Value Stream Manager

My client is seeking an experienced and driven Value Stream Leader to join our Operations team. This is an exciting opportunity to take ownership of a critical manufacturing value stream within a world-class photonics and infrared optics business serving demanding aerospace, defence and industrial markets. As a Value Stream Manager/Leader, you will be responsible for driving operational performance, continuous improvement and team development across a highly specialised manufacturing environment. You will lead production teams, engineers and coordinators while taking accountability for operational delivery, quality, cost, safety and customer satisfaction. This role is ideal for a manufacturing leader with a passion for Lean principles, people leadership and continuous improvement who thrives in a technically advanced production environment. What You'll Be Doing Lead Operational Performance Manage the day-to-day performance of a manufacturing value stream, ensuring delivery against safety, quality, cost and delivery objectives. Take ownership of value stream P&L performance and drive improvements in productivity, efficiency and profitability. Lead multi-disciplinary teams including production personnel, engineers and coordinators. Monitor operational KPIs and implement actions to improve On-Time Delivery (OTD), lead times, yields and quality performance. Drive Continuous Improvement Apply Lean Manufacturing, Value Stream Mapping and 80/20 principles to identify and eliminate waste. Lead Kaizen events and continuous improvement initiatives focused on cycle time reduction, throughput improvement and process stability. Establish future-state manufacturing flows that support business growth and customer requirements. Implement and sustain 5S standards across manufacturing and cleanroom environments. Optimise Manufacturing Processes Support manufacturing operations covering precision fabrication, optical coating, assembly and inspection activities. Work closely with Engineering teams to support New Product Introduction (NPI) and efficient production layouts. Help maximise equipment utilisation and manufacturing capacity while reducing bottlenecks. Support the maintenance, calibration and effective operation of manufacturing equipment. Champion Quality and Compliance Ensure compliance with AS9100, ISO standards and customer-specific quality requirements. Lead root cause investigations and corrective actions relating to quality and scrap reduction. Drive a culture of quality-focused manufacturing and continuous process improvement. Maintain audit readiness across the value stream at all times. Develop and Inspire People Coach, mentor and develop team members to achieve high performance. Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous learning. Cross-train employees to improve flexibility and eliminate single-point dependencies. Support succession planning and skills development within the organisation. What We're Looking For Essential Proven experience leading teams within a manufacturing environment. Strong Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement experience. Demonstrated success in driving operational performance and process improvements. Excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills. Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities. Understanding of manufacturing processes, engineering drawings and quality systems. Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced production environment. Qualifications & Experience You will ideally have one of the following: Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations or Business with experience in manufacturing supervision/leadership; or Associate Degree with relevant manufacturing leadership experience; or Significant equivalent experience in a manufacturing leadership role. Desirable Experience within optics, photonics, semiconductor, aerospace, defence or other hig