Operations Director

Description

Job Description:

Director of Operations Manufacturing (Injection Moulding & Extrusion)

Waterlooville

Manufacturing / Plastics Industry

Permanent Senior Leadership Role

V3 Recruitment are working in partnership with our client based in Waterlooville who are looking to appoint an experienced Director of Operations to lead the setup, scale–up, and ongoing performance of a brand new, high–volume manufacturing facility.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced manufacturing leader to play a pivotal role in building and developing a facility operating injection moulding machines and extrusion lines, while driving operational excellence, implementing robust systems, and developing a high–performing team.

The Role

Reporting directly to the Managing Director / CEO, the Director of Operations will take full responsibility for the operational performance of the manufacturing facility, including safety, production output, quality, delivery, cost control and continuous improvement.

A key part of the role will involve implementing and managing the RIDDER ERP system, while also leading the facility through the implementation and successful certification of ISO 9001.

You will oversee a team including Production Managers, Engineering Manager, Quality Manager and Supply Chain, ensuring smooth, efficient and scalable operations as the business continues to grow.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the full operational setup and commissioning of the new manufacturing facility

Manage daily production operations across injection moulding and extrusion lines

Develop and deliver operational strategy aligned with business growth plans

Drive performance improvements across key KPIs including OEE, scrap rates, yield, uptime and on–time delivery

Act as operational owner of the RIDDER ERP system, ensuring accurate use across the facility

Lead the implementation and certification process for ISO 9001, working closely with the Quality Manager

Optimise production processes including cycle times, tooling, materials and maintenance planning

Champion a strong health & safety culture and ensure full regulatory compliance

Work closely with Supply Chain and Planning teams to align production schedules and materials availability

Build, lead and develop a high–performing operations team

Implement Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives to increase efficiency and reduce costs

Skills & Experience Required

Proven senior leadership experience within high–volume manufacturing environments

Strong background in plastics manufacturing, injection moulding or extrusion (highly desirable)

Demonstrated experience launching or scaling manufacturing facilities

Strong understanding of ERP systems, ideally RIDDER

Proven track record of improving operational KPIs through data–driven decision making

Experience leading or supporting ISO 9001 implementation

Strong knowledge of manufacturing cost drivers and optimisation strategies

Experience leading and developing multi–disciplinary operational teams

Personal Attributes

Strong operational and strategic mindset

Hands–on and visible leadership style

Analytical and highly process–driven approach

Excellent communication skills across all levels of the business

Comfortable working in a fast–paced and evolving environment

Commercially aware with strong decision–making capability

Key Measures of Success

Successful commissioning and ramp–up of the new facility

Achieving ISO 9001 certification within the planned timeframe

Effective implementation and full adoption of RIDDER ERP

Measurable improvements across OEE, scrap, uptime and delivery performance

Development of a stable, high–performing operations team

Safe, compliant and efficient day–to–day manufacturing operations

Job Types: Full–time, Permanent

Work Location: In person

Ad ID: 5417980204