Who We Are:
At Amazon Filters Ltd, we are a leading UK manufacturer of bespoke filtration solutions, supplying customers across a wide range of sectors including water treatment, food & beverage, pharmaceuticals and energy.
For over 40 years, we have designed and produced high‑quality filter cartridges and housings that help customers achieve operational excellence while meeting demanding regulatory standards.
As a growing, values‑led business, we are committed to continuous improvement and are always looking for skilled, forward‑thinking individuals to help us strengthen our internal capability.
The Role
As our Head of Operations, you will be part of the Strategic Leadership Team and will lead all manufacturing and operational activities across Amazon Filters to ensure safe, efficient, cost‑effective and high‑quality product supply. Reporting directly to the Managing Director, you will oversee Production, Production Planning, Procurement and Logistics, ensuring output meets customer demand, quality standards and commercial targets.
This role exists to strengthen operational capability, drive continuous improvement, and ensure our manufacturing performance supports both current business needs and long‑term strategic growth. You will act as a senior operational leader, working closely with Production Managers, Planning, Procurement, Logistics and Quality to deliver excellence across the full operational value chain.
This position is ideal for an experienced operational leader who thrives in a hands‑on, fast‑paced manufacturing environment and enjoys shaping systems, processes and teams to deliver consistently high performance.
Key Responsibilities
Key responsibilities for this role include:
Operational Leadership
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Provide strategic and day‑to‑day leadership across Production, Production Planning, Procurement and Logistics.
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Ensure production output meets customer demand, quality standards and delivery commitments.
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Lead capacity planning, resource allocation and workforce optimisation across all manufacturing areas.
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Maintain a strong presence on the shop floor, ensuring operational discipline, safety and performance.
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Drive productivity, efficiency and continuous improvement programmes to optimise operational performance.
Performance, Insight & Continuous Improvement
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Own and deliver operational KPIs including OEE, productivity, scrap, on‑time delivery and cost per unit.
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Lead continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma or similar methodologies.
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Standardise processes, documentation and operating procedures across all operational teams.
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Identify and implement efficiency improvements to reduce waste and maximise throughput.
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Provide clear, data‑driven insight to the Managing Director and senior leadership team.
Quality, Compliance & Safety
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Ensure all operations comply with relevant regulatory, quality and safety standards.
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Partner closely with Quality to resolve issues, reduce defects and improve first‑time‑pass rates.
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Champion a safety‑first culture with robust risk assessments, training and incident management.
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Lead HSE compliance and improvement activities across operational teams.
Planning, Materials & Supply Chain Collaboration
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Oversee production planning to ensure accurate forecasting, scheduling and material availability.
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Collaborate with Supply Chain to optimise inventory levels, minimise shortages and reduce excess stock.
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Ensure planning processes support efficient workflow and minimise downtime.
Financial & Commercial Accountability
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Manage operational budgets including labour, overheads and capital expenditure.
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Identify cost‑saving opportunities and deliver year‑on‑year efficiency improvements.
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Support commercial teams with operational input for bids, customer visits and capacity assessments.
Strategic Contribution
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Contribute to business strategy, annual planning and long‑term operational roadmaps.
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Lead operational readiness for new products, technologies or site expansions.
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Act as a senior leader within the organisation, shaping operational capability and culture.
This role is primarily site‑based, working 37.5 hours per week, with standard hours of 08:30–17:00 Monday to Thursday and 08:30–14:30 on Fridays. Flexibility to work from home may be agreed where appropriate and in line with business needs.
About You
We are looking for a confident, experienced and improvement‑focused operational leader who thrives in a manufacturing environment and enjoys driving performance through people, process and data.
Essential Requirements:
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Degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management or related field.
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Significant leadership experience within a manufacturing environment of comparable scale.
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Proven track record of managing Production and Planning teams.
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Strong understanding of Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement and operational excellence.
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Demonstrable experience delivering performance improvements and cost efficiencies.
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Experience setting and managing budgets and capital projects.
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Strong analytical capability with experience using KPIs to drive decision‑making.
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Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder‑management skills.
Desirable Qualifications & Experience:
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Lean/Six Sigma certification.
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Experience within B2B manufacturing, engineering or regulated industries.
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Experience leading multi‑disciplinary operational teams.
Attributes That Set You Apart:
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Proactive & Improvement‑Focused – Always seeking better ways of working.
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Strong Leader – Able to inspire, challenge and support multiple teams.
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Systems Thinker – Understands how processes, people and resources connect.
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Highly Organised – Strong prioritisation and attention to detail.
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Clear Communicator – Able to translate operational detail into business‑level insight.
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Resilient & Adaptable – Comfortable leading through change and challenge.
Our Company Values & Behaviours
We are proud of our culture and expect every colleague to live by our Values & Behaviours, which shape how we work together.
Behaviours:
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Show You Care: Take time to listen, support and collaborate with colleagues and lead by example
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Focus on Quality: Strive for excellence in every task, from customer interactions to internal processes. Demonstrating a desire for continuous improvement
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Own It: Be accountable for your work, take initiative and actively seek feedback to grow
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Be Positive: Approach challenges with optimism and look for positive solutions to issues
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Be Polite & Friendly – Treat everyone with respect and courtesy both internally and externally
Values:
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Trusted: Be reliable and preserve trust by building relationships with transparency, accountability and ethical conduct
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Accessible: Willingness and ability in responding to and support colleagues and customers when they need it
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Expert: Demonstrate skill and knowledge to provide clarity and expertise every step of the way
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Innovative: Embrace creativity and forward thinking to drive positive change and create opportunities for improvement
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Proven: Drawing on experience in your field of expertise to provide robust solutions
Benefits:
Joining Amazon Filters means becoming part of a supportive and people‑focused business. We offer a competitive salary alongside a comprehensive benefits package, including:
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Healthcare Cash Plan: Claim back on dental, optical and physiotherapy costs
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Profit Share Scheme: Twice‑yearly bonus payments (March & September)
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Volunteering Days : Two paid days per year to support local communities
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Early Finish Fridays: Shorter working day every Friday
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Annual Leave: 24 days plus bank holidays (increasing with service), with the option to buy up to 5 additional days
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Enhanced Pension Scheme: Salary sacrifice pension scheme
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Financial Wellbeing Support: Access to expert tools and resources
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Wellbeing Support: Employee Assistance Programme and Mental Health First Aiders
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Retail & Gym Discounts: Savings on everyday purchases and fitness memberships
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Cycle to Work Scheme: Tax‑free bike and accessories