Operations Director, Construction Recruitment | Collingwood

The Role & Its Challenges

The site was in the third phase of a £1m plant upgrade. This would double the capacity of the main line, with the incoming person taking ownership of this.

The dramatic growth had come at a cost, with a stretched operational side. This person would take immediate ownership of improving servicing levels and on time in full metrics.

Additional focus included:

• Taking ownership of developing the operational strategy and associated KPI setting
• Mentoring a new Production Supervisor

• Gaining maximum return on an ERP and bar code scanning system introduced two years ago.
• Driving a more continuous improvement and accountability mind-set at operative level

Due to budgetary constraints, this client had a defined salary structure in mind. Collingwood’s Head of Building Products stated that the company was 15-20% short on the basic salary against market rates.

Collingwood therefore suggested approaching Operation / Factory and Plant Managers who, through assessment, are deemed ready for the step up. This allowed the client to sell this position at an Operations Director Designate level, with agreeing firm metrics and stage gates being agreed early into their tenure to move it into a bona fide boardroom role.

Upon agreement, Collingwood were to research individuals from a “blending” orientated manufacturing process (raw material in, finished product out), where an appreciation of the pressures associated with running continual lines is paramount.