Head of Production

This is a senior leadership role accountable for delivering safe, reliable, high-quality and cost-effective manufacturing performance in a complex, high-technology environment.

You will lead end-to-end production operations, driving performance across Safety, Quality, Cost, Delivery and People (SQCDP) metrics, while building leadership capability, improving production flow and embedding a culture of continuous improvement.

As part of the Operations leadership team, you will also play a key role in strategy deployment, cross-functional alignment and scaling manufacturing capability to support future growth.

Operational Leadership & Delivery

Lead Production, Stores and Dispatch with clear priorities, strong communication and visible leadership

Own production planning and execution to meet monthly and annual delivery commitments

Ensure a safe working environment with full compliance to HSE standards

People & Capability Development

Build, coach and develop high-performing teams, including line managers and technical specialists

Identify capability gaps and drive succession planning, hiring and skills development

Foster a culture of accountability, engagement and continuous improvement

Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement

Drive lean manufacturing and CI initiatives to improve flow, efficiency and scalability

Reduce waste across materials, processes and systems, supporting high-volume manufacturing readiness

Use SQCDP metrics and data insights to prioritise and deliver improvement initiatives

Cost, Quality & Performance

Deliver margin improvement through control of labour, rework, scrap, overtime and WIP

Improve product quality through robust root cause analysis and corrective actions

Standardise processes and systems to drive consistency and efficiency

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain and Commercial teams

Support New Product Introduction (NPI), ensuring manufacturability and production readiness

Lead pre-production builds and ensure smooth transition into full-scale manufacture

You are an experienced and credible manufacturing leader with a track record of delivering results in complex, high-technology environments.

Proven experience leading production or operations teams at scale

Strong background in lean manufacturing, problem solving and continuous improvement

Skilled in developing leaders and building high-performing, multi-disciplinary teams

Commercially aware, able to balance cost, quality, delivery and long-term performance

Data-driven, with experience using ERP and production systems to inform decisions

Confident decision-maker, comfortable operating in a dynamic, fast-paced environment

Collaborative and influential, with the ability to drive alignment across functions

Experience in semiconductor, precision engineering, vacuum, plasma or capital equipment manufacturing would be highly advantageous.

At Oxford Instruments, you’ll be part of a business at the forefront of scientific and technological innovation. Our tools enable breakthroughs at micro- and nano-scale across a wide range of industries.

We offer:

Competitive salary

25 days holiday + half-day Fridays

Private healthcare

Share incentive plan

Pension and flexible benefits

Structured career development

A collaborative, supportive environment with strong work-life balance

If you’re ready to lead transformation, scale operations and shape the future of advanced manufacturing, we’d love to hear from you. Apply now.

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All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or disability. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and would ask you to get in touch if you are concerned about any barriers you feel you may be facing in your application process with us.

Note to recruitment agencies: Oxford Instruments operates a Preferred Supplier List, and we do not accept unsolicited agency CVs. Please do not forward candidate details in response to this advert, or to any Oxford Instruments employees or other company locations. Oxford Instruments is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited CVs.