Head of Operations
9 days ago
Hatfield
Head of Operations \n Location: Welham Green, Hertfordshire \n Reports To: Managing Director \n The Opportunity \n Davall Gears is a precision engineering and manufacturing business undergoing a significant operational transformation. We are seeking an ambitious, hands-on Head of Operations to lead the next phase of our growth and performance improvement journey. \n This is a leadership role for an individual with a strong background in engineering and machining who thrives on improving operational performance, developing high-performing teams, and implementing world-class manufacturing practices. \n The successful candidate will lead the site's manufacturing operations with responsibility for Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, Inventory and People (SQDCIP), whilst building a culture of ownership, accountability and continuous improvement. \n We are looking for a leader who creates results through action, accountability and execution. Someone who consistently delivers on commitments, drives ownership throughout the organisation, and has a proven track record of turning improvement plans into measurable business outcomes. This individual will lead from the front, build credibility through action rather than words, and establish a high-performance culture focused on delivering results for our customers, our people and the business. \n Key Responsibilities \n Operational Leadership: \n\n • Lead all manufacturing operations to achieve safety, quality, delivery and profitability objectives.\n, • Drive daily operating rhythm through visual management and tiered accountability.\n, • Create a high-performance culture with clear ownership and accountability.\n, • Develop and mentor operational leaders and succession plans.\n\n SQDCIP Excellence: \n\n • Own site SQDCIP performance.\n, • Drive KPI management and problem solving.\n, • Lead root cause and corrective action processes.\n, • Ensure performance is visible, measured and sustained.\n\n Continuous Improvement: \n\n • Champion Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement.\n, • Lead value stream improvement activities.\n, • Reduce waste, improve productivity and increase capacity.\n, • Implement standard work, visual management and problem-solving disciplines.\n\n Delivery and Planning: \n\n • Improve OTD / OTIF performance.\n, • Reduce arrears and past-due orders.\n, • Improve production flow and schedule adherence.\n, • Drive capacity planning and execution.\n\n Cost and Inventory: \n\n • Reduce operational costs.\n, • Improve labour productivity and machine utilisation.\n, • Drive inventory reduction and WIP control.\n, • Improve working capital performance.\n\n Engineering and Manufacturing Leadership: \n\n • Provide strong technical leadership across machining and manufacturing processes.\n, • Challenge current methods and introduce best practice.\n, • Work closely with Engineering, Quality, Maintenance and Supply Chain functions.\n\n Ideal Candidate \n Essential: \n\n • Proven manufacturing leadership experience.\n, • Strong precision engineering and machining background.\n, • Experience leading multi-disciplinary teams.\n, • Demonstrable SQDCIP leadership.\n, • Strong say-do culture.\n, • Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement expertise.\n, • Strong understanding of production planning, capacity management and operational KPIs.\n, • Track record of improving OTD, productivity, quality and cost.\n, • Strong people leadership and coaching capability.\n\n Highly Desirable: \n\n • Aerospace, defence, industrial or complex manufacturing experience.\n, • Experience of turnaround, transformation or operational improvement programmes.\n, • Knowledge of value stream management.\n, • Experience introducing visual management and daily accountability processes.\n