Off-Site Manufacturing (OSM) Operations Manager

About the role

Designer Group is looking for an Off-Site Manufacturing (OSM) Operations Manager to take full responsibility for the safe, efficient and commercially controlled operation of its Kells facility. You will oversee the manufacture of mechanical, electrical, fabricated and modular assemblies for Designer Group projects, delivering them to the required quality, cost, programme and installation sequence. The role aims to turn the facility into a profitable, scalable and professionally managed operation supporting increased production volumes and international growth, working closely with Project Directors, Project Managers, Commercial, Engineering, BIM, Procurement, Supply Chain, Logistics and QEHS teams.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day operation of the Kells OSM facility and plan and manage the manufacture of assemblies in line with project requirements.
• Develop and maintain production schedules aligned to project demand, site readiness, installation sequencing and available capacity.
• Take ownership of facility performance across safety, quality, cost, productivity, delivery and output.
• Build processes for production planning, work control, testing, storage, dispatch and delivery.
• Work with Project, Engineering, BIM and Design teams so production is supported by complete, approved technical information.
• Promote Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA), standardisation and repeatable production methods.
• Manage labour, supervision, materials, equipment and production space, and work with Procurement and Supply Chain on material availability.
• Monitor budgets, costs, margins and performance, and lead health, safety, environmental and quality performance.
• Implement lean manufacturing and continuous-improvement initiatives.
• Build and lead a multidisciplinary OSM team, and ensure finished products are packed, stored, transported and delivered on time.
• Develop reporting, performance dashboards and governance controls.

Required profile

• Degree, diploma, trade or recognised technical qualification in a relevant discipline; additional qualifications in Lean, Six Sigma, Project Management, Health & Safety or Quality Management are advantageous.
• Significant management experience in manufacturing, fabrication, modular construction, MEP prefabrication or a comparable industrial environment.
• Proven responsibility for running a production facility or substantial manufacturing function.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary manufacturing and technical teams and managing competing project demands within limited capacity.
• Strong understanding of health and safety in manufacturing or engineering, and high commercial awareness.

Required skills

• Production planning, labour management, materials, quality, safety and delivery.
• Manufacturing cost control, budgeting, product costing and operational performance.
• Experience improving productivity, throughput, quality or profitability and introducing new processes and controls.
• Desirable: mechanical and electrical prefabrication, DfMA, lean manufacturing, ERP or production-planning systems, and experience scaling a manufacturing operation.