INTERIM HEAD OF OPERATIONS
JOB DESCRIPTION
Summary:   The role of the Head of Operations is to coach and develop the 2 site Operations Managers towards running our factories to world class manufacturing standards that always deliver quality products that meet our customer’s expectations on time in full.

Reports to:Managing Director

Direct reports: Operations Manager (Burntwood) and Operations Manager (Derby)

Location: Working at both sites, initially focussing at our Burntwood site, followed by Derby.

Duration: Flexible, expected 6 – 18 months, may be extended.

Activity:  100% internal, no interaction with external stakeholders unless unavoidable & essential.

Purpose of the Job

Mercian Labels Ltd aspires to be a world class manufacturer at its two sites inBurntwood and Derby.

The key task for this new role is to establish a sustainable model of Operational management excellence that, through effective coaching, will enable the 2 existing but relatively inexperienced site Operations Managers to lead the Company towards achieving world class manufacturing performance within a 5-year time scale.  In this context, “world class” requires the sustained achievement of a Value Added Ratio of 2.75, OTIF at 98%, Zero Defects at Despatch and No Customer Complaints.  A member of the Senior Management Team, the role is required to provide monthly progress reports to the Managing Director.

The successful candidate will need to be an aspirational role model to turn enthusiastic and competent new managers into great managers, sharing experiences via coaching and managing change.  They’ll bring a clear and credible management style and culture to Mercian Labels and instil high quality management techniques & people management methods into the operational teams.

Detailed responsibilities and tasks

Management Coaching and People Development

• To be a role model for our existing 2 Operations Managers, leading by example to guide, train, support and develop their individual skillsets towards becoming effective, efficient and accomplished operational leaders.
• To support both Operations Managers in recruiting, managing, disciplining, performance managing and developing a high performance production team, ensuring that company values are upheld and the operating objectives and standards of performance are understood and owned by all operational team members.
• The Operations Managers to effectively use management / analysis tools such as Value Stream and Root Cause analysis with their teams, empowering operators to fix problems once identified.
• To support the development of 2 supervisors through both Operations Managers.

Seeking World Class Operational Excellence

• To ensure the creation of an executable operational plan that establishes a superior modus operandi of the operations function to fulfil the objective of world class performance.  This prioritised plan will ensure that each part of the operations function has a critical path to the status of “fit for purpose” in order to achieve its objectives, and which can be regularly reviewed and reported on.
• Delegate elements of the operational plan to the Operations Managers and thus to their teams through personal appraisals to maximiseengagement and ownership by team members.
• Through effective production scheduling and control, ensure the achievement of OTIF above 98% at both sites.
• Ensure the establishment of programmes that embed continual improvements in quality, machine productivity, labour productivity, and cost reduction.
• Embed team member ownership of SMQCD model operational performance Establish ‘best practice’ daily management meetings to maximize operational performance.

Leading cultural change

• To lead the implementation of a culture where high quality standards are always the norm.
• Stabilise and re-engage the operational teams with positive visible Create a ‘can-do’ culture of heightened professionalism.

Quality Improvement

• To plan, lead and implement a continuous stream of quality improvements using appropriate lean manufacturing techniques that result in significantly reduced numbers of jobs that require working at any stage, so that the maximum number of jobs are processed right first time, every time, leading to zero defects at dispatch and no customer complaints.
• To ensure the establishment of effective quality assurance controls that are consistent with the company’s culture and will facilitate the achievement of its objectives.

Margin Improvement

• Support a feedback loop with IT & finance that will refine our pricing model to be more accurate based on precise operational costs involved in manufacturing numerous different profiles of jobs.
• Ensure that volume of material quoted every month is the same as materials actually used +10% / -0%.

SMT responsibilities

• Maintain an ongoing dialogue with the MD to inform him of significant operational issues which may adversely impact the business’s ability to deliver operational Monthly report to the board on operational performance against plan.

Other

• Other tasks to support the business plan as and when required including working extra hours if required to ensure company business objectives are met.

Person Specification

Track record

• Results driven with a proven track record of operational management excellence and driving change and culture.
• Extensive experience managing a fast turnaround (short lead time) FMCG type manufacturing operation is essential, including at least 5 years managing a team in excess of 20 people on shift patterns.
• Demonstrable lean and quality improvement experience and able to demonstrate multiple examples of identifying and leading measurable such improvements over many years is essential.
• Desirable experience would include operational management experience of multiple sites, and / or annualised hours.
• Desirable experience includes experience of printing and/or labelling, but is not essential.

Skillset

• Extensive knowledge of modern manufacturing techniques.
• Numerate, literate and articulate.
  Exceptional Communication Skills, particularly 1-2-1 verbal and group presentation skills

Leadership & Coaching ability

• An outstanding coach and role model to less experienced Operations managers leadership characteristics that command respect and attention
  An ability to observe others and impart knowledge and experience to less experienced colleagues.
   

Success criteria / future potential

Once these 3 criteria are reached then the role will conclude or the incumbent re-tasked:

1. The 2 Operations Managers are performing to a high standard.
2. The operations are showing sustained improvements towards achieving world class performance within 5 years, being OTIF >98%, a Value Added Ratio of 2.75, zero defects at dispatch and no customer complaints.
3. There are diminishing returns on further productivity improvements.

If you feel you have what it takes to fulfil this role and have the genuine desire and drive to contribute to the ongoing growth & development of the company, please send covering letter and CV stating your current salary and / or salary expectations as well as a short paragraph explaining how you feel you could work within, and demonstrate, our company values. Applications to: [email protected]

For further information please visit www.mercianlabels.com

Deadline for applications: Sunday 10th January 2016

Please note interviews will likely take a 2-stage process involving assessment/presentation at 2nd interview.

NO AGENCIES PLEASE