements.


• Lead and further develop lean manufacturing activities and a culture of continuous improvement in line with the strategic goals, KPI objectives and corresponding plans.


• Select and deploy operational improvement tools in order to deliver improved performance, e.g. 5S, Standard Work, Kanban, Value Stream Mapping etc.


• Provide leadership for and act as the responsible person for Environmental, Health & Safety, ensure the appropriate focus is placed on EHS issues both on the shop floor and business wide, and drive improvement in performance and attitudes.


• Continuously challenge, identify, and act on opportunities for improvement and cost reduction assist the business in creating value both internally and for the customer base.


• Operate at all times in accordance with the Company Quality Management Systems.


• Maintain company KPI's and ensure targets flow up / down from the shop floor to business leadership; deploy an effective and user owned Visual Management System. Use operational metrics to root cause analyse any problems.


• Participate in and provide input at every stage of the New Product Introduction process to ensure efficient and cost effective manufacturing is possible.


Leadership Focus:

• Ensure effective communications in support of cultural change, being pro-active.


• Supervise, coach, develop and provide leadership and direction to supervisors, team leads, and manufacturing personnel.


• Promote team working and communication. Define and assist in training and developing of staff.


• Together with the leadership team, understand customer demands and through the strategic planning process define actions needed to improve performance. Engage with and cascade with manufacturing team in this process.


• Organise annual appraisals and regular formal and informal performance feedback with staff. Maintain organisation & discipline within manufacturing.


• Partner with the Sales and Logistics teams to generate a build plan.


• Review and, as appropriate, introduce changes to the Manufacturing organisation, to ensure the most effective utilisation of resource and optimise cost.


Financial Focus:

• As a member of the leadership team, support delivery of budgeted orders, sales, margins, EBITDA & administration costs etc.


• Deliver departmental budget requirements; provide periodic forecasts and reports for monthly, quarterly, half & full-year reviews.


• Engage in monthly business performance reviews and prepare and review action plans



• Prepare annual departmental budgets and ensure they are adhered to.


• Define Capital Investment requirements and prepare payback justifications.


Additional Duties, Responsibilities & Measurements:

• To ensure compliance with purchasing procedures in accordance with prevailing Company policy, operating systems and business processes. To report and bring to attention any non-compliance and to make recommendations for remedial action.


• To ensure Health and Safety procedures and good housekeeping are adhered to at all times


This job description is not regarded to be totally exhaustive of all duties and activities required by the post. The post is subject to the needs of the business and will develop and change in line with prevailing market conditions, competition and development of the territory.

The candidate will possess excellent leadership capabilities and demonstrate an ability to communicate with, motivate and lead teams at all levels of the organization. A working knowledge of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement is required. Success will be achieved by working effectively with customers and colleagues and will be supported by strong personal credibility and presence that inspires team members to achieve and exceed targets., Essential

• Lean Manufacturing & Kaizen (Standard Work / 7 Wastes / 5S)


• Change Management


• Continuous Improvement Techniques


• Finance cost, price relationship.


• Extensive experience in Manufacturing Leadership Role


• Working knowledge of ISO 9000


• Able to define a strategy, develop an action plan, and implement.


• Demonstrated delivery of on time delivery and labour productivity improvements


• Materials Management / Inventory reduction/optimization experience


• Minimum HND or Bachelors in Science / Engineering


• Strong leadership skills


• MS Excel, PowerPoint, etc.


• Working knowledge of ERP / MRP systems


• Excellent Verbal and Written Communication Skills


• Customer Focused


• Team player


• Strong Problem solving skills


• Well organised


• Self- starter


• Sense of Urgency


• Attention to detail


Desirable

• Experience of running Kaizen events


• Experience in a union environment


• Masters degree


• EHS Qualification
  
  The Woods business was established in 1909 and continues to manufacture in Colchester, United Kingdom. We have around 250 people across all business functions from sales through design and product assembly & testing, as well as businesses in USA, UK, Germany & Singapore.


Woods is a brand of Fläkt Group which is an international leader in wider HVAC products, systems, services, and solutions. As part of the wider group, Woods products are sold into multiple global applications through various routes to market including Group Companies, Agents & Distributors, Key Accounts as well as direct B2B.

The Colchester site is also the Centre of Excellence for the group for all Axial, Air Movement and Fire Safety products and serves to enable product & system sales in Building Services, Industrial, Original Equipment, and Tunnel & Metro applications globally. Our brand and product range is internationally recognised and flexible, from short-lead-time standard products through to technically complex design-to-order products. Manufacturing activities on site in Colchester include Assembly, Product Test, Stamping, Machining, Fabrication, and metal forming.

At Woods Air Movement, our culture and values are at our core:

• Ambition: We set ambitious targets, going the extra mile to achieve them and strive for excellence in everything that we do.


• Entrepreneurship: We challenge the status quo and are proactive in finding ways to achieve our objectives. We take initiative, work sustainability, getting things done efficiently and effectively.


• Accountability: We say what we deliver, and we deliver what we say. We behave with integrity and have a strong moral compass.


• Teamwork: We work together as a team, are transparent, inclusive, and leverage the diverse resources we have in the Group.


MainPurposeofRole:

The Woods Air Movement Operations in Colchester , Fläkt Woods Limited, is recruiting a results focused Operations Manager for an exciting opportunity to lead the Colchester manufacturing team. The Operations leader will play a key role in leading transformation in manufacturing operations on site which is necessary to achieve strategic business objectives of business growth and cost management.

The successful candidate will develop and implement manufacturing strategies that achieve step change improvement in manufacturing key performance indicators including safety, quality, on time delivery, lead time, and labour productivity. The roles is responsible for leading over 100 staff including the direct labour team, manufacturing management and supervisors, manufacturing engineering & maintenance ., The role is based at our purpose-built Head Office and manufacturing facility in Colchester, UK, where around 250 people are based with all functions from sales through design and product assembly. Colchester is the centre of excellence for Fan design and production and produces a broad product range of fans and accessories for Building Services, Industrial, Original Equipment, and Tunnel & Metro customers. The product ranges from short-lead-time standard products through to technically complex design-to-order products. Manufacturing activities on site in Colchester include Assembly, Product Test, Stamping, Machining, Fabrication, and metal forming.

Please note, for this position you must be able to pass an initial Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS).

In return we offer the following package:

• Competitive salary


• 25 days Holiday (+ bank holidays)


• Christmas Shutdown


• 4% Pension Scheme


• Life Assurance Scheme


• Company Sick Pay Scheme


• Enhanced Family Friendly Benefits


• Employee Discount Scheme


• Holiday Purchase Scheme


• Free Tea & Coffee


• Early finish on Fridays


• Cycle to Work scheme


• Woods Sports & Social Club (voluntary option to take part in events/activities for an additional small charge)


• Long Service Awards


• Free Car Parking


• Employee Assistance Programme & Access to Mental Health Support


• Learning and Development Opportunities