Operations Manager

Overview:

Morgan Advanced Materials is a world leader in advanced materials science and engineering of ceramics, carbon and composites. We operate in a series of well-defined markets where our applications expertise offers our customers a valuable differentiator, engineering high-specification materials, components and sub-assembly parts that solve their challenging technical problems.

The Thermal Ceramics division designs, manufactures and installs a broad range of thermal insulation products that significantly reduce energy consumption and emissions in a variety of high temperature processing applications. Our product offering is extensive and covers application needs from Industrial to Commercial markets.

Group Key Figures: Revenue £1b, ~9,000 employees, manufacturing in 30+ countries, and customers in 100+ countries. A UK PLC with head office located in Windsor, Berkshire UK. Listed on London Stock Exchange; Member of the FTSE 250 Index.

Responsibilities:

Operations Manager

This is a hands-on leadership role at a manufacturing site where what you do has a direct impact on output, safety, and how people show up to work every day. You won’t just be keeping things ticking—you’ll be setting the tone, driving standards, and making sure the operation runs the way it should.

You’ll sit just under the Regional Site Manager, acting as the site’s operational backbone. If you like taking ownership, fixing what’s not working, and building strong teams (not just talking about it), you’ll feel right at home here.

The Role

You’ll lead the day-to-day running of the site across EHS, Quality, Supply Chain, and Operational Excellence. That means balancing production demands with safety, quality, and cost—without letting one fall over while you fix another.

You’ll also be responsible for building and developing your leadership team, keeping operations on track, and making sure standards—both company and regulatory—are met consistently.

Key Responsibilities

Run site operations across safety, quality, supply chain, and production

Drive efficiency, productivity, and output across manufacturing processes

Manage budgets and keep spend within agreed limits

Plan and adjust production schedules around changing demand

Lead, hire, and develop your management team

Ensure compliance with health & safety, environmental, and internal policies

Roll out and embed Lean and continuous improvement initiatives

Monitor performance metrics and take action where needed (not just report on them)

Work cross-functionally to align operations with business objectives

Lead on employee engagement, performance, and development

Support ISO management reviews and maintain audit readiness

Qualifications:

About You / What You’ll Bring

Solid experience leading in a manufacturing or industrial setting

At least 3 years managing teams and 5+ years in manufacturing overall

A track record of improving operations—not just maintaining them

Strong understanding of safety, quality, and operational standards

Experience working in fast-paced environments where priorities shift

Confidence communicating with everyone from shop floor to senior leadership

A practical, hands-on leadership style—you lead from the front

Strong organisational and problem-solving skills (you’ll need both daily)

Comfortable working with data, reports, and performance metrics

Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience)

Nice to Have

Engineering degree (mechanical, chemical, industrial, etc.)

Lean manufacturing or Operational Excellence experience

Experience in highly regulated environments (ITAR, EAR, NRC)

What You’ll Get

A leadership role with real ownership and influence

The chance to shape site culture, performance, and team capability

Exposure to senior leadership and broader operational strategy

A stable environment with clear expectations (and plenty to get stuck into)

Note: This role requires eligibility to work under ITAR/EAR/NRC regulations (U.S. citizenship, permanent residency, or protected status).