Vickerstock
Operations Supervisor

How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Operations Supervisor
Location: Derry
Salary: £50K DOE
Job Type: Full time - days
Vickerstock are working in partnership with a leading engineering and manufacturing organisation on the appointment of an Operations Supervisor – Material Preparation.
Reporting into the Production Site Manager, you will take responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Material Preparation department, overseeing material flow, production planning, team performance and the efficient supply of components to the wider fabrication operation.
This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced material handling or production professional with a heavy engineering background to take ownership of a key operational function within a growing manufacturing environment.
In your new role:
- Produce and maintain steel nesting layouts to support material procurement and production, maximising material utilisation and minimising waste
- Plan, organise and prioritise the daily workload of the Material Preparation team in line with production priorities and delivery requirements
- Determine the most efficient routing of materials through internal processing equipment and approved subcontractors
- Manage subcontracted material processing activities, ensuring components are delivered on time and to the required quality standards
- Oversee steel inventory management, including incoming materials, stock location control and material traceability
- Ensure the correct steel is allocated and consumed against the correct job, minimising stock discrepancies and misallocation
- Coordinate the preparation, staging and supply of materials and components to support fabrication activities
- Maintain accurate production schedules and material tracking systems to provide clear visibility of stock and job progress
- Ensure material preparation equipment is maintained in safe and operational condition, coordinating maintenance, inspections and repairs where required
- Identify material shortages, capacity constraints and operational risks, escalating issues where necessary
- Ensure nesting data, stock records, batch documentation and preparation paperwork are completed accurately
- Take responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the Material Preparation department
- Ensure activities are completed in line with drawings, specifications and company procedures
- Supervise, motivate and support the team to achieve production targets
- Allocate work based on skills, qualifications and workload capacity
- Support performance management, coaching and development of team members
- Assist with onboarding and training of new employees
- Ensure products meet required quality standards and customer specifications
- Support investigations into quality issues and implement corrective actions
- Promote high standards of Health & Safety, PPE usage and safe systems of work
- Ensure machinery, cranes and lifting equipment are operated by trained and authorised personnel
- Maintain strong housekeeping and environmental standards across the department
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.
What you will need to succeed:


Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
- Minimum 5 years' experience in material handling within a heavy-duty or heavy engineering environment
- At least 2 years' experience supervising or leading a material handling team
- Solid understanding of quality standards and inspection processes
- Experience with production planning and workflow management
- Proven track record of meeting production targets and deadlines
- Experience working within a fast-paced production or manufacturing environment
- Strong understanding of engineering processes
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and specifications
- Strong leadership, organisational and problem-solving skills
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to work effectively across production and operational teams
For a more detailed brief and a confidential conversation on how Vickerstock can help support you with your next move, get in touch with Sam Laheen, on the Engineering Desk, today.
“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