Site Operations Lead - Electronics

Site Operational Lead  - Electronics

North East | Permanent | From £75k + 15% bonus (up to 20%) + pension + healthcare
Reporting to: COO
 

About the Opportunity

A newly built electronics assembly site in the North East is entering a major growth phase, with new product lines and continuous investment planned year after year. We’re looking for a results‑driven Site Operations Leader to take full ownership of the operation and develop it into a world‑class, best‑in‑class manufacturing facility.

You’ll lead the evolution of the site — driving Lean, zero‑WIP, zero‑defect, and zero‑stoppage performance, while embedding Industry 4.0 and digital manufacturing practices. This is a rare chance to shape a modern electronics manufacturing environment from the ground up.

 Production & Operations

• Oversee SMT, THT, and assembly operations with the senior Production Manager
• Ensure efficient, high‑quality, low‑downtime production
• Maintain zero WIP through smart planning, takt optimisation, and flow management
• Drive real‑time decision‑making on the shop floor
• Ensure full compliance with safety, standards, and procedures

Lean, CI & Process Excellence

• Champion Lean tools: 5S, Kaizen, VSM, Kanban
• Eliminate waste, reduce cost, and improve flow
• Lead CI projects and root‑cause investigations

Quality Leadership

• Embed a culture of world‑class quality and IPC compliance
• Partner with QA/QE to resolve non‑conformances and improve FPY

People Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop supervisors, line leaders, and operators
• Build a high‑performance, accountable, continuous‑learning culture

Digital Transformation

• Drive adoption of Industry 4.0 tools and data‑driven decision‑making
• Implement scalable digital solutions: predictive maintenance, digital twins, automated data capture, advanced analytics

Financial & Strategic Ownership

• Manage budgets, cost control, and investment planning
• Deliver KPI‑driven insights and performance reporting
• Partner with the COO on long‑term operational strategy

What You Bring

• Degree in Electronics, Industrial Engineering, or similar
• 10+ years in electronics manufacturing, including 5+ in leadership
• Deep expertise in SMT, THT, PCBA processes and equipment
• Proven Lean/Zero‑WIP implementation experience
• Strong leadership, communication, and problem‑solving skills
• Experience with ERP/MES and manufacturing KPIs
• Six Sigma or Lean certification
• Background in high‑mix, low‑to‑medium volume environments
• Familiarity with Industry 4.0 and digital manufacturing technologies

Whys

You’ll have the autonomy, investment, and strategic backing to build a truly world‑class electronics manufacturing site — shaping its culture, capability, and long‑term direction.

Start People is the Assigned Agency for this position