Spirax-Sarco Ltd.
GSC Operational Excellence Manager

How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
GSC Operational Excellence Manager
Location: Europe, ideally within commuting distance of one of our GSC manufacturing sites — Cheltenham (UK), Bremen (Germany), Châtellerault (France) or Milan (Italy)
About the role
Ten manufacturing sites. One Operational Excellence framework. Your job is to make that a reality rather than a slide.
This is a global role at the centre of how Spirax Group's supply chain improves. You'll own the deployment, governance and long-term sustainability of a standardised OpEx framework across our network — building the maturity model that drives it, and making sure sites genuinely progress along it rather than simply reporting that they have.
Alongside the framework, you'll own the global Continuous Improvement portfolio: prioritising it, tracking it, and proving its impact in cost, productivity and efficiency. The savings you validate are real savings.
The role has no direct reports, and that's the point. Your influence comes through expertise, coaching and credibility with site and functional leaders — not through hierarchy. If you enjoy building capability in other people and watching them take ownership of it, this is a role that rewards that.
What you'll be doing
Building the framework
- Leading the global rollout and ongoing development of the OpEx framework, defining the standards and governance that make improvements stick
- Driving consistent adoption of OpEx standards, KPIs and ways of working across all 10 sites
- Leading maturity assessments and audits, and moving sites measurably along the curve
- Working with pillar owners and site teams to align priorities, capability and delivery plans
Owning the CI portfolio
- Prioritising the global CI portfolio to deliver measurable business and cost improvement
- Running the standardised CI tracking methodology, with clear validation and honest reporting
- Ensuring projects start well — clear scope, clear ownership, results that last beyond the project
- Establishing performance tracking across KPIs, benefits realisation and progress monitoring
Growing capability
- Building Lean and CI capability through training and coaching, using standard tools including VSM, Kaizen, SDT and Standard Work
- Partnering with site leadership to build aligned OpEx and CI roadmaps
- Embedding ownership at site level, so sites lead their own improvement journey within global standards
- Creating a best-practice sharing network so a win at one site becomes a win across the group
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
See breakdownIt searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Leading change
- Managing change across the network so implementation is smooth and the impact lasts
- Influencing and engaging stakeholders at every level to build accountability and a genuine culture of continuous improvement
What you'll bring
Experience
- A track record in Operational Excellence or Continuous Improvement leadership within a global manufacturing environment
- Demonstrable delivery of Lean and CI programmes with measurable results in cost, productivity and quality
- Experience managing CI portfolios and governance across multiple sites
- Experience leading large-scale change or transformation programmes
Technical expertise
- Advanced knowledge of Lean Manufacturing tools and methodologies
- A strong grasp of financial impact and cost drivers in a manufacturing setting
- Familiarity with CI tracking, benefits realisation and maturity models
Qualifications
- Degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations or a related field, or equivalent practical experience
- Lean Six Sigma certification — Green Belt essential, Black Belt preferred
About Spirax Group
The Steam Thermal Solutions business is one of three businesses within Spirax Group. Spirax Sarco and Gestra, are our two brands that form Steam Thermal Solutions and are global leaders in the supply of engineered solutions for the design, provision and maintenance of efficient industrial and commercial steam systems. Steam Thermal Solutions has global coverage across 67 operating units (called OpCos), organised into four Divisions: EMEA, APAC, Americas, Gestra.
Spirax Group is a FTSE100 and FTSE4Good multi-national industrial engineering Group with expertise in the control and management of steam, electric thermal solutions, peristaltic pumping and associated fluid technologies.
Our Purpose is to create sustainable value for all our stakeholders as we engineer a more efficient, safer and sustainable world. Our technologies play an essential role in critical industrial processes and industrial equipment across industries as diverse as Food & Beverage, Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology, Power Generation, Semiconductors and Healthcare. With customers in 165 countries, we provide the solutions that sit behind the production of many items used in daily life, from baked beans to mobile phones!


Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Our Purpose, supported by our inclusive culture and Values, unites us, guides our decisions and inspires us everywhere that we operate. We support our colleagues to make their difference for each other as well as customers, communities, suppliers, our planet and shareholders by creating a truly equitable working environment where everyone feels included.
Benefits
You will receive a competitive salary (and a discretionary bonus), flexible working and excellent benefits including 27 days holiday allowance (before bank holidays), 3 days’ paid volunteering leave, comprehensive private healthcare, enhanced pension plan, life assurance, optional participation in a Share Ownership Plan, free onsite parking, flexible benefits, and access to a personal discounts’ portal. We also offer a range of additional support and benefits through our Everyone is Included Group Inclusion Plan, detailed below.
Everyone is Included at Spirax Group
We are passionate about creating inclusive and equitable working cultures where everyone can be themselves and achieve their full potential. For us, that means supportive teams and strong relationships where everyone’s contribution is valued - across social and cultural backgrounds, ethnicities, ages, genders, gender identities, abilities, neurodiversity, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, and everything else that makes us human and unique.
We want everyone to be able to make their difference here, so we will always consider requests for flexible working.
We know that everyone needs some extra help from time to time too, so we have introduced a range of additional benefits through our Group Inclusion Commitments. These include gender-neutral parental leave, 15 days of extra paid caregiver leave, paid time off and support for anyone experiencing pregnancy loss or domestic abuse, menopause-friendly workplace principles and more. Learn more at https://www.spiraxgroup.com/en/life-at-spirax/our-inclusive-group/our-inclusion-commitments
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills
Location