Operations Manager
Location: Ossett, West Yorkshire
Hartwell Manufacturing is a family-run engineering business with nearly 50 years of experience delivering high-quality acoustic enclosures and heavy steel fabrication projects. From our Ossett headquarters, we support clients in the power, data centre and industrial sectors with engineered solutions built on precision, collaboration and reliability. The culture is hands-on, team-focused and proud of the work we produce.
As Hartwell continues to grow, we are looking to appoint an experienced Operations Manager to join our established Ossett manufacturing site.
Reporting directly to the Head of Operations, this is a senior, hands-on leadership role with responsibility for driving performance across day-to-day manufacturing operations. You will work closely with Production, Engineering, Projects, Quality and Supply Chain to ensure work flows efficiently through the site and that customer commitments are achieved safely, to the required quality and on time.
The role requires someone who is comfortable operating in a busy, fast-moving engineering environment and who can bring structure, accountability and strong leadership to a complex manufacturing operation.
The Role
Key responsibilities will include:
- Supporting the Head of Operations in the day-to-day management of the Ossett manufacturing site.
- Leading and developing operational teams across production and associated functions.
- Driving performance against key operational measures including safety, quality, delivery, productivity and cost.
- Ensuring production plans are understood, resourced appropriately and delivered against agreed timescales.
- Maintaining clear visibility of workload, capacity, priorities and potential production constraints.
- Working closely with Production, Projects, Engineering and Supply Chain to ensure effective workflow across the site.
- Identifying bottlenecks, inefficiencies and operational risks and taking action to resolve them.
- Driving a strong health and safety culture and ensuring standards are consistently maintained across the operation.
- Promoting a right-first-time approach to quality and ensuring issues are investigated and corrective actions implemented.
- Supporting the development and performance management of supervisors and team leaders.
- Ensuring clear communication across shifts, departments and management teams.
- Monitoring operational KPIs and using data to drive performance improvement.
- Leading continuous improvement activity across processes, workflow and productivity.
- Supporting workforce planning, skills development and succession planning across the operation.
- Ensuring operational standards, procedures and expectations are consistently followed.
- Taking ownership of operational issues and ensuring problems are resolved quickly and effectively.
About You
We are looking for an experienced manufacturing leader who is comfortable taking responsibility for a large and demanding operation.
You will ideally have:
- Significant management experience within manufacturing, engineering, fabrication or a similar industrial environment.
- A strong track record of leading production teams and improving operational performance.
- Experience working within a high-quality, safety-critical or process-driven manufacturing environment.
- Strong people leadership skills, with the ability to develop, challenge and motivate teams.
- Experience managing production plans, capacity, workflow and operational priorities.
- A good understanding of manufacturing KPIs and performance management.
- Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
- Experience driving continuous improvement and operational change.
- The ability to work effectively across Production, Engineering, Quality, Projects and Supply Chain.
- A practical, visible leadership style and the confidence to make decisions in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong communication skills and the ability to influence at all levels of the business.
Experience within heavy fabrication, welding, engineered-to-order manufacturing or large-scale project-based production would be particularly advantageous.
Why Hartwell?
Hartwell is experiencing significant growth across its key markets, creating increased demand across the Ossett operation. This role offers the opportunity to join an established site at an important stage of that growth and play a central role in improving performance, developing people and strengthening the operational capability of the business.
Working closely with the Head of Operations, you will have the opportunity to make a visible impact across the site while contributing to the wider development of Hartwell's manufacturing operation.
If you are an experienced Operations Manager with a strong manufacturing background and a track record of delivering results through people, process and performance, we would be interested to hear from you.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Benefits:
Work Location: In person
