Gill Group – Operations Director; Location: Lymington, Hampshire

Join Gill Group as Operations Director!

Berwick Partners is thrilled to partner with Gill Group, a distinguished British engineering firm with over 40 years of expertise in high-performance sensing, measurement, and environmental monitoring technologies. With a stellar reputation for technical innovation, quality, and reliability, Gill serves diverse markets including renewable energy, meteorology, marine, defence, industrial automation, and transportation.

In 2025, Gill was honored with the King’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade, a testament to the quality of its technology and its ongoing international growth.

The Role

We are on the lookout for an experienced Operations Director to help shape the operational framework for the next phase of growth. This is a hands-on leadership role within a dynamic SME, offering you the chance to influence strategy, enhance organizational capability, and drive operational excellence throughout the business.

As the Operations Director, you will:

• Report directly to the CEO and lead Supply Chain, Procurement, Production, and Manufacturing Engineering.
• Play a pivotal role in the senior leadership team.
• Strengthen operational performance and improve manufacturing effectiveness.
• Embed a culture of continuous improvement across the organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the operational strategy aligned with business objectives and delivery targets.
• Drive manufacturing performance, productivity, and margin improvement.
• Lead production, planning, warehousing, dispatch, and procurement activities.
• Embed lean principles and continuous improvement methodologies across the business.
• Develop operational leaders and enhance organizational capability.
• Support business growth through improved operational scalability and performance.
• Contribute to the wider business strategy as a member of the senior leadership team.

The Person

This role is perfect for a visible, hands-on operational leader who thrives on improving organizations, developing teams, and driving meaningful change within a manufacturing environment. You are likely to bring:

• Experience as an Operations Director or senior operational leader in a manufacturing or engineering setting.
• A proven track record of enhancing operational performance, manufacturing efficiency, and profitability.
• Outstanding people leadership skills, with experience in team development and accountability.
• Expertise in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Strong commercial and analytical capabilities, supported by robust ERP / MRP knowledge.
• Experience in introducing structure, process discipline, and operational scalability.
• A pragmatic, collaborative leadership style, with the ability to think strategically and execute effectively.
• Experience in an SME environment is particularly attractive, especially where action is as important as direction.

The Opportunity

This is an exceptional chance to join a highly respected British engineering business with solid foundations, recognized technical expertise, and significant growth potential. As the successful candidate, you will enjoy:

• Genuine visibility and influence within the organization.
• Autonomy to make a lasting impact on the future direction and operational performance of the Group.

Package and benefits will be discussed during conversations with Berwick Partners.