Manufacturing Transformation Consultant – Based West Sussex – Hybrid working
Engagement: 12–18 month consultancy | Day-rate £600-£800 | Start: May 2026
A well established UK manufacturing business is undertaking a major ERP transformation programme and is seeking an experienced Manufacturing Transformation Consultant to take ownership of the operations workstream.
This is a hands-on delivery role embedded within the operations function, working closely with internal teams and an external ERP implementation partner to drive process improvement, system adoption and successful go-live.
The Opportunity
You will play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering end-to-end operational processes across:
- Procurement and raw materials management
- Production planning and manufacturing
- Warehousing and distribution
- ERP configuration and process standardisation
The organisation is mid-implementation of a major ERP system and requires additional senior capacity to ensure the operations workstream is delivered at pace, to quality, and with strong user adoption.
Key Responsibilities:
Discovery & Alignment
- Map and understand existing operational processes across the full supply chain
- Build strong relationships across operations and wider business functions
- Gain deep understanding of the ERP solution and implementation plan
ERP Process Design & Delivery
- Lead decision-making on standard vs. bespoke ERP processes
- Champion “out-of-the-box” configuration wherever possible
- Reduce complexity and long-term technical debt
- Document process decisions and ensure alignment across stakeholders
Hands-On Implementation
- Own key operational workstreams within the ERP programme
- Support configuration input, process mapping, data preparation, and documentation
- Coordinate closely with the external implementation partner
- Report progress into operations leadership and programme governance
Testing & Go-Live
- Design and lead end-to-end testing (unit, integration, UAT)
- Manage defect resolution and process refinement
- Support training development and user readiness
- Lead go-live preparation and hypercare support
What We’re Looking For:
- Proven experience leading or holding a senior position in ERP implementations within manufacturing environments, ideally in chemical, food or other process-driven industries.
- Strong track record of improving and transforming manufacturing operations in medium to large organisations through successful ERP deployment.
- Practical, delivery-focused approach with a preference for hands-on involvement over purely advisory roles.
- Solid understanding of ERP best practice, with a strong emphasis on standardisation and simplification.
- Highly effective stakeholder engagement and influencing capabilities across all levels of the business.
- Experience planning and executing ERP testing phases, including system and user acceptance testing (UAT).
- Comfortable operating in cross-functional environments, collaborating across operations, finance, sales, and customer-facing teams.
Desirable Experience:
Odoo, SAP, Dynamics 365, Epicor, Oracle, SYSPRO; family-owned or SME manufacturing environments; PRINCE2/PMP.
Why This Role?
This is a high impact assignment at the centre of a critical transformation programme, offering the opportunity to directly shape operational systems, processes and long-term scalability of a manufacturing business.
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