Head of Operational Excellence

The Head of Operational Excellence partners with the Operations Leadership team to drive transformation through Operational Excellence initiatives. The scope includes the overall portfolio of improvement projects within Operations, collaborative projects with Engineering and TIG, Ops CI projects, performance metrics, and change management. 

Main Duties: 

Operational Performance Improvement: 

• Manage the overall portfolio of improvement projects within Operations and how they link to Williams and Operations’ strategy 

• Lead collaborative projects with Engineering (D2D, IPTs, targeted Leadtime initiatives) from the Operations perspective 

• Lead Continuous Improvement projects within Operations, focussed on Cost and Leadtime reduction whilst improving our Delivery and Quality performance, and developing a continuous improvement culture 

• Ensure any development of facilities includes Operational Excellence principles and support execution of complex projects 
• Support the collaboration with TIG to ensure all projects are delivered in the context of the end-to-end process 
• Improve clarity of roles: accountabilities, responsibilities, and required skills 

Data Analysis and Reporting: 

• Drive the development and use of Performance Metrics across the breadth of Operations 

• Use analysis of business performance metrics to prioritise opportunities and assess the effectiveness of strategic initiatives. 

• Present findings and recommendations to senior leadership and stakeholders. 

• Monitor the progress of strategic projects, flagging risks and roadblocks. 

Change Management: 

• Drive organisational change to adapt to new industry realities and enhance competitive positioning. 

• Ensure appropriate/effective change management and communications are in place for each initiative 

Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration: 

• Lead cross-functional teams to execute strategic initiatives 

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including Operations and Engineering Directors, and Senior leaders. 

Key Accountabilities:  

Fulfil all organisational expectations, including but not limited to the following:  

• Role model Williams Values & Behaviours, supporting and holding others accountable to do the same. 

• Always ensure that health and safety is appropriately prioritised, leading by example and ensuring that others comply with health and safety obligations. 

• Responsible for building an elite team and high-performance culture.  Ensure high standards of behaviour, conduct and the wellbeing of the team.  

• Ensure effective and high-quality performance management is in place, and work with managers to make sure suitable measures are implemented to close any identified gaps in skills or knowledge within the team.  

• Ensure effective talent management and workforce planning is in place. 

• Ensure brand adherence and high standards of department presentation are upheld. 

• Champion quality standards and continuous improvement across the business.  

• Ensure cost cap requirements are understood and opportunities for efficiency are optimised.  

Core Competencies: 

Operational performance 

• A deep understanding of business dynamics in an engineering/manufacturing environment, ideally prototyping or low-volume high-value product. This competency enables the identification of improvement opportunities and development of strategies for implementation. 

Action-oriented 

• The ability to ‘make things happen’ and drive the pace of change within an organisation, influencing their team and stakeholders to deliver rapid progress and measurable results.  

Decision-Making 

• The capability to evaluate options, analyse data, and make timely, well-informed choices that drive business success. Strong decision-maker who balances risks and benefits effectively. 

Leadership and Influence 

• The skill to inspire, guide, and motivate teams toward achieving strategic objectives. It also involves influencing stakeholders and gaining their commitment to initiatives. 

Innovation and Creativity 

• The ability to generate and implement new ideas, solutions, and approaches that add value. This competency fosters a culture of continuous improvement and competitive differentiation. 

Change Management 

• Proficiency in guiding organisations through transitions, such as adopting new strategies, technologies, or processes. It includes managing resistance and ensuring smooth implementation to achieve desired outcomes. 

Qualifications and Experience Level: 

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience.  

• Experience in Consulting, Business Performance Improvement or a similar role within relevant industry. 

• Proven track record of developing and executing successful operational improvement programmes. 

This job description is not exhaustive, and the job holder will be required to carry out from time-to-time tasks in addition to the above that will be both reasonable and within their capabilities. 

Williams’ core competencies are the design and development of racing cars to compete in the Formula One World Championship. As one of the world's leading Formula One teams, the company has secured 16 FIA Formula One World Championship titles since its foundation in 1977 and is now moving into an exciting era under new ownership defined by relentless innovation and living sustainable performance in every dimension.

At Williams Racing, we believe in nurturing talent and providing people with hands-on, real-world experience in motorsport. Our industrial placement programme is for the brightest and the best, looking to launch their careers in a dynamic environment, working on some of the most exciting challenges in Formula 1. You'll be an essential part of the Williams Racing team, supporting our mission to push the boundaries of performance. 

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Atlassian Williams Racing is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and inclusion. We are happy to discuss reasonable job adjustments.