Director of Operations

3 days ago

Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom Parkinson | Lee Executive Search Full time

Operations Director

Confidential Appointment | Yorkshire | Onsite

A high-growth, private equity–backed UK manufacturer with a strong international footprint is seeking an accomplished
Operations Director
to lead its next phase of scale, performance, and value creation.

This is a senior, board-facing role with genuine end-to-end authority across manufacturing, supply chain, quality, logistics, and operational strategy. The business has already invested heavily in facilities, automation, and capability. The challenge now is execution, discipline, and extracting full commercial value.

The Opportunity

You'll step into a profitable, expanding manufacturing operation supplying premium engineered products across the UK, Europe, and the US. Export markets account for the majority of output and continue to accelerate.

With significant capital investment already deployed, including a modern, high-capacity manufacturing facility, the focus has shifted from build to optimise. The mandate is clear:

take a strong operation and make it exceptional.

You'll work closely with an experienced CEO and senior leadership team, operating at board level and engaging directly with investors. This role will materially influence scalability, margin, cash generation, and exit readiness.

Your Mandate

  • Full ownership of end-to-end operations across manufacturing, supply chain, quality, and logistics
  • Drive operational excellence through lean, CI, automation, and systems-led improvement
  • Increase throughput, capacity, and right-first-time performance
  • Translate operational gains into margin, cash, and customer outcomes
  • Provide clear, data-led reporting to the board and investors
  • Lead, develop, and succession-plan operational leadership
  • Embed standards, accountability, and pace without bureaucracy

What We're Looking For

  • Proven senior operations leadership experience within manufacturing or engineering
  • Track record of leading growth, change, and operational transformation
  • Strong commercial acumen, ideally with international exposure
  • Experience implementing automation and systems-based improvement
  • Comfortable operating in PE-backed or investor-led environments
  • Calm, credible, people-focused leadership style with real gravitas

Why This Role Stands Out

  • Genuine autonomy and accountability
  • A business already investing ahead of demand
  • Clear value creation plan and defined exit horizon
  • International complexity without chaos
  • A workforce with deep knowledge and appetite for progress
  • A chance to leave a visible, lasting operational legacy

Location & Package

  • Yorkshire based, onsite leadership role
  • Competitive senior executive package aligned to impact and value creation

This appointment is being handled on a confidential NDA basis.

For an initial, discreet conversation, contact
Carl Walker
at Parkinson Lee Executive Search.

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