General Manager

Attraktives Vergütungssystem Flexible Arbeitszeiten Mitarbeiterrabatte Work-Life-Integration Gute Entwicklungsmöglichkeiten Gesundheitsmaßnahmen Mobiles Arbeiten Altersvorsorge

Lead the full operational function on site, including R&D, production planning, procurement, manufacturing, testing, and supply chain management. Build and mature operational capabilities to deliver SOP‑ready manufacturing and test processes for sensors, systems, and interrogators. Ensure achievement of core operational performance targets including OTD, First‑Pass‑Yield, and product quality. Identify and mitigate single‑source and supply‑chain risks, ensuring resilience and continuity. Drive industrialisation activities to ensure the site becomes fully operational within agreed group timelines. Develop and mature documented processes across etching, sensor build, interrogator build, splice box/connection, and calibration, ensuring they are KPI‑driven and audit‑ready. Implement continuous improvement practices to increase throughput, reduce cost, and enhance quality. Partner with WIKA UK Quality (Shared Service) to ensure compliance with AS9100, ISO standards, and customer-specific requirements. Oversee quality governance, ensuring robust documentation, traceability, and escalation management. Lead or support supplier audits, ensuring supply chain adherence to quality and compliance expectations. Ensure strong R&D/Operations governance, including roles, RACI, and interfaces across teams. Collaborate with WIKA Sales to execute the commercial ramp‑up, accelerating revenues beyond grants/NRE into recurring product sales. Steer forecasting, backlog management, order intake, pricing, and margin performance. Support customer qualification and readiness through OEM Key Account Management, including audit readiness, PPAP/FAT milestones, and delivery capability for customers such as MHI, GE, Siemens, Parker. Establish and run structured Voice of Customer (VoC) loops for the XTP‑5000 product line. Capture, analyse, and communicate customer insights, feeding them back into R&D, operations, and quality improvement cycles. Ensure a minimum cadence of qualified customer feedback to drive product robustness, MTBF improvements, and reduction in COGS/unit. Own the business plan and budget for the Oxford site from 2026 onward, including cashflow, Capex planning, and lease considerations. Ensure governance, reporting, and financial stewardship that supports sustainable scaling and operational excellence. Deliver the financial KPIs expected within group timelines, including revenue targets, cost reductions, and operational efficiency improvements. Build and lead a multidisciplinary site team, ensuring clear roles, accountability, and effective cross‑functional interfaces. Develop a high‑performance culture grounded in safety, quality, delivery, and continuous improvement. Ensure the site is prepared for audits, SOP milestones, and OEM customer requirements.

Business Driven mindset - Operations & sales mindset; track record in turn‑around/change management within mixed R&D/Operations settings. Proven leadership in industrialisation/production of complex technology products (high‑mix/low‑volume, scale‑up). Strong communication (EN/DE), stakeholder management, ability to orchestrate VoC/market feedback. Technical qualification at degree level or equivalent would be advantageous. Optical sensing, pressure/process instrumentation, sapphire/opto‑electronics. UK director governance (Companies Act) or willingness to assume legal responsibility. OEM KAM experience with audit/ramp‑up milestones (PPAP/FAT), ideally with MHI/GE/Siemens/Parker. Quality/regulatory (AS9100/ISO) and supply‑chain risk mitigation expertise.