Head of Manufacturing Operations

Askam-in-furness, Cumbria
BAE Systems
Job Title: Head of Manufacturing Operations

Location: Barrow – Onsite

Salary: From £90,000 dependent on skills and experience plus executive package

We’re seeking an exceptional senior leader to take a pivotal role in driving operational excellence in a very unique operating environment. With a background in manufacturing and engineering, you’ll set direction, shape long-term strategy for decades long programmes, and deliver meaningful results that impacts not only the bottom line, but also the nation’s security and prosperity. This is an opportunity to influence at scale-leading large, matrix teams, unlocking performance, and inspiring transformation across a complex and high-profile environment. You will also be key in developing the shipbuilders of the future providing vital production skills required by the country.

What you’ll be doing:

• Responsible for compliance with all relevant internal, legislative, regulatory, and contractual requirements for your business area
• Building, maintaining and facilitating a culture of collaborative working within your business area including customers, suppliers, partners, and stakeholders
• Responsible for the people performance within your business area ensuring compliance with the Performance Management cycle
• Identifying high potential talent within your business area and acts as mentor and coach to support their development
• Engaging and communicating effectively and in a timely manner with customers and stakeholders both internal and external to the business
• Supporting the project management of complex and/or strategically important projects through detailed project planning and regular feedback on delivery against plan
• Ensuring delivery against business area delivery milestones. Deliver the production contract(s) to achieve contractual delivery dates and associated payment milestones
• Identifying risk and opportunities, challenging standard practice and support the structured improvement of functional process and infrastructure
• Agreeing with Senior Leadership and communicating to wider teams the key performance indicators (measures that matter), ensuring capable resource requirements are in place to meet targets
• Govern and assure all operational areas in accordance with the Operational framework for your business area
• Responsible for communication and application of non-conformance methodologies across your business area effectively managing all escalations in a timely manner

Your skills and experiences:

• Experience as a Senior Manager within an Organisation of similar size and scope
• Thorough and comprehensive knowledge of all aspects of Manufacturing Operation disciplines, processes, toolsets, procedures, standards, and technologies
• Broad knowledge of Manufacturing operations, including quality management, facility management, supplier management, research and development, production operations and logistics planning and control
• Depth of knowledge of a matrix organisation/ programme/ cross functional business
• Full understanding of the IBP and financial processes and management/HR processes
• Degree level qualification in Engineering/Management or equivalent experience

Benefits:

As well as a competitive pension scheme, BAE Systems also offers employee share plans, an extensive range of flexible discounted health, wellbeing and lifestyle benefits, including a green car scheme, private health plans and shopping discounts – you may also be eligible for an annual incentive.

The Manufacturing Operations team:

As the Head of Manufacturing operations, you will lead multiple, diverse teams of high-performing professionals in a visible leadership role. This is an opportunity to shape operational strategy, drive performance, and deliver excellence across a complex, critical organisation. You will resolve complex challenges, set policy, deploy resources effectively, and ensure operational delivery while linking across multiple functions.

Why BAE Systems?

This is a place where you’ll be able to make a real difference. You’ll be part of an inclusive culture that values diversity of thought, rewards integrity, and merit, and where you’ll be empowered to fulfil your potential. We welcome people from all backgrounds and want to make sure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible. If you have a disability or health condition (for example dyslexia, autism, an anxiety disorder etc.) that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your recruiter about potential reasonable adjustments.

Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.

Closing Date: 8 th October 2025

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.