Automotive Plant Manager

Tech Connect Group; Greater London; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Tech Connect Group partners with an automotive manufacturing business in Dagenham to appoint an Operations Site Manager. You will lead a busy vehicle build facility, manage the site team, and drive safety, quality and on-time delivery in collaboration with a major OEM.

You’ll take ownership of day-to-day operations, develop leaders, and implement lean initiatives while maintaining strong stakeholder relationships and ensuring adherence to regulatory standards.

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing a manufacturing or vehicle build site.
• Experience leading direct reports and shift-based operations.
• Experience with a major OEM or large customer.
• Strong leadership and people-management skills.
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement.
• Solid health and safety understanding in manufacturing.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder-management abilities.
• Degree in a manufacturing discipline and leadership qualification.
• Experience with IOSH Managing Safely for Managers.
• Automotive or vehicle conversion experience is a plus.
• NEBOSH or ISO 9001 knowledge is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day production and build operations, ensuring output meets schedules and quality requirements.
• Develop and coach shift managers, team leaders and production operatives.
• Build strong relationships with the automotive OEM on site.
• Own site health, safety, compliance and facilities management.
• Monitor KPIs across safety, quality, delivery and productivity and take action as needed.
• Drive continuous improvement using lean principles, including 5S and waste reduction.
• Ensure compliance with internal and customer quality standards.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to resolve production issues and manage risks.
• Support inductions, training and development.

Skills

Leadership

Lean Manufacturing

5S

Waste Reduction

Safety & Compliance

KPIs Management

Stakeholder Management

People Management

Communication

Site Operations

Automotive Industry

Education

Degree in Manufacturing

Level 5 Leadership

IOSH Managing Safely

NEBOSH / ISO 9001 knowledge

Job description

Are you an experienced manufacturing leader who thrives in a fast-paced automotive production environment and knows how to get the best from people, processes and performance?

Tech Connect Group is partnering with an automotive manufacturing business based in Dagenham to recruit an experienced Operations Site Manager. This is a hands-on leadership role with responsibility for the day-to-day running of a busy manufacturing and vehicle build facility. You'll lead the site team, oversee production, safety and quality, and work closely with a major automotive OEM to ensure programmes are delivered safely, on time and to the required standard.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day production and build operations, ensuring output meets programme schedules and quality requirements.
• Manage and develop shift managers, team leaders and production operatives.
• Build a strong working relationship with the automotive OEM based on site.
• Take ownership of site health & safety, compliance and facilities management.
• Monitor KPIs across safety, quality, delivery and productivity, taking action where required.
• Drive continuous improvement using lean manufacturing principles, including 5S and waste reduction.
• Ensure compliance with internal and customer quality standards.
• Work cross-functionally to resolve production issues and manage operational risks.
• Support site inductions, training and development.

Key Skills & Experience

• Proven experience managing a manufacturing, production or vehicle conversion site.
• Experience leading direct reports and shift-based operations.
• Previous experience working with a major OEM or similarly significant customer.
• Strong leadership and people-management skills.
• Practical knowledge of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement.
• Strong understanding of health & safety within a manufacturing environment.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills.
• Degree qualified in a relevant manufacturing discipline.
• Level 5 or above Management/Leadership qualification.
• IOSH Managing Safely for Managers.
• Automotive or vehicle conversion experience would be highly advantageous.
• NEBOSH, IATF 16949/ISO 9001 experience or a Lean/Six Sigma qualification would also be beneficial.

If you're an experienced manufacturing leader looking to take ownership of a busy automotive operation and make a real impact on safety, quality and performance, we'd love to hear from you.