Job Summary
A rare opportunity to join an Automotive business undergoing radical transformation. A Director Level role that will play a major part in designing, developing and delivering state of the art manufacturing facilities to deliver the next generation of Lotus Sports Cars.
Not for the faint hearted, this is one of the key roles that will rewrite not only Lotus’, but Sports Car Manufacturing’s roles in the UK.
Responsibility for the development and leadership of a world class production team who build the full range of Lotus sports cars across multiple UK locations to include:
- Aluminium bonded chassis assembly, Anodising and Steel Fabrication operations (UK based)
- Internal supply; engine assembly; composite manufacture and trimming operations (Hethel based)
- Body and paint; body preparation, body bonding, paint shop and final finish (Hethel based)
- Vehicle assembly; chassis assembly; trim and final assembly and pass to sales (Hethel based)
Aligned to Lotus’ long-term vision:
- Deliver budgeted production volumes of current Lotus sports cars using existing workforce and industrial facilities against challenging supply, quality and cost demands
- In partnership with the Manufacturing Engineering Director, design and transition into new facilities capable of delivering the next generation of Lotus products with step change volume, quality and cost targets
Design and deploy a new Lotus Production culture and environment; develop existing and new staff to meet the challenges of the next generation of Lotus products.
Role responsibilities
Key responsibilities will include:
Current Products:
- Achievement of manufacturing volumes, efficiency, quality, improvement and HSE performance targets across all UK sites
- Assurance that vehicles build in line with released process to ensure compliance to appropriate legal, regulatory and market regulations
- Day-to-day management and Leadership of all manufacturing areas; ensuring cost effective deployment of resources;
- Defining and managing operational excellence across manufacturing to drive increased efficiency, overtime controls and year-on-year cost savings;
- Development and control of manufacturing budgets;
- Development of capital expenditure plans for manufacturing functions;
- Development of manufacturing procedures, policies and standards;
Long-term vision:
- In partnership with Manufacturing Engineering Director, the design and industrialisation of UK Manufacturing facilities capable of delivering the next generation of Lotus sports cars
- In partnership with the Manufacturing Engineering Director, pre-production delivery of the next generation of Lotus sports cars and readiness for SOP in line with program plans
- In partnership with Quality, Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering and HR, define the Manufacturing culture and environment required to manufacture the next generation of Lotus sports cars; develop structures, systems and skills within the existing and new workforce in readiness to meet and successfully overcome the challenges as we transition from old to new products
General:
- Be a significant member of a relatively new Senior Operations team, working with the Executive Director and peers to successfully develop the directorate in order to achieve our challenging but hugely exiting future.
Qualifications and Experience
Professional/Specialised/Technical Knowledge and Experience:
- Degree / MBA / Mechanical & Production Engineering or equivalent qualifications.
- Significant Automotive industry manufacturing experience, ideally including:
Low volume manufacturing operations (5-20kpa) - Cultural transformation
- New plant and product delivery
- Significant experience of implementing and operating industry respected Production Systems
- Leadership experience across multiple sites with workforce <1000
- Confident Board level influences with excellent communication capabilities
Skills and Aptitudes:
- A keen eye for detail and a willingness to be hands-on when required;
- Have excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and persuade;
- Have a strong team ethos; be collaborative and have the ability to influence across functions.
- Formal continuous improvement and Health and Safety training, ideally with recognised qualifications in both
Personal Attributes:
- Strong personal motivation and a desire to succeed;
- Driven and persistent with high energy levels – absorbs pressure and gets results;
- Flexible and adaptive – able to deal effectively with complexity, ambiguity and change;
- Extremely focussed – able to zero in on key issues and make well thought out decisions;
- Strong personal presence, possessing a natural authority;
- A natural leader who inspires passion and commitment;
- Commercially astute and results oriented;
- Sets high standards for themselves and others;
- Unquestionable personal and professional integrity.
Other:
- Ability to occasionally work weekends and late day shifts as required