ThalesHead of Industry UWS (Under Water Systems)
Thales is hiring a Head of Industry UWS (Under Water Systems). Level rates it ; you can apply on Thales.
Level's read on this job
- Level rates this role Little AI ●○○○: aI is not part of the work.
- The posting mentions ERP, MES and Qms among its tools and skills.
- Level classes it as an executive role.
- Thales has 3,500+ other open roles on Level.
- Posted in the last few days.
AI in this role
Lead end-to-end industrial operations, manufacturing, supply chain, and Industry 4.0 transformation for underwater systems.
Thales is a global technology leader with more than 83,000 employees on five continents. With over 7,500 people in the UK, operating across defence, space, aerospace, and digital security, we help build a future we can all trust. Thales supports the security and stability of our nation by providing extraordinary technology to our customers, as well as delivering social value to the UK with our products and services.
Head of Industry – Under Water Systems (UWS)
Are you ready to lead industrial excellence in a purpose-driven organisation? At Thales UK, we are seeking a visionary Head of Industry to drive performance, innovation, and transformation across our Under Water Systems business—helping keep people safe worldwide.
The Role
You will lead the full industrial ecosystem, ensuring delivery across planning, procurement, manufacturing, and logistics. With accountability for both performance and customer satisfaction, you’ll shape and execute industrial strategy while championing lean principles and Industry 4.0 transformation.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead end-to-end industrial delivery, including planning, procurement, manufacturing, and logistics aligned to S&OP supply plans
- Deploy industrial strategy, ensuring effective use of human, financial, and physical resources
- Oversee supply chain, manufacturing, industrial engineering, and continuous improvement activities (total 300 headcount, 8 direct reports)
- Ensure successful industrialisation of new products from design through to production
- Deliver performance against quality, cost, and delivery targets by optimising inventory, supply, and WIP
- Drive adoption of Industry 4.0 and digital industrial technologies
- Ensure effective use of industrial systems (ERP, MES, QMS)
- Lead change management and embed a culture of continuous improvement
- Manage cost centre (~£15M) and industrial throughput (c. £200M+)
- Ensure compliance with Health, Safety & Environmental standards
- Represent industrial operations at bid and gate reviews, approving industrial solutions
- Act as industrial lead within business domains, supporting proposals and programme delivery
About You
- Senior operational leader with experience in complex manufacturing and supply chains
- Strong expertise in lean manufacturing and industrial transformation
- Proven ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams and drive change
- Excellent communicator with the ability to influence at all levels
Qualifications
- Degree in Engineering or Manufacturing (essential)
- Lean expertise (e.g., 5S, Kaizen)
- MBA, APICS or Green Belt (desirable)
Why Thales?
Join a global leader at the forefront of defence innovation. Shape the future of underwater systems while making a real-world impact.
Apply now and lead industrial excellence at Thales.
At Thales, we ensure equal opportunities, pay and working conditions for all. The benefits we offer include private medical insurance, buying or selling annual leave, cycle to work schemes, employee discounts, paid volunteering day, stocks and shares, annual bonus and much more depending on the role. Read more about our benefits here.
We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued for who they are and the unique strengths they bring. Discover more about our programmes, employee networks, wellbeing policies, and inclusive features here.
If this role isn’t quite right for you, we encourage you to join our talent community where your details will be shared with our recruitment teams for other potential opportunities. Join the Talent Community here.
Join Thales in the UK – Innovate with us and shape the future!
How we rate this
Head of Industry UWS (Under Water Systems) at Thales rates 0 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Little AI (AI Level 1 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.
Little AI. AI is not part of the work.
- ●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
- ●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
- ●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
- ●○○○ Little AI0 to 39
Levels come from how often the tools, models and workflows of the role are named in the posting itself. Read the description and count the AI tools, models and workflows it names.
Prepare for this job
Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.
Skills and AI tools this role asks for
Questions you could be asked
- Tell me about a project where lean manufacturing was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where supply chain management was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where industrial transformation was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where leadership was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where operations management was part of your work. What did you do?
Adapt your resume
- List these exact terms on your resume: Lean Manufacturing, Supply Chain Management, Industrial Transformation, Leadership, and Operations Management. An applicant tracking system matches the wording, not the idea.
- Attach one line of real, concrete experience to at least one of them. A tool named with nothing behind it rarely survives a human read.
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