Operations Manager

Interim Operations Manager Contract: Outside IR35 | £500–£600/day Aurora Lifesciences is partnering with an innovative medical device company dedicated to developing solutions that improve patient outcomes and quality of life. As the company transitions from development to full-scale manufacturing, they are seeking a hands-on, results-driven Interim Operations Manager to shape production operations from the ground up.

The Opportunity This pivotal role requires a professional with start-up or early-stage medical device manufacturing experience, a proven ability to build high-performing teams, and a track record of improving yield and operational efficiency in ISO13485-compliant environments. You will lead on-site production scale-up, working cross-functionally to reduce waste, scrappage, and operational risk.

• Key Responsibilities Lead manufacturing and operations teams , providing strategic and hands-on leadership to optimise productivity, quality, cost, and service delivery .
• Build, develop, and mentor a high-performing production team , including succession planning and organisational capability development.
• Develop and execute operational strategy, budget planning, and KPI implementation to support business growth and investor confidence.
• Plan and manage manufacturing scale-up activities to meet commercial production demand.
• Drive process improvement initiatives , lean manufacturing, and workflow optimisation to maximise throughput and reduce waste.
• Ensure full compliance with ISO13485, FDA 21 CFR Part 820 , and other relevant medical device manufacturing standards.
• Establish and maintain manufacturing processes, cleanroom operations, and equipment standards to deliver safe, high-quality products.

Qualifications & Experience Proven leadership experience in medical device manufacturing , ideally within a start-up or high-growth environment . Demonstrated success in building and leading high-performing teams in a regulated manufacturing setting. Strong knowledge of ISO13485, FDA 21 CFR Part 820 , and other relevant medical device regulations. Experience in production planning, process validation, and lean manufacturing . Strong problem-solving, organisational, and decision-making skills. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills for effective cross-functional collaboration . If you are a hands-on operations leader with the vision, technical expertise, and energy to establish world-class manufacturing operations in a growing medical device company, we want to hear from you.