Chief Operating Officer

Chief Operating Officer

Location: Central England – Midlands-based with travel to multiple sites

• £150,000 – £165,000 basic salary
• Performance bonus – 25%
• Car allowance or fully expensed company car
• Matched pension contribution
• Private healthcare for the executive and family
• Life assurance
• 25 days’ holiday plus public holidays

An ambitious UK automotive manufacturing group is seeking a Chief Operating Officer to oversee its multi-site operations. The company operates across several UK locations serving major automotive OEM clients.

With a strong focus on precision engineering, assembly and process automation, the group is entering a phase of operational transformation to standardise processes, improve efficiency, and embed a high-performance culture across its UK operations.

The role demands a senior executive who combines strategic vision with practical, hands-on leadership across operational sites. This is a critical appointment for an experienced leader capable of managing large-scale, high-volume manufacturing operations while driving efficiency, quality, safety, and consistent delivery performance.

Key responsibilities

• The Chief Operating Officer will have full accountability for all operational performance across the group’s UK sites
• Leading Directors and site managers across multiple manufacturing sites
• Ensuring operational efficiency, quality, safety and cost control
• Developing and embedding standardised manufacturing processes and lean principles
• Driving continuous improvement and automation initiatives
• Managing the operational P&L and contributing to business growth
• Partnering with commercial and technical teams to deliver customer requirements for automotive clients
• Building and mentoring a high-performing operations leadership team
• Supporting workforce planning, talent development and operational succession

Key Requirements

• Significant senior operational experience in multi-site manufacturing, ideally within Tier 1 automotive supply chains
• Proven track record of leading operational transformation, standardisation and continuous improvement programs
• Strong understanding of lean manufacturing, automation, and digital factory initiatives
• Experience managing high-volume production environments with complex supply chains
• Demonstrable P&L ownership and experience in cost optimisation
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills, capable of motivating and developing operational teams
• Confident working at Board level and driving strategic operational decisions
• Degree qualified in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, MBA or equivalent advantageous
• Based within a reasonable commuting distance of Central England, with flexibility for site travel

This is a fantastic opportunity for an operational leader to shape the future of a growing UK manufacturing business. The successful candidate will have the authority and responsibility to standardise operations across multiple sites, embed best practice, and ensure consistent delivery for automotive clients while driving efficiency, profitability and a high-performance culture.

How to apply:

Please click “apply”, or for further information, please contact Ajay Bhella at Umbilical Limited. Alternatively, please email me an up-to-date copy of your CV to ajay@umbilicaladvanced.com

Umbilical Limited is committed to promoting Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in the workplace. We act as a neutral third party in the recruitment process, basing our candidate searches on skills and experience.

We do not discriminate based on age, gender, sex, relationship status, disability, race, religion/beliefs, or sexual orientation.