Head of Operations

SF Partners are working with a business based in Newton Abbot, Devon who are looking for a Head of Operations to join the team

Must have a 3PL background

c£60,000

Role Purpose:

We are seeking an experienced and transformational Head of Operations to lead operational excellence across our engineering and manufacturing business.

This role is ideal for an operational leader who has developed their career within a high-performing Third-Party Logistics (3PL), distribution or supply chain environment and can transfer those disciplines into manufacturing. The successful candidate will bring a relentless focus on continuous improvement, operational efficiency, performance management and customer delivery.

Working closely with Production, Engineering, Supply Chain, Procurement, Quality and Customer Service teams, the Head of Operations will challenge existing ways of working, introduce best-in-class operational standards and create a culture of accountability, measurable performance and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

Lead the day-to-day operational performance of the manufacturing and production functions.

Develop and implement an operational excellence strategy aligned to business objectives.

Establish clear performance measures across all operational areas.

Ensure production capacity, resources and processes support customer demand.

Drive operational consistency across departments through standardised processes and governance.

Continuous Improvement

Champion a culture of continuous improvement by applying Lean manufacturing and logistics best practices to improve productivity, quality and customer outcomes.

Skills & Experience

Essential

Significant operational leadership experience within a high-performance 3PL, logistics, distribution or manufacturing environment.

Proven success in implementing operational excellence and continuous improvement programmes.

Strong understanding of Lean methodologies, process optimisation and performance management.

Experience leading operational transformation and cultural change.

Demonstrated ability to improve productivity, service levels and operational efficiency through data-led decision making.

Strong commercial awareness with experience balancing cost, quality and customer outcomes.

Excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills.

Experience developing KPI frameworks and performance reporting.