Operations Leader

Job Summary

A Truly Global Business 
Every day, around the world, we help aircrafts fly further, faster and greener.  We’re the world’s leading tier one aerospace supplier of systems and components. With over 16,000 employees across 33 manufacturing sites in 12 countries serving over 90% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers with sales of £3.35bn. Together as “one GKN” we’re moving our business and industry forward developing technologies that rapidly decarbonise aircraft, and innovating to help build a new generation of planes that produce zero emissions.  We’re putting sustainability at the heart of what we do; driving our objective to becoming a net zero greenhouse gas emissions business before 2050! 

Making a Difference 
It’s great to know you’re making a difference to the future of aviation! Whatever part you play you’ll be helping us deliver operational excellence to our customers.
At our Western Approach site, we specialise in the design and manufacture of large complex composite structural wing assemblies for a combination of both civil and military aircraft. 

We are seeking a new Operations Lead to sit on the Senior Leadership Team. 
In this role, you will be accountable for defining and delivering the future for this part OF our business, attaining operational excellence. Links into the Senior Leadership team to influence and gain resources to deploy designated area plans. You will be part of a High Performance Leadership team and will ensure the delivery of People, Safety Quality, Delivery, Inventory and Productivity (PSQDIP) targets through the disciplined and rigorous deployment of the Lean Operating Model also be accountable for creating a 'Great Place To Work' through developing and empowering first class Leaders and driving a culture of continuous improvement, safe working and open dialogue.
 

How You'll Contribute

In this key leadership role, you will:

• Create and sustain a culture that is aligned to the GKN Aerospace "Great Place To Work" value drivers and Culture Principles by role-modelling behaviours, motivating, encouraging and recognising the contribution of individuals and teams.
• Hold IPT Members and Group Leaders accountable to embody the GKNA culture principles
• Input and hold accountability for achieving budget expectations
• Be Open and Honest when appraising and managing individuals' performance whilst supporting and coaching individuals to close performance gaps
• Exemplify a safety-first mindset and ensuring that the GKN Aerospace Health, Safety and Environmental policies and standards are applied and that their assigned areas are a model of a world class healthy and safe working environment
• Develop first-class Group Leaders who embody the company's culture principles and are readily able to progress to become Operations Leads or take other key roles in the business
• Lead and develop your team to understand the context, mechanics and the delivery of PSQDIP targets to meet customer and stakeholder commitments
• Drive the disciplined and rigorous deployment of the Lean Operating Model (LOM) across their assigned areas
• Take active involvement in problem solving and the management system using a 'Go to Gemba' approach to solve problems with the ambition that 98% of issues can be solved within the Group Leader area itself
• Contribute to the Site strategy through the Hoshin Kanri (Strategy Deployment) process and ensuring its execution across their assigned areas
• Understand the 'bigger picture' and cooperate with other Functional Leads to ensure the best performance outcomes for the entire site
• Hold the functional support staff accountable for adhering to the Global standards and enabling their area teams to meet their targets
• Ensure the disciplined execution of Daily Management and Standardised work through the conscientious adherence to Leader Standard Work
• Drive and facilitating the Engagement of all team members, ensuring engagement actions are defined, implemented and followed-through
•  Comply with all legal and regulatory requirements and ensuring that staff are aware of the policies and their individual responsibilities and accountabilities: The  Company's Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action policies, Compliance and Ethics Policy on Contracting with the United States Government in all areas of responsibility involving direct and indirect contracting with the United States Government
• Uphold Export Control regulations
• Input to Capex projects 
• Hold responsibility for managing Area budget as agreed with Site Director
• Take ownership when having to make difficult decisions linked to your area

What You'll Bring

To help us make a difference, you'll bring your passion and expertise/ talent for what you do along with the following skills, experience, qualifications and attributes:
Essential:

• An evidenced track record in;
• Operations leadership
• Understanding of performance numbers and trends
• Meeting and exceeding PSQDIP performance targets
• Using effective communication to build a high performing team
• Influencing across functional lines
• The ability to Lead, Coach and Develop direct reports
• Consistently working to standards as defined in the site Business/Quality Management System (B/QMS)
• Good standard of English Language (written and verbal)

Desirable:

• Qualifications in an Engineering or Science discipline
• Experience working with a Lean Operating Model / Production System
• Lean or Six Sigma certification by a reputable certifying body or benchmark company
• Aerospace supply chain experience
• Travel requirements: majority of time spent in your own Performance Centre

What We'll Offer

Once you're on board you'll get the following perks and benefits:

• Industry Leading Pension Scheme = we'll match your contributions up to 8% on a 1 : 1.5 basis
• Opportunity to earn up to 22.5% bonus
• Annual car allowance of £5,500
• Flexible working hours 
• Life Assurance 8 x salary
• 25 days' holiday + bank holidays
• Income protection
• Shopping discounts
• Free on-site parking, bike sheds and a Cycle To Work Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• A collaborative, dynamic working environment with significant career development opportunities

We'll offer you fantastic challenges and amazing opportunities. This is your chance to be part of an organisation that has proven itself to be at the cutting edge of our industry; and is committed to pushing the boundaries even further. And with some of the best training on offer in the industry, who knows how far you can go?

A Great Place to work needs a Great Way of Working 

Everyone is welcome to apply to GKN. We believe that we can only achieve our ambitions through a coming together of diverse minds who enjoy collaborating in an inspirational environment. Through our commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging and by living our five powerful principles we've created a culture where everyone feels welcome to contribute. By embracing and celebrating what makes us unique we encourage everyone to bring their full self to work.

We're also committed to providing an accessible recruitment process, so if you require reasonable adjustments at any stage during our recruitment process please get in touch and let us know.

We are the place where human dreams, plus human endeavour, shape the future of aerospace innovation and technology.