Head of Manufacturing

Are you equipped with the experience and foresight to steer innovation and growth across the manufacturing landscape? if so, we may have the role for you!

What the role has to offer

• Help deliver world leading products to multiple customer groups across the different business domains within the Crawley site.
• Join a collaborative environment that values continuous improvement, invests in Lean and Industry practises, and supports your professional growth every step on the way.
• Shape the future of our industry function and empower teams to lead manufacturing innovation.

Our Opportunity

Step into a high impact leadership role at our Crawley site, where you will shape the future of our manufacturing function through strategic transformation. Our manufacturing function here in Crawley focuses on low volume production of high complexity products, ensuring we meet the diverse needs of our customers with precision and efficiency. This role has a dual focus on customer satisfaction and the performance of your organisation. You will be responsible for the functional leadership of the full operational ecosystem within your area, overseeing approximately 120 team members. You will be responsible for deploying the Industrial strategy, including the human, financial, and physical resources needed to ensure proper implementation of the policies and plans adopted in the short, medium, and long term.

Key tasks/Responsibilities:

• Is responsible for the industrial delivery (end to end) for the Business Domains at Crawley
• Guarantee the industrial/manufacturing engineering of new products (from the design phase) and the reliability and competitiveness of the technological solutions
• Guarantee that internal manufacturing meets quality, time and cost expectations by optimising inventory, supply, industrial solution, and WIP (work in progress) – Is responsible for the UPC (estimate, delivery, and improvement) of recurring products, post-PRR (Production Readiness Review) acceptance.
• Play a key role in the introduction and management of change, and the development of a continuous improvement culture
• Ensure the appropriate application of industrial toolsets (ERP, QMS etc.) so they contribute to the effective deployment, maintenance, and improvement of industrial processes

About You

We are seeking a hands-on Head of Manufacturing who can lead and inspire our entire manufacturing operations. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of driving operational excellence, continuous improvement, and innovation within complex manufacturing environments.

You will possess strong leadership skills to build and develop high-performing teams, with the ability to align manufacturing strategies to business goals and deliver sustainable growth.

Expertise in lean manufacturing and modern production methods is important, and managing large-scale production functions is essential.

Your exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills will enable you to collaborate across functions and with external partners.

Flexibility

Your health and well-being matter to us and that’s why we offer you the flexibility to do what’s important to you; whether that’s part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.

Thales is an equal opportunities employer and diversity, and inclusion are integral to the success of Thales.

This role will require SC Clearance. It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant will undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance. Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance.

To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years’ residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks.

For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the National Security Vetting (NSV) Agency - United Kingdom Security Vetting - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

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In line with Thales' Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.

At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working.

Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro-diverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment, if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Resourcing Ops for mid to senior roles, or the Early Careers Team for graduate and apprentice roles.

Great journeys start here, apply now!