Operations manager

Operations Manager

Location: South Wales - UK Wide Travel & Home Working

Salary: £60,000 - £80,000

Job Type: Permanent

About the Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced and ambitious Operations Manager to play a key leadership role in driving operational excellence and supporting the future growth of the business.

This is an ideal opportunity for someone with a strong background in the mechanical engineering sector, particularly within welding, fabrication, pipework, mechanical installation or industrial maintenance environments, who is ready to step away from a hands-on role and transition into a strategic operational leadership position.

Working closely with senior leadership, you will oversee workforce management, operational performance, resource planning and business improvement initiatives across multiple sites nationwide. This hybrid role offers a blend of field-based responsibilities, travel to operational locations across the UK, and home-based working.

The Role

As Operations Manager, you will take ownership of the day-to-day operational delivery of the business while helping shape its long-term direction. You will be responsible for ensuring projects are adequately resourced, teams are supported and developed, and operational processes are aligned with the company's growth objectives.

This role requires a hands-on leader who understands the realities of mechanical engineering environments while possessing the commercial awareness and leadership capability to drive continuous improvement and organisational success.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and support operational teams across multiple UK locations.
• Manage workforce planning, resource allocation and labour utilisation.
• Develop and implement operational strategies to support business growth.
• Monitor project delivery, productivity and operational performance.
• Work closely with senior management to identify business improvement opportunities.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, quality and industry standards.
• Support recruitment, training and development of engineering personnel.
• Build strong relationships with clients, suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Drive operational efficiency and promote best practice across the business.
• Provide leadership and direction to site-based management and engineering teams.
• Contribute to future business planning, succession planning and organisational development.
• Analyse operational data and reporting to support informed decision-making.

About You

We are looking for an operational leader who has progressed through a mechanical engineering environment and understands the challenges of delivering engineering services in demanding industrial settings.

Essential Requirements

• Previous experience within a mechanical engineering, welding, fabrication or industrial services environment.
• Proven leadership experience managing operational teams, projects or multiple sites.
• Strong people management and workforce planning capabilities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Commercial awareness with the ability to support business growth and profitability.
• Understanding of health, safety and quality requirements within engineering environments.
• Willingness to travel nationally as required.

Desirable Experience

• Background as a Mechanical Supervisor, Site Manager, Project Manager, Operations Supervisor or similar leadership role.
• Experience within industrial maintenance, manufacturing, engineering services or construction-related engineering sectors.
• Knowledge of business improvement, operational transformation or change management initiatives.
• Relevant engineering qualifications or leadership/management certifications.

What's on Offer

• Competitive salary of £60,000 - £80,000 depending on experience.
• Hybrid working arrangement.
• Opportunity to influence the future direction of a growing business.
• Varied role combining operational leadership, strategic planning and workforce management.
• Career progression within a respected mechanical engineering organisation.
• Company benefits package.

Apply Now

If you have built your career within mechanical engineering and are looking to move beyond the tools into a strategic leadership position where you can shape operational success and business growth, we'd like to hear from you.

Blue Arrow is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to helping find great work opportunities for great people.