Head of Operational Excellence

6 days ago

Greater Cardiff Area, United Kingdom Cranleigh STEM, Sustainability & SHEQ Recruitment Full time

Operational Excellence Manager – Manufacturing & Continuous Improvement

£65,000 – £75,000 + Bonus + Benefits

Full-time, Monday to Friday (On-site)

Greater Cardiff area – Driving licence required due to location

We're supporting a global manufacturing organisation in their search for a hands-on and strategic
Operational Excellence Manager
. This role plays a key part in driving business-wide transformation through Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies. Working closely with senior leaders, you'll lead high-impact projects across global sites, improving cost efficiency, delivery performance, quality standards, and safety outcomes.

About the Role

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Lean and continuous improvement professional to take on a senior-level role within a global operations environment. Reporting to the EVP of Operations, you'll shape and deliver strategic initiatives that align with business goals and embed a culture of operational excellence. This position offers a mix of project leadership, stakeholder engagement, and global influence.

What You'll Be Doing

Business Planning & Strategy

  • Translate business objectives into a structured portfolio of improvement and transformation projects
  • Prioritise initiatives focused on operational efficiency, cost reduction, and customer value
  • Act as a subject matter expert for Lean and Six Sigma across international sites

Project Leadership

  • Develop and lead cross-functional project teams across manufacturing, supply chain, engineering, and quality
  • Define clear project goals, budgets, timelines, and performance indicators
  • Ensure all projects meet regulatory requirements and business objectives

Continuous Improvement

  • Facilitate Kaizen events, value stream mapping, and structured problem-solving sessions
  • Identify improvement opportunities using Lean and Six Sigma methodologies
  • Deliver measurable results in OEE, lead times, cost, safety, and quality
  • Coach and mentor teams to build internal capability and sustain improvement

Governance & Reporting

  • Implement structured governance, reporting and risk management frameworks
  • Maintain performance reports, KPIs, and detailed project documentation
  • Support capital expenditure planning and ensure alignment with business strategy

What We're Looking For

  • Degree or equivalent in a relevant technical, engineering, or operations field
  • Proven experience leading Lean/Six Sigma and continuous improvement projects in a manufacturing environment
  • Black Belt (or Green Belt with significant experience) in Lean Six Sigma
  • Formal project management qualification (e.g., PRINCE2, Agile, APMP)
  • Strong change management experience, ideally in a regulated sector
  • Confident communicator with excellent stakeholder engagement skills
  • Ability to travel globally as needed

Key Details

  • Salary:
    £65,000 – £75,000 + Bonus + Benefits
  • Location:
    On-site, Greater Cardiff area
  • Working Hours:
    Monday to Friday
  • Travel:
    Some international travel may be required
  • Driving:
    Full UK driving licence required due to site location

Ready to drive operational transformation at a global scale?

If you're passionate about continuous improvement and want to lead impactful change across international operations, we'd love to hear from you. Apply now or get in touch to find out more.

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