Operations Director Recruitment

What the role involves

• Leading all operational functions (production, engineering, quality, supply chain, and logistics) with full P&L accountability, typically managing budgets from £5m to £50m+ depending on business scale
• Delivering operational KPIs across safety, quality, on-time-in-full delivery, and cost, reporting performance directly to the MD and board, including preparation of formal board packs and investor performance updates
• Managing the senior operational management team, including Production Manager, Head of Engineering, Head of Quality, and Supply Chain Manager, with direct accountability for senior team performance reviews and succession planning
• Driving operational improvement and lean manufacturing programmes across all sites or functions
• Managing significant CAPEX programmes and investment in operational capacity and capability
• Sitting on the senior leadership team and contributing to overall business strategy, not just operational delivery

Who employers are looking for

Most Operations Director appointments require an engineering degree or strong operational management background, with lean and Six Sigma credentials, Black Belt or Master Black Belt, expected at this level. Candidates without a structured improvement methodology track record rarely make shortlists in manufacturing environments where EBITDA improvement is the primary brief.

P&L management across multiple operational functions is essential. The Operations Director role is distinct from a senior Production Manager in that it requires genuine financial accountability, not just cost centre management. Candidates who can point to EBITDA improvement, margin recovery, or operational turnaround in their career history are consistently prioritised by hiring companies.

Multi-site experience adds significant value, particularly for group-level or PE-backed mandates. NEBOSH Diploma or equivalent is expected, given the health and safety accountability the role carries.

At board level, the distinction between a credible external candidate and a strong internal promotion is usually the breadth of stakeholder management. An internal promotion may know the operation well, but boards and PE investors are often looking for someone who has navigated a broader range of ownership structures, management cultures, and improvement contexts. The external candidate who has delivered in a PE-backed turnaround and a family-owned growth business will consistently score higher on shortlists where transformational change is on the agenda.

In PE-backed businesses, the Operations Director is frequently the primary delivery vehicle for the investment thesis. Boards expect the OD to understand what good looks like across a portfolio context, not just their own site. Family-owned businesses tend to place more weight on cultural alignment and long-term relationship building, while listed businesses require formal governance experience and comfort with audit committee scrutiny of operational performance. The ability to read the ownership environment and adjust leadership style accordingly is a genuine differentiator at this level. UK manufacturing continues to face a structural shortage of qualified Operations Directors with both deep lean credentials and board-level communication skills, which sustains demand across sectors.

Salary benchmarks

Varies significantly by business size. Operations Directors in SMEs earn £80,000-£120,000. In mid-market manufacturers, £120,000-£180,000 is typical. Car allowance, performance bonus, and pension are standard. PE-backed businesses often include equity or LTIP.

Industries that hire Operations Directors

• Manufacturing: leading all production and engineering functions across a single site or multi-site operation, typically with workforce headcounts from 100 to 1,000+ and direct accountability for manufacturing efficiency targets
• Construction contracting: leading all delivery and operational functions for a main or specialist contractor, including supply chain management, subcontractor performance, and programme delivery against contract milestones
• Technical services: overseeing service delivery operations for inspection, testing, or maintenance businesses, often managing geographically dispersed field teams and service scheduling systems
• Logistics and distribution: leading UK or regional operations within a product or industrial distribution group
• Engineering services: heading field operations and project delivery for a technical services business

Related roles

• Managing Director: the most common progression from Operations Director, moving to full business accountability including commercial and investor management
• Manufacturing Director: a focused version of the Operations Director role in larger businesses where manufacturing is separated from broader operations
• Engineering Director: often a peer role on the senior leadership team, leading the engineering function alongside the Operations Director
• Chief Operating Officer: the COO equivalent in larger or more complex businesses where the operational leadership scope is broader than a single function

Where we place Operations Director professionals

We place Operations Director professionals across the UK. Browse by location or register your CV for roles that match your experience.