Site Operations Director

Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) is part of leading independent global bus manufacturer NFI Group. With vehicles in service in the UK, Ireland, across Europe, Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand, Mexico, Canada and the United States, ADL is a global leader in the design and manufacture of double deck buses and is also the UK’s largest bus and coach manufacturer under the Alexander Dennis and Plaxton brands.

The company is now seeking to appoint a Site Operations Director to run their largest manufacturing facility based in Scarborough. As a key member of the ADL UK Operations Leadership Team, the role will be responsible for the manufacturing operations of the core site plus supporting third party manufacturing operations.

The Site Operations Director will be accountable for the core functions of production and manufacturing engineering in Scarborough with matrix model oversight of finance, health & safety, supply chain, quality and HR.

• Lead overall site operations to deliver efficient, safe and cost-effective bus production.
• Deliver and execute operational strategies aligned with business objectives and customer requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives using lean manufacturing principles to optimise processes and reduce waste.
• Closely manage site budgets and financial performance, including full P&L accountability and cost control.
• Build and maintain a high-performing teams through talent development and succession planning.
• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams to achieve production objectives and resolve operational challenges.
• Champion a culture of quality and customer focus ensuring all outputs meet or exceed expectations.
• Lead change management initiatives to support organisational growth and operational excellence.

The successful candidate will be an experienced Operations Director/Site Leader with a demonstrable track record of success within large-scale manufacturing operations – ideally in automotive or bus production. Candidates will bring experience of driving continual improvement projects and a strong understanding of lean manufacturing methodologies to implement positive change.

They will have experience in financial management and P&L ownership and highly capable of demonstrating success in unionised environments, with excellent communication and negotiation skills. Candidates should have a degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Business Management or related discipline with ideally a postgraduate qualification or professional certifications in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma or Continuous Improvement.

Finally, we require a strong relationship builder with good stakeholder management skills. Somebody who can influence and bring people along with them, quickly establish rapport with the wider leadership team and all functional areas of the business.