Manufacturing Operations Manager

Duties:

• Strategic Value Stream Leadership: Formulate and execute departmental strategic plans to continually improve plant competitiveness, as a valued member of the plant management team contributing to plant strategy.
• Daily Machining & Plant Operations: Oversee daily plant operations Machining Cast & Steel components to ISO9001 standards leading team of circa 100 associates and supplementary support staff to consistently achieve production targets, quality standards, and safety compliance while optimising manpower, material flow, and machinery capacity. Ensuring that skillset is both in position both short term and in long term to meet business requirements
• Budget & Investment Management: Take full ownership of the departmental budget, driving localised cost savings, resource allocation, and supporting technical investment planning (MFO1/MFE1).
• NPI & IPN Collaboration: Partner with the Design Office and Production Engineering to ensure smooth transitions from prototype to stable series production and represent Glenrothes within the International Production Network (IPN) to adopt standardisations.
• People Leadership & Industrial Relations:
  Mentor technical teams and apprentices, fostering a culture of collaboration, safety, and accountability.  Build team resilience through active coaching, performance feedback, and structured career progression. Partner with HR and unions to manage working practices, supporting constructive negotiations to foster a positive and collaborative relationship.
• High Performing Team: Build and lead a high performing team, driving a culture of operational excellence, continuous YOY improvement, and accountability across the machine. Develop and empower your team to drive consistent improvements in quality, efficiency, and productivity.

Skills:

• Technical Leadership: Proven ability to build, manage, and inspire large, multi-layered technical and manufacturing operations teams within a high-precision environment.
• Machining & Process Optimisation: Deep expertise in precision machining, manufacturing, tooling, workshop resource utilisation, and advanced capacity modelling.
• Lean & Quality Methodologies: Strong understanding of Lean manufacturing principles, the Bosch Production System (BPS), continuous improvement, and zero-defect quality cultures.
• Stakeholder & Union Relations: Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with demonstrated experience in resolving production challenges and negotiating collective agreements with trade unions.
• Systems & Data Literacy: Proficient in project management, data analysis for KPI reporting, and utilising integrated ERP platforms like SAP R3 or S/4HANA.