Operations Director Deployable Infrastructure

Executive Search

Operations Director

Deployable Infrastructure

UK

Business

Our client is a large, international, long-established, and highly regarded business that provides specialist engineering expertise and services. Its high-growth subsidiary which designs and produces modular standardised shelters, workspaces and accommodation based on ISO containers, is emerging as the market leader.

Product applications range from field hospitals, communication centres, power generation, and water purification, to accommodation for personnel in adverse and extreme environments, mobile CT scanners, and many more. Rising demand is coming from National Governments, Defence & Military, NGOs and supporting businesses for rapid deployment to natural disasters, floods, wildfires, earthquakes, battlefields, population displacement, health emergencies and other critical, challenging, crisis situations.

Production of our client’s deployable infrastructure is primarily in the UK, but is increasingly international with plans already in place for major investment and a new production facility in North America.

Role

The new role of Operations Director reports to the recently appointed Managing Director who is leading the drive for significant growth by shaping the market through the setting of standards for modular compatibility, connectivity and interoperability. The Operations Director will have a major role to play in delivering the products that are likely to dominate this market. Through a handful of direct reports, the Operations Director will be responsible for leading on all matters in Production, Supply Chain, Quality and Health & Safety and for the transformation of the business into an efficient automated and technology-enabled producer of robust and reliable product. In addition to the upskilling of an already committed and capable workforce, the Operations Director will be the lead on a relocation and reconfiguration of the UK operations and responsible for the establishment, commissioning and in due course performance of a new facility in North America. There is substantial investment coming into this business and the expansion in production must be matched by a transformation in processes to deliver best-in-class products to customers. It is important that the Operations Director is an inspirational and credible figure within the company – this is a demanding hands-on role which will require both leadership and collaboration.

Candidate

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a relevant subject
• Engineering, Business and/or Management post-graduate qualification preferred
• Hands-on management of a multi-site Production Operations
• Led the transformation, automation and digitalisation of manufacturing processes
• Built and maintained an efficient and responsive supply chain
• General Management of a large and skilled workforce
• Managed the relocation / reconfiguration of a large production facility
• Set up new plants overseas, ideally in North America
• Led the transition from bespoke/batch production to semi-automated
• Inspired and motivated a large team
• Implemented ERP systems successfully
• Driven improved performance in a high-growth business
• Shaped and integrated production processes
• Leadership with credibility, confidence and integrity
• Strong organisational and communication skills
• Empowering of colleagues to solve problems and deliver results
• Constructive challenger and change agent
• Adaptive within a fast-changing and growth-orientated environment
• An understanding of commercial and financial management
• Strong demonstrable success in technology-led and technology-enabled change
• Collaborative
• Tenacious and resilient

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