Director of Operations

Job Title: Operations Director

Location: Bridgwater, UK

Industry: Advanced Materials Manufacturing / Industrial Production

Overview

Mackinnon Bruce International is partnered with a rapidly growing business operating within the advanced materials manufacturing space, currently undergoing a significant phase of expansion and operational transformation.

As part of this growth, the organisation is seeking an Operations Director to take full ownership of site operations at a key UK facility. This is a senior leadership role focused on building a scalable, high-performing operating model capable of supporting increased volumes, complexity, and long-term business performance.

Role Overview

The Operations Director will hold end-to-end responsibility for operational performance, ensuring safe, compliant, and efficient manufacturing aligned with customer requirements and business objectives.

This role combines strategic leadership with hands-on execution, overseeing production, engineering, planning, and HSE. A key focus will be driving predictability, on-time delivery, capacity growth, and quality performance within a fast-paced and evolving environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and deliver the site operations strategy aligned with business growth objectives
• Take full ownership of operational performance across safety, quality, cost, delivery, and capacity
• Lead and develop cross-functional teams across production, engineering, planning, and HSE
• Improve operational predictability and consistency, ensuring reliable delivery against customer commitments
• Drive capacity improvements and optimise production performance across key areas of the operation
• Implement scalable systems, processes, and operating structures to support future growth
• Strengthen maintenance strategies to maximise equipment reliability and uptime
• Ensure compliance with regulatory, quality, and customer requirements
• Establish clear performance frameworks, KPIs, and reporting structures
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency and reduce operational risk
• Partner with senior leadership on strategic initiatives including investment, operating model evolution, and organisational design
• Build organisational capability, identifying gaps and developing high-performing teams

Candidate Requirements

• Proven leadership experience within advanced materials or industrial manufacturing environments
• Strong track record operating in complex, fast-paced production settings
• Experience managing growth, operational change, and increasing organisational complexity
• Strong understanding of production optimisation, maintenance strategy, and operational excellence
• Experience within mid-to-large scale operations (£100M+ or equivalent scope advantageous)
• Commercially aware, with the ability to align operations to broader business performance

Competencies

• Strategic mindset with strong delivery focus
• Results-driven with a high level of ownership and accountability
• Credible leader, comfortable engaging at both executive and operational levels
• Strong communicator with the ability to influence and align stakeholders
• Data-driven and analytical in approach
• Resilient and adaptable in a changing environment
• Structured, with a focus on sustainable, system-led improvements

Opportunity

This role offers the opportunity to take full operational ownership of a growing and evolving manufacturing site within the advanced materials sector, playing a key role in shaping its next phase of development. You will have the autonomy to drive meaningful change, build capability, and deliver long-term operational excellence within an ambitious organisation.