Operations and Systems Manager

Operations & Systems Manager – Manufacturing / Custom Production

Newcastle upon Tyne

Circa £45k

Are you somebody who naturally brings structure, organisation, and operational clarity into fast-moving manufacturing environments?

Do you enjoy improving workflows, systems, and operational processes within smaller manufacturing businesses where every improvement makes a difference?

Are you looking for a role where you can help shape and scale a growing bespoke manufacturing operation producing custom, made-to-order products?

We are recruiting for an Operations & Systems Manager to join a growing specialist manufacturing business based in Newcastle upon Tyne. This is a highly varied and important role within a small but ambitious manufacturing environment where operational visibility, workflow structure, systems thinking, and process improvement are becoming increasingly important as the business continues to scale. The company produces bespoke and on-demand products within a specialist manufacturing environment where precision, quality, responsiveness, and attention to detail are central to the operation.

This is not a traditional production management role.

The business is specifically looking for somebody who enjoys operational systems, workflow architecture, process visibility, and helping smaller manufacturing businesses scale in a practical and organised way.

The Opportunity

You will work closely with senior leadership to help improve and formalise operational processes across the full order lifecycle from order intake through to production, tracking, and final fulfilment.

The business is currently going through an exciting growth phase involving:

- Operational scaling

- Workflow redesign

- Systems and reporting improvements

- Production visibility enhancements

- Labour and operational tracking

- Manufacturing consolidation

- Process standardisation

- New operational structure development

For the right person, this role could develop significantly over time as the company continues to grow.

What You Will Be Doing

• Reviewing and improving operational workflows across the business
• Mapping and improving the full A-to-Z order lifecycle from intake through to fulfilment
• Helping develop more robust operational systems and reporting processes
• Improving production visibility, workflow tracking, and operational coordination
• Supporting labour tracking and manufacturing reporting processes
• Developing and documenting operational procedures and SOPs
• Working closely with production teams to improve efficiency and consistency
• Supporting inventory and operational process improvements
• Helping coordinate workflow between manufacturing, fulfilment, and operational teams
• Working with operational software and systems to improve business visibility
• Supporting operational scaling as the business grows
• Leading operational improvement projects in a practical and collaborative way

What We Are Looking For

This role would suit somebody who enjoys the operational and systems side of manufacturing businesses rather than purely production management.

We are particularly interested in people who have experience within:

• Small manufacturing businesses
• Bespoke or made-to-order production environments
• Custom or on-demand products
• Specialist manufacturing
• SME operational environments
• Fast-moving production businesses

You do not need to come from garments or textiles specifically, although that background could still be beneficial.

The ideal person will likely have experience with:

• Operational systems
• Workflow optimisation
• Manufacturing operations
• ERP or operational software platforms
• Production tracking
• Process improvement
• SOP development
• Operational reporting
• Workflow visibility
• Labour or operational KPI tracking

Exposure to platforms or tools such as ERP systems, workflow software, inventory systems, fulfilment platforms, or operational reporting tools would be highly beneficial.

Personality and Approach Matter

The business is looking for somebody who is:

- Highly organised

- Detail-oriented

- Systems minded

- Pragmatic and solutions-focused

- Calm under pressure

- Comfortable within smaller, collaborative teams

- Naturally proactive

- Technically confident with modern operational tools

- Able to improve structure without creating unnecessary bureaucracy

This is an excellent opportunity to join a growing specialist manufacturer at an exciting stage in its development where the right person will have the chance to make a visible and lasting impact on how the business operates moving forward.