Director of Operations

UK Country Manager / Operations Director ***** Operational Excellence & Integration *****Life Sciences Technical Services UK-wide: Travel / Hybrid Working £120,000 - £160,000 (depending on experience) + Long-Term Equity Scheme An international specialist services group supporting life sciences and other regulated environments is entering a significant phase of UK expansion through strategic acquisition. We are seeking a high-calibre UK Country Manager / Operations Director to lead operational excellence, integration and performance across multiple specialist service businesses.The group typically acquires profitable, founder-led technical service businesses of modest scale but with exceptional long-term growth potential. These organisations often operate with strong local reputations and loyal customer bases, and require thoughtful integration, sharper commercial focus and disciplined, hands-on operational deployment to unlock scalable growth and margin expansion as part of a wider UK platform build.This is a senior leadership appointment with responsibility for operational alignment, cultural integration and sustained performance delivery across the UK portfolio.The RoleReporting to international executive leadership, you will:Lead operational integration of newly acquired UK businessesStandardise processes, KPIs and reporting across multiple entitiesStrengthen commercial discipline across pricing, utilisation and cost controlImprove service efficiency, margin performance and operational visibilityEmbed practical Lean and continuous improvement methodologiesContribute to acquisition due diligence and post-transaction integration planningDirectly lead and develop senior management teams, including former business owners retained post-acquisitionInspire, align and engage geographically dispersed leadership and technical teamsThe role requires regular travel across the UK as additional sites are acquired and integrated.You will operate within a regulated, compliance-driven environment where operational discipline must be balanced with leadership maturity and commercial sensitivity.Candidate ProfileWe are seeking an experienced, commercially astute and high-energy leader, ideally from life sciences or a closely aligned, best-practice technical services / manufacturing sector, who can demonstrate:Significant Lean / Continuous Improvement deployment experience within regulated or compliance-driven environmentsExperience operating within acquisitive or post-integration contextsConfidence leading experienced senior managers and founder-led teamsClear exposure to P&L drivers and commercial performance levers, even if full P&L ownership has not previously sat with youStrong understanding of value creation within service-led businessesAbility to influence at Executive level while remaining hands-on operationallyGravitas, resilience and emotional intelligence in complex reporting structuresComfort operating at pace within growth-oriented organisationsThis role would suit a commercially-minded Head of Operational Excellence, Integration Director, Regional Operations Director, or divisional leader seeking full UK leadership responsibility within a scaling national platform.The OpportunityThis appointment offers significant strategic influence within a well-funded and rapidly expanding international group.The position is designed for an ambitious leader motivated by growth, accountability and long-term value creation through meaningful equity participation.This appointment is exclusive to OPEX Selection. Should you feel your skills and experience are suitable please apply online. For further information, please contact Dan Sculthorp, Director at OPEX Selection in complete confidence. Should you be able to recommend a highly suitable candidate please contact Dan and receive a referral bonus of £300 (in retail vouchers of your choice) if the referral leads to a successful candidate placement.OPEX Selection is a specialist in recruiting ’Improvement Champions’; Lean, Six Sigma, Transformation and Operational Excellence professionals on a permanent and interim basis across the UK and worldwide.