Job Description Summary

As the Senior Operations Leader for the NEU PCS engineering team, you will serve as a strategic partner to the Engineering Director. You will be responsible for defining and executing the operational framework that drives engineering excellence – building and leading a team to ensure that the business is operationally scaled to meet our future growth ambitions.

This role is for a high-calibre leader capable of moving the organisation from reactive to proactive, data-driven governance. You will own the end-to-end design, implementation, and governance of planning models and operational tools that align engineering execution with regional business strategy.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

1. Operational Governance, Metrics & Tooling

• Own and manage the suite of KPIs: Including project cycle time, spend efficiency, capacity planning, utilisation, SIOP, and technical debt.
• Architect Operational Visibility: Design and launch bespoke analytical tools to replace legacy reporting. Develop dashboards that provide real-time, accurate visibility, moving the team away from manual, spreadsheet-based processes, embracing the new suite of integrated business tools as they become available.
• Data Integrity: Champion the use of standardised reporting nomenclature across NEU and PCS systems to ensure seamless integration and accurate metrics capture.
• Monitor Operational Health: Ensure financial and operational discipline against budget and forecast.

2. Strategic Planning & Resource Management

• Advanced Scenario Planning: Lead long-range planning (LTS) by developing consolidated models that integrate Engineering, Finance, Market, and HR data to enable proactive recruitment and headcount forecasting.
• Capability Development: Identify capability gaps and define talent development requirements, leveraging partnerships to ensure the engineering team is scaled for future business needs.

3. Quality & Process Excellence

• End-to-End Governance: Take personal ownership of process gaps - from initial diagnosis through to design, rollout, and governance.
• Process Transformation: Act as the primary custodian of the Engineering QMS and lead quality improvements and developments. Drive accountability for "Right First Time" outcomes by establishing standardised governance frameworks that identify pain points and enable targeted interventions.

4. Continuous Improvement & User Experience

• Reduce Administrative Burden: Actively prioritise the user experience of the engineering team. Design and evolve tools that remove administrative barriers, ensuring that high-value technical staff remain focused on delivery.
• Change Management: Champion a culture of improvement through structured guidance reviews, workshops, and iterative tool optimisation based on end-user feedback.
• Global Collaboration: Align with Global Operations to standardise engineering processes where applicable, ensuring best practices are shared across the wider PCS organisation.

Qualifications & Experience

• Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field.
• Experience: Proven track record in a senior operational leadership role within a complex engineering or manufacturing environment.
• Skillset:
  • Expertise in Tool Implementation: Demonstrated success in designing/launching custom tracking tools and integrated planning models.
  • Analytical Rigor: Proficiency in data management, visualisation, and transitioning organisations from manual reporting to automated, data-centric governance.
  • Standardisation: Good understanding of quality standards (ISO 9001/14001) and global reporting requirements.
  • Project Management / Planning: A solid background in project management, planning and work package delivery.
• Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead through influence in a matrixed organisation and drive large-scale cultural change.

Core Competencies

• Strategic Ownership: Ability to take personal ownership of process gaps and see them through to a sustainable resolution.
• Business Acumen: Linking operational activities to financial and commercial outcomes.
• Integrity-Driven Transparency: Maintaining transparent, data-driven processes that clearly identify risks and enable proactive interventions.