Head of Operations

Location United Kingdom
Discipline: Personal Care & Cosmetics
Job type: Operations Manager
Salary: £Competitive salary plus benefits
Contact name: Amber Alexander

Contact email: amber@merrittrecruitment.com
Job ref: 329
Published: 22 days ago

​Location: London, South-East

We have an exciting opportunity as Head of Operations at a cosmetics and personal care company. Their award winning brands range from skincare to fragrance. Their environmental and social impact is at the centre of their operations, with a conscientious approach to sustainability and social influence. Taking full ownership of the company’s operations, you will ensure world-class efficiency, productivity and quality across all processes. With experience in a Senior operations role, the successful candidate will be a dynamic leader committed to continuous improvement to transform the company into an industry leader.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Accountable for the delivery of customer orders.

  • Develop and execute operational strategies to drive productivity, profitability, and competitiveness.

  • Own the entire production lifecycle, ensuring operations are scalable, lean, and aligned with the company’s broader business goals.

  • Set and deliver on robust performance metrics for production efficiency, cost reduction, quality assurance, and customer satisfaction.

  • Build, inspire, and lead a high-performing operations team with a strong focus on accountability, continuous learning, and leadership development.

  • Oversee performance management, identifying and resolving issues proactively to maintain optimal productivity and team morale.

  • Lead efforts in capital expenditure planning, ensuring investments align with operational efficiency and business growth objectives.

  • Drive innovation within the production process, identifying and integrating emerging technologies that drive cost savings and process improvements.

  • Proactively identify and mitigate potential operational risks, ensuring a robust contingency plan for any operational or supply chain disruptions.

  • Serve as the first point of escalation for critical operational issues, providing fast, decisive leadership in crisis situations to minimise impact.

  • Work in close partnership with Planning, QHSE, Technical, Procurement, Supply Chain, and Finance to ensure seamless integration of operational goals with broader business objectives.

Candidate Profile:

  • Extensive experience in a Senior operations role, ideally within manufacturing or pharmaceutical sector.

  • Significant experience in scaling up business operations and improving efficiency, especially within limited capacity settings.

  • Demonstrated ability in mobilising new factory setups, including manufacturing and production.

  • Extensive experience sourcing equipment for manufacturing and production needs.

  • Excellent leadership and team management skills.

  • Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.

  • Familiarity with health and safety regulations and compliance standards.

  • Effective communication and interpersonal skills.

  • Bachelor’s degree in operations management, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field.

  • Must live within commuting distance of the site

  • Must have the right to work in the UK, sponsorship is not available

The successful candidate will be offered a great salary with opportunity for career progression within the group.