Operations Manager

About the role

Our client, a successful and growing SME based in Warrington, is recruiting an Operations Manager to run day-to-day operations across a multi-department site — warehouse, transport, customer service and facilities — with a team of around 50 through four direct-report team leaders and supervisors. This is a genuine number-two-to-the-MD role in a business that has grown fast and now needs its operations run with more structure, without losing the pace and pragmatism that got it here. You'll own the site's operational KPIs and budget, develop the leadership layer beneath you, and have a real seat at the table — the MD wants to be challenged, not echoed. For the right person there is a visible route to Operations Director as the business continues to grow.

What you'll be doing

• Own daily operational performance across warehouse, transport, customer service and facilities
• Lead and develop four team leaders/supervisors and a wider team of ~50
• Set, track and act on operational KPIs — service, productivity, quality and cost
• Own the operations budget: labour planning, agency spend, suppliers and capex proposals
• Drive continuous-improvement projects that stick — process, layout and systems
• Own site health and safety: culture, compliance, audits and incident management
• Manage key supplier and contractor relationships
• Work with sales on capacity planning and realistic customer promises
• Report monthly to the MD and board with honest numbers and clear plans

What we're looking for

• Proven operations management in logistics, distribution, manufacturing or industrial services
• Strong people leadership through a supervisor layer — developing leaders, not just directing workers
• Data-driven: comfortable owning KPIs, budgets and the follow-through
• Health and safety leadership — IOSH Managing Safely or NEBOSH (desirable but expected in time, funded)
• Change management experience in a growing SME environment
• Continuous improvement/lean exposure (desirable)
• Transport operations knowledge — O-licence awareness (desirable)

The package

• £45,000 – £55,000 depending on experience • Annual bonus on site performance • 25 days holiday plus bank holidays • Company pension scheme • Private healthcare • Genuine seat at the leadership table and a route to Operations Director