Operational Excellence Manager (OpEx) - Contract

Are you a driven transformation professional with a passion for improving performance, shaping better ways of working and delivering measurable business impact? We are looking for an Operational Excellence Transformation Manager to join our Operational Excellence (OpEx) programme on an initial 6-month contract, with the possibility of extension.

As part of our ongoing OI30 strategy, this role will support one of our five key strategic priorities: improving productivity by 30% across the group. Sponsored by the company CEO, the programme focuses on site-by-site business transformation using a proven methodology, lean principles and close collaboration with senior leaders across the business.

This is a high-impact opportunity for someone with a strong track record of delivery, operational improvement and stakeholder engagement. You will work across multiple sites and functions, helping teams understand their current state, define future-state opportunities and embed sustainable improvements.

What you’ll be doing
• Conducting analysis of demand, inventory and production performance to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Carrying out process confirmations to validate analysis, assumptions and operational performance.
• Communicating weekly with senior site leadership to review findings, align assumptions and maintain momentum.
• Interviewing colleagues across functions to build a clear, shared view of the business’s current state.
• Presenting insights, recommendations and programme phasing to executive-level project sponsors.
• Facilitating workshops and meetings with key site sponsors to define the future state and embed lean principles where appropriate.
• Articulating the impact of operational performance and processes on key business metrics, including revenue, capacity and inventory.
• Defining future-state horizons by business process or function and aligning senior site sponsors to the required direction of travel.
• Role-modelling best practice and coaching site process owners to build capability and confidence.
• Defining Tactical Implementation Plans to deliver impactful foundations and transformational change.
• Delivering agreed actions with strong senior site sponsorship.
• Developing others to embed skills, capability and continuous improvement thinking across the organisation.
• Designing future-state operational layouts informed by lean principles and optimal product flow.

About you
We are looking for someone who can combine analytical thinking with practical delivery and strong stakeholder engagement. You will be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment, influencing senior leaders and translating complex operational challenges into clear, actionable plans.

Experience and qualifications
• Degree qualified in a relevant discipline, or equivalent practical experience in the field.
• Proven experience delivering change, transformation, operational excellence or continuous improvement activity.
• Potential to grow into a future leadership role.

Professional skills and abilities
• Confident using Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel.
• Ability to analyse datasets and synthesise insights from workshops, interviews and process observations.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to create and articulate impactful messages.
• Ability to lead work scopes and design processes with cross-disciplinary teams in a fast-paced environment.
• Commercial awareness of operational costs, reliability, safety and wider business performance.

Why join us?
This is an opportunity to play a visible role in a CEO-sponsored transformation programme with real business impact. You will work closely with senior stakeholders, influence how operational teams work, and help create sustainable improvements across the group.

If you are energised by transformation, continuous improvement and delivering results through people, we would welcome your application.

About Us

At Oxford Instruments Plasma Technology, we develop world-leading tools for engineering micro- and nano-scale structures. Our technologies enable innovation across industries, helping customers push the boundaries of science and technology.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary
• 25 days annual leave + half-day Fridays
• Private healthcare
• Share incentive plan
• Pension scheme
• Flexible benefits tailored to your needs
• Structured career development opportunities
• A collaborative environment with excellent work-life balance

#LI-AC1

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or disability. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and would ask you to get in touch if you are concerned about any barriers you feel you may be facing in your application process with us.

Note to recruitment agencies: Oxford Instruments operates a Preferred Supplier List, and we do not accept unsolicited agency CVs. Please do not forward candidate details in response to this advert, or to any Oxford Instruments employees or other company locations. Oxford Instruments is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited CVs.