Edwards Vacuum
Operations Manager
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An exciting opportunity exists for an Operations Manager to join Edwards at Product Company Eastbourne. You will lead electronics manufacturing, fostering a high-performing culture delivering quality products on time with excellent safety, quality, delivery, cost, and people results. Through leadership and collaboration, ensure the organisation has the people, processes, and technology for a sustainable, world-class manufacturing environment aiming for zero accidents, defects, lead time, and cost growth. Reporting to the General Manager.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and develop managers in Production, Test, Engineering, Planning, and Improvement. Ensure workforce planning, talent development, and succession planning. Build leadership through coaching and performance management. Create accountability for performance, engagement, and team growth.
- Deliver safety, quality, delivery, cost, and people goals. Align resources with business needs. Drive governance, performance management, and reviews. Improve productivity, efficiency, quality, and service.
- Foster a collaborative, inclusive, high-performance culture. Build partnerships with Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, Commercial, and support. Promote teamwork, transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Lead Vacuum Technique Production System deployment. Embed Lean and continuous improvement. Improve productivity, quality, lead time, delivery, and cost. Lead cost reduction and excellence initiatives while maintaining satisfaction. Ensure structured problem-solving is embedded.
- Ensure manufacturing and test support business goals. Partner with Engineering for new product introduction and manufacturability. Improve capability via process optimisation, automation, technology, and investment. Maintain equipment and processes for current and future needs.
- Direct planning to support business and customer needs. Align capacity, labour, and schedules with demand. Lead input to S&OP, managing performance, risks, and opportunities. Work with Supply Chain on material availability and demand alignment.
- Provide visible leadership in Health, Safety, and Environment. Ensure compliance with risk assessments, COSHH, and safe work systems. Maintain ISO 45001, 9001, 14001, and regulatory compliance. Promote proactive safety, quality, and environmental culture.
- Contribute to Site Leadership Team and business strategy. Develop operational objectives and improvement plans with General Manager. Lead operational, organisational, and cultural initiatives. Use data and benchmarking for decisions and improvements. Represent Eastbourne in divisional and global forums, sharing best practices and supporting business goals.
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To succeed, you will need
We encourage you to apply even if you don't meet every single requirement. We value diverse experiences and perspectives and are excited to see what you bring to the role.
- Significant senior management experience within a complex manufacturing environment.
- Proven experience developing and executing operational strategies across multiple manufacturing functions to support business performance and growth.
- Proven experience leading operational change, organisational transformation, cultural development and significant business performance improvement initiatives.
- Proven experience managing and developing managers across multiple operational disciplines.
- Proven track record of creating high-performing, engaged operational teams.
- Demonstrated success in improving safety, quality, delivery, cost and people performance.
- Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Operational Excellence and performance improvement methodologies.
- Excellent communication, coaching and stakeholder management skills.
- Strong commercial and financial awareness with experience managing operational budgets and delivering cost improvements.
- Demonstrated ability to influence, engage and support others through complexity and change.
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In return, we offer
- Culture of trust and accountability
- Lifelong learning and career growth
- Innovation powered by people
- Comprehensive compensation and benefits
- Health and well-being
Job location
On-Site
This role requires you to work on-site at our office in Eastbourne, United Kingdom (GB). You will be part of a dynamic team and enjoy the benefits of face-to-face collaboration.
The role requires occasional national and international travel to support cross-site collaboration, leadership activities and business improvement initiatives.
About the Role
The Operations Manager is a key member of the site leadership team, reporting directly to the General Manager and holding overall responsibility for operational performance across Production, Test, Manufacturing Engineering, Planning and Continuous Improvement.
Leading a team of five functional managers, the role is accountable for the delivery of Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost and People objectives across an operation of approximately 160 employees and annual manufacturing output of $35M+.
The role plays a key part in shaping site strategy and ensuring the organisation has the capability, leadership and operational effectiveness required to support current and future business needs.
Working closely with Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, Commercial and other stakeholders, the Operations Manager represents the Eastbourne operation within divisional and global forums, supporting strategic initiatives, sharing best practice and contributing to operational excellence across the wider organisation.
Contact information
Talent Acquisition Team: Harriet Slater
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