Operations Manager
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The Opportunity- Operations Manager - JCB Power Products (Transmissions)
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About the role:
We're seeking a highly driven and experienced Operations Manager to lead manufacturing performance at our JCB Power Products site in Wrexham. This is a critical leadership role responsible for delivering safe, high-quality, and cost-effective production across a high-volume, fast-paced environment.
As Operations Manager, you'll bring a strong leadership presence, technical expertise, and a results-driven mindset to drive operational excellence. You'll play a key role in shaping site performance, leading teams through change, and ensuring alignment with JCB’s wider operational strategy.
This role requires someone who thrives under pressure, can challenge and influence at all levels, and has a proven track record in manufacturing, ideally within automotive, powertrain, or similar industries
What does this role involve day to day?
- Leading day-to-day manufacturing and assembly operations to meet production and delivery targets
- Driving a strong safety-first culture across all shopfloor activities and ensuring full compliance with HSE and JCB standards
- Managing production planning, scheduling, and capacity to achieve on-time, in-full (OTIF) delivery
- Identifying and removing operational bottlenecks to improve flow across machining, assembly, and test areas
- Owning product and process quality, reducing defects, rework, and warranty issues
- Driving continuous improvement initiatives using Lean methodologies such as 5S, Kaizen, and standard work
- Leading root cause analysis (RCA) and implementing corrective actions for internal and supplier-related issues
- Working closely with procurement and suppliers to ensure material availability and component quality, while managing supplier performance and risk
- Delivering cost reduction initiatives, improving labour efficiency, reducing waste and scrap, and managing operational budgets
- Leading, coaching, and developing front-line leaders and operators to build a high-performance, accountable culture
- Ensuring strong equipment reliability through TPM and effective maintenance planning
- Supporting new product introductions, ensuring smooth transition into full-scale production
- Acting as a key interface across manufacturing, engineering, quality, and commercial teams
- Monitoring and reporting on key KPIs including Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and People (SQDCP)
- Leading daily and weekly operational reviews and ensuring follow-through on actions
- Contributing to longer-term operational strategy and driving transformation initiatives such as automation and digitalisation
This will be suited to you if…
- You're an engineering-qualified professional with strong technical and operational knowledge
- You have Lean / Six Sigma training and a passion for continuous improvement
- You have significant experience in high-volume manufacturing (ideally automotive, powertrain, or similar sectors)
- You're a proven leader and change agent with the ability to inspire and develop high-performing teams
- You demonstrate strong leadership presence, accountability, and resilience in demanding production environments
- You're results-driven, proactive, and comfortable taking ownership of performance outcomes
- You can confidently challenge, influence, and collaborate with internal stakeholders and external suppliers
- You communicate effectively at all levels, from shopfloor to executive leadership
- You're experienced in managing quality issues, supplier performance, and cost pressures
- You thrive in a fast-paced environment and can balance competing priorities with confidence
What happens next?
Ordinarily, our Resourcing Team reviews and shortlists CVs. If shortlisted, you’ll speak to one of our Recruiters to discuss the role further. Our interview process usually consists of an initial team’s interview followed by an in-person interview. We’ll keep in touch throughout the process but if you have any questions, please get in touch at recruitment@jcb.com
This is your chance to join a company that values expertise not only in rewards but also in real employee care. At JCB you don’t just get a competitive salary, 33 days’ holiday and access to our company pension—you can also use our onsite gym, in-house doctor and dentist. We have an ULEV car scheme available for our employees too. Then there’s the JCB Rewards Hub, which gives you discounts with high street retailers. Feel like biking to work? There’s our Cycle to Work Scheme.
We value diversity and welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds.
We’re committed to ensuring our recruitment process is fair and inclusive. If you face any accessibility challenges with your online application and require additional support, you have the option of speaking to a member of our Recruitment Team who can support you to complete an application in an alternative format. If you would benefit from this support, please email recruitment@jcb.com, and a member of the team will be in touch.
Recruitment Agencies: JCB does not accept any speculative approaches to present candidates for advertised vacancies.