Operations Manager – (UK Manufacturer)

Location: Surrey

Salary: £60,000–£75,000 doe + benefits

Employment: Full‑time, permanent

Why This Role Matters

This is your chance to step into a pivotal leadership role within one of the UK’s most innovative and fast‑growing manufacturers in the life‑safety sector. They design and manufactures ventilation systems that protect thousands of people in high‑rise residential, commercial, and public buildings across the UK.

As Operations Manager, you’ll be the driving force behind production, warehouse operations, logistics, and quality assurance, ensuring that life‑saving products are manufactured, tested, and delivered with precision, speed, and absolute compliance.

If you thrive in a fast‑paced, technical manufacturing environment and love building high‑performing teams, this is the role that will elevate your career.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Leading day‑to‑day manufacturing and assembly operations, ensuring efficient production flow
• Managing the warehouse, including goods‑in, stock control, pick/pack, and dispatch
• Overseeing logistics and delivery scheduling, ensuring fast and reliable customer fulfilment
• Implementing and improving quality assurance processes for safety‑critical products
• Working closely with engineering, sales, and technical teams to align production with demand
• Driving continuous improvement, lean processes, and operational efficiency
• Ensuring compliance with relevant standards (e.g., EN 12101, BS 9991)
• Managing and developing production, warehouse, and logistics staff
• Reporting on KPIs, capacity planning, and operational performance

Requirements

Who We’re Looking For

A confident, hands‑on leader who understands the unique demands of manufacturing technical, safety‑critical products. Someone who can balance strategic thinking with operational execution.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Proven experience as an Operations Manager, Production Manager, or Manufacturing Manager
• Background in manufacturing, engineering, HVAC, building services, mechanical/electrical assembly, or life‑safety systems
• Strong understanding of warehouse operations, stock control, and logistics
• Experience implementing lean manufacturing, 5S, or continuous improvement methodologies
• Excellent people‑management skills — able to motivate, coach, and develop teams
• Strong understanding of quality assurance and compliance processes
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑moving environment
• Confident communicator who can work cross‑functionally with technical and commercial teams

Highly Desirable

• Experience in smoke ventilation, fire safety, mechanical extract systems, or building compliance
• Knowledge of EN 12101, BS 9991, or similar regulatory frameworks
• Experience scaling operations in a growing manufacturing business

Sector Experience That Fits Best

Candidates from the following sectors tend to excel in this environment:

• HVAC or M&E manufacturing
• Building services equipment
• Electrical or mechanical assembly
• Industrial ventilation or air‑movement systems
• Safety‑critical product manufacturing
• Modular plantroom or packaged plant manufacturing

Benefits:

• Growth Bonus – share in the company’s success
• Free on-site parking
• Free lunch provided daily
• 20 days holiday + 8 bank holidays
• Option to purchase up to 5 additional holiday days
• Your birthday off
• Early finish every other Friday (2 hours earlier)
• Competitive salary