Had Fab Limited
Head of Operations (Ops Director)
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Lead Manufacturing Excellence. Drive Growth. Shape the Future.
We are seeking an exceptional Head of Operations to join our senior leadership team and play a pivotal role in driving the next phase of our growth.
Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer (COO), this is a high-impact leadership position with full responsibility for the end-to-end manufacturing and operational performance of the business. You will lead all operational functions including production planning, fabrication, manufacturing, quality, yard operations, dispatch, logistics, and material flow, ensuring the business delivers safely, efficiently, profitably, and at scale.
This role offers a unique opportunity for a commercially-minded operational leader to influence strategy, optimise performance, develop high-performing teams, and help build a world-class manufacturing operation capable of supporting ambitious growth plans.
The Opportunity
As Head of Operations, you will provide both strategic direction and operational leadership across the manufacturing function. You will be responsible for ensuring operational capability, capacity, productivity, quality, and delivery performance remain aligned with customer commitments and long-term business objectives.
You will play a key role in developing scalable systems, processes, and structures that support continued expansion while driving a culture of accountability, operational excellence, continuous improvement, and safety.
Key Responsibilities
Operational Leadership & Manufacturing Performance
- Lead all manufacturing and operational activities across production, fabrication, assembly, yard operations, dispatch, logistics, planning, and materials management.
- Ensure safe, efficient, and effective manufacturing performance against quality, delivery, productivity, and financial targets.
- Create a high-performance culture built on accountability, ownership, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Drive operational visibility, governance, and performance management across the business.
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Strategy, Capacity & Growth
- Develop and execute operational strategies that support business growth and long-term scalability.
- Lead capacity planning across labour, materials, equipment, and facilities to meet future demand.
- Identify and remove operational constraints and production bottlenecks.
- Support investment decisions relating to plant, automation, technology, facilities, and operational infrastructure.
Production Planning & Delivery Excellence
- Drive operational performance through robust planning, scheduling, and KPI management.
- Improve productivity, labour efficiency, throughput, equipment utilisation, and manufacturing lead times.
- Champion OTIF (On Time In Full) delivery performance across all operations.
- Lead structured performance reviews and ensure rapid resolution of operational issues.
Continuous Improvement
- Embed a culture of operational excellence through data-driven decision making and process improvement.
- Drive standardisation, digitalisation, ERP optimisation, and operational discipline.
- Deliver measurable improvements in productivity, quality, efficiency, and cost performance.
Leadership & People Development
- Lead, coach, and develop operational management teams.
- Build scalable organisational structures, succession plans, and leadership capability.
- Drive workforce planning, engagement, and talent development initiatives.
- Foster a culture of professionalism, accountability, and high performance.
Financial & Commercial Performance
- Manage operational performance against labour budgets, productivity targets, and manufacturing costs.
- Drive efficiencies that improve profitability and margin performance.
- Support commercial teams with operational planning, risk management, and manufacturing capability assessments.
- Contribute to business cases, capital investment planning, and growth initiatives.
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Health, Safety, Environment & Quality
- Champion a visible safety-first culture throughout manufacturing operations.
- Ensure compliance with all relevant health, safety, environmental, and quality standards.
- Partner with HSE and Quality teams to reduce operational risk and improve process control.
- Lead operational readiness for audits and compliance requirements.
We are looking for an experienced operational leader with a proven track record of delivering results within complex manufacturing environments.
You will bring:
- Significant senior leadership experience as a Head of Operations, Operations Director, or equivalent.
- Strong background within steel fabrication, engineering, industrial manufacturing, or similarly complex production environments.
- Demonstrated success leading operational transformation, business growth, and performance improvement initiatives.
- Expertise in manufacturing operations, production planning, capacity management, workforce planning, and operational delivery.
- Strong commercial acumen with the ability to improve profitability, productivity, and customer performance.
- Experience implementing scalable operational structures, systems, and governance frameworks.
- Strong knowledge of ERP/MRP systems and data-driven operational management.
- Exceptional leadership, stakeholder management, and communication skills.
- A resilient, hands-on leadership style with a passion for continuous improvement and operational excellence.
Why Join Us
This is a rare opportunity to take ownership of a critical function within a growing and ambitious organisation. You will have the platform to shape operational strategy, influence business performance, develop talented teams, and play a key role in delivering our long-term growth ambitions.
If you are an ambitious operational leader looking to make a significant impact within a dynamic manufacturing business, we'd love to hear from you.
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