Operations Manager

Operations Manager - Manufacturing Location: Birmingham Salary: Up to £60,000 + 10% Bonus Hours: Monday to Friday, Days Contract: Permanent Are you an Operations Manager who enjoys making things better? Not just managing processes, but developing people, improving performance, and genuinely influencing how a business operates? SF Recruitment are working with a successful, independently owned manufacturing SME in Birmingham, who are looking to strengthen their leadership team with the appointment of an Operations Manager. This is a well-established, profitable business with a loyal workforce, a strong customer base and significant recent investment in its facilities, equipment, and infrastructure. Having invested heavily in the physical operation, the next priority is developing the management structure, strengthening leadership, and introducing more effective ways of working. The opportunity? To take ownership of an established operation and help shape what its future looks like. We're looking for an Operations Manager who can bring structure, energy, and commercial awareness to the business. Someone who is equally comfortable on the shop floor, developing managers and supervisors, reviewing performance data, or working with senior leadership on operational improvements. This isn't a corporate environment with layers of management and rigid processes. It's an independent business where decisions can be made quickly, good ideas are welcomed and the right person will have genuine influence. The role Reporting directly into senior leadership, you'll take responsibility for the effective running and development of the manufacturing operation, alongside wider operational functions. Your responsibilities will include: - Providing leadership across production and associated operational functions, ensuring effective communication and accountability. - Managing and developing supervisors and operational personnel, building a strong and capable management structure. - Driving improvements in manufacturing performance, quality, efficiency, and customer delivery. - Overseeing production planning, capacity, resource allocation, and operational priorities. - Working closely with supply chain, stock control, logistics and other departments to improve overall operational effectiveness. - Establishing clear KPIs, reporting processes and performance management routines. - Identifying opportunities to improve workflow, reduce waste, minimise downtime and control operating costs. - Supporting the development of quality management systems, health and safety standards and continuous improvement initiatives. - Utilising ERP systems and operational data to support planning, reporting and decision-making. - Taking ownership of improvement projects and contributing to the longer-term development of the business. About you We're particularly interested in speaking with Operations Managers who have developed their careers within manufacturing and understand what it takes to deliver results through people. You might already be operating in a broad Operations Manager capacity, or you could be an experienced Production Manager who is ready to take on wider operational responsibility. Either way, you'll need to be comfortable taking ownership, making decisions and introducing improvements in a business where some processes and ways of working have been established for many years. We're looking for: - Proven experience managing manufacturing or production operations. - Strong people leadership skills, with experience developing teams, supervisors, or managers. - A solid understanding of production planning, operational KPIs, quality, cost control and continuous improvement. - Experience working across functions such as supply chain, stock control, logistics or procurement. - Confidence using ERP/MRP systems and operational reporting tools. - Experience implementing change, improving processes, and driving accountabi