Head of Production

At Oxford Instruments Plasma Technology, we are driving the next phase of growth in the rapidly expanding high-volume manufacturing (HVM) market for compound semiconductors. Building on our strong foundation in the research sector, we are scaling our operations to meet increasing global demand — and this is where you come in.

We are seeking a Head of Production to play a critical leadership role in our Operational Excellence journey, transforming our Production, Supply Chain, Stores and Dispatch functions to support sustainable growth, improved customer outcomes and world-class manufacturing performance.

The Opportunity:

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.

Key Responsibilities:

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

About You:

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.

Qualifications:

• Degree in Engineering, Manufacturing or a related discipline (or equivalent experience)
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (or equivalent practical experience)

Why Join Us?

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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