Job Description Summary

Our North Europe Rotating Machinery business is entering an exciting period of growth. With annual revenues expected to more than double by 2030, we are seeking an Operations Manager to lead manufacturing performance today while shaping the future of our Rugby operation.

This is a high-impact leadership role responsible for driving operational performance and shaping the future direction of manufacturing across the site. Success in this role will require a visible and engaging leader who is comfortable balancing hands-on shop floor presence with broader operational priorities. You will develop high-performing teams, build strong cross-functional relationships and foster a culture where safety, accountability, problem-solving and continuous improvement are part of everyday operations. Ensuring the safe, efficient and reliable delivery of high-quality products, you will drive improvements across safety, quality, delivery and cost (SQDC) while supporting the site's continued growth and long-term capability development.
operational development.

As the business continues to grow, you will play a key role in increasing manufacturing capacity, improving productivity and driving operational excellence across the site. You will help optimise factory layout and workflow, embed lean manufacturing practices and support the introduction of automation, robotics and new manufacturing technologies to improve safety, quality and efficiency.

Job Description

• Lead the manufacturing operation, managing 6 Supervisors and approximately 80 shop-floor employees working across a range of shift patterns, with accountability for P&L performance and SQDC metrics.
• Create and maintain a strong safety culture where safe working practices, risk assessment, behavioural safety and stop-work authority are embedded across all areas of the factory.
• Develop and execute the manufacturing strategy to support business growth, improved operational performance and increased production capacity.
• Optimise labour deployment, organisational structure and supervisory capability to meet changing business demands while improving efficiency and productivity.

• Develop leadership capability and succession plans within the manufacturing organisation, building a pipeline of future leaders and fostering a culture of accountability, engagement and continuous learning.

• Lead the continued development of Lean manufacturing across the operation, embedding standard work, visual management, process discipline and shop-floor accountability.
• Develop and deliver a structured continuous improvement roadmap using Lean, RCA, 5S and Kaizen methodologies to improve flow, reduce waste, strengthen quality and increase delivery predictability.
• Strengthen process controls and manufacturing discipline to improve product quality, reduce variation and ensure compliance with quality management systems.
• Lead CAPEX planning to drive factory layout optimisation and production flow improvements to support a more scalable, efficient and higher-volume operating model.
• Partner with cross- functional teams to successfully implement automation, robotics and future manufacturing technologies.
• Use operational data, performance dashboards and business analytics to identify opportunities, drive decision-making and deliver measurable results.
• Build a high-performance culture that promotes teamwork, accountability, safety, quality and proactive problem-solving.

• Site-based role in Rugby, Monday to Friday, 40 hours per week.

 

Essential Candidate Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related technical discipline, or an equivalent combination of technical education and manufacturing leadership experience.
• Proven manufacturing leadership experience within a complex industrial environment, ideally supporting growth, scale-up or significant operational change.
• Strong understanding of Lean manufacturing principles and management systems, with the ability to link continuous improvement activities to wider business objectives and operational performance.
• Demonstrated success leading manufacturing operations and delivering measurable improvements across safety, quality, delivery and cost (SQDC).
• Experience driving operational excellence through standard work, visual management, problem-solving methodologies and strong shop-floor leadership.
• Experience influencing manufacturing strategy and delivering performance improvement within a regulated or compliance-driven environment.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate data and operational insights into practical actions and measurable results.
• Experience leading organisational change, continuous improvement initiatives and site-wide transformation programmes.
• Experience of capital investment, factory layout optimisation, capacity expansion and the implementation of automation, robotics or advanced manufacturing technologies.
• Experience using ERP systems such as SAP, together with digital quality systems, operational dashboards and performance analytics to support decision-making.
• Proven ability to lead, influence and develop teams across multiple functions and organisational levels.
• Excellent communication, coaching and leadership skills, with the ability to engage, challenge and inspire teams through periods of change and growth.

 

Desirable

• Experience within rotating machinery, industrial manufacturing, marine, power generation or another complex engineering environment.
• Experience supporting large-scale factory transformation, operational scale-up or significant capacity growth.
• Exposure to advanced manufacturing technologies within a regulated or safety-critical environment.
• Experience applying structured problem-solving and quality improvement methodologies to deliver measurable operational results.

 

 

What We Offer

At GE Vernova, we invest in your long-term success and wellbeing through a comprehensive and flexible benefits package designed to support what matters most to you.

Our Total Reward offering includes competitive compensation, company car, performance-related bonus, flexible pension with a 10% employer contribution, employer-funded private health insurance, income protection and life assurance. We support your time to recharge with 26 days of annual leave plus bank holidays.

Through our Flex Choice programme, you can take advantage of a range of additional benefits including buying and selling annual leave, a cycle-to-work scheme, financial planning services, critical illness insurance, personal accident cover, dental cover, travel insurance and the option to add family members to a private healthcare scheme.

 

Why Join GE Vernova?

This is an opportunity to lead a critical manufacturing operation during one of the most exciting periods in its history. As the business continues to grow, you will have the opportunity to influence manufacturing strategy, shape future investment decisions, develop the next generation of leaders and drive improvements that deliver lasting impact across safety, quality, delivery and operational performance.

If you are passionate about manufacturing excellence, developing people and leading transformational change, this role offers the chance to make a significant contribution to the future success of GE Vernova's Rotating Machinery business.

 

Additional Information