Operations Manager
Reports to: General Manager
Role Purpose
To lead and integrate all production and transport operations at the Port Talbot site, ensuring safe, efficient, compliant, and cost-effective performance across the full operational workflow.
The Operations Manager is responsible for delivering daily service excellence, optimising labour and fleet utilisation, driving continuous improvement, and acting as Deputy to the General Manager in their absence.
Key Accountabilities
1. Operational Leadership
- Lead the end-to-end site operation from goods-in through production to customer delivery.
- Ensure production output aligns with transport scheduling and customer requirements.
- Oversee daily production planning and route scheduling.
- Maintain operational flow between departments to eliminate bottlenecks.
- Deliver service in line with SLA, OTIF, and cost targets.
- Assume full site responsibility when the General Manager is absent.
2. Production Management
- Plan, coordinate and control the production process.
- Ensure correct volumes are produced at agreed cost and quality standards.
- Implement and drive LEAN principles and waste reduction.
- Monitor and report on daily/weekly/monthly KPIs (PPOH, rewash %, cost per item, labour efficiency).
- Coordinate Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM).
- Oversee housekeeping and hygiene standards.
- Ensure H&S compliance across the production floor.
- Create and manage staff rotas aligned to volume demands.
- Lead performance reviews, 1-2-1s, return-to-work meetings and welfare matters.
3. Transport & Fleet Management
- Plan and optimise delivery and collection routes.
- Ensure fleet is maintained, compliant and fit for purpose.
- Manage vehicle servicing, repairs, inspections and cost control.
- Oversee driver scheduling, performance and training.
- Ensure compliance with transport legislation (licensing, safety, environmental requirements).
- Monitor fuel efficiency and transport cost KPIs.
- Maintain accurate transport records and reporting.
- Act as escalation point for customer transport-related issues.
4. People Leadership
- Lead, motivate and develop production and transport teams.
- Create a “One Team” culture across shifts and functions.
- Identify skills gaps and implement structured training plans.
- Manage absence, annual leave, performance and disciplinary processes.
- Support succession planning and talent development.
- Drive engagement and accountability at supervisor level.
5. Compliance & Governance
- Ensure full compliance with:
- Health & Safety legislation
- Environmental standards
- Transport regulations
- Company policies and SOPs
- Maintain audit readiness at all times.
- Support implementation of competency assurance systems.
6. Financial & Commercial Awareness
- Support the GM in achieving site budget targets.
- Control labour, overtime, utilities, fuel spend and general operational costs.
- Analyse performance data to drive cost improvements.
- Identify operational savings and efficiency gains.
- Contribute to annual budgeting and forecasting.
7. Continuous Improvement
- Lead structured CI projects to improve efficiency and reduce waste.
- Standardise best practice.
- Improve labour productivity and vehicle utilisation.
- Support digital systems and reporting improvements.
Authority & Deputising
In the absence of the General Manager, the Operations Manager will:
- Hold full operational authority for the site.
- Be responsible for production, transport, H&S and people matters.
- Act as primary decision-maker for service continuity.
- Escalate strategic or financial risks appropriately.
Key Performance Indicators
- OTIF delivery %
- PPOH / Labour productivity
- Rewash %
- Cost per item
- Transport cost per mile
- Fuel efficiency
- H&S incidents
- Customer service complaints
- Fleet downtime %
Person Specification
Experience
- 2–4 years’ experience in a supervisory, team leader, or junior management role, ideally within production, logistics, transport, manufacturing, laundry, or another fast-paced operational environment.
- Experience supporting the day-to-day running of a team, shift, department, or operational area.
- Some experience with people management processes, such as absence, performance, training, return-to-work meetings, or team briefings, with support from a senior manager where required.
- Exposure to planning, scheduling, productivity, quality, or service delivery targets.
- Experience in transport, fleet, or route planning would be advantageous but is not essential.
Skills
- Strong planning and scheduling capability.
- Data-driven decision making.
- Financial awareness.
- Ability to lead change.
- Clear and decisive communication style.
- High resilience under operational pressure.
Qualifications and Development
The following qualifications would be advantageous but are not essential:
- IOSH, NEBOSH, or other health and safety training
- ILM or equivalent leadership qualification
- Transport compliance training or CPC awareness
- We are more interested in finding someone with the right attitude, operational understanding, leadership potential, and willingness to learn. Where the successful candidate does not already hold relevant qualifications, the Company will support them to work towards appropriate training and qualifications as part of their development plan, where required for the role.
Pay: £34,000.00-£35,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Health & wellbeing programme
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
