CNC Turning Manager

DK Recruitment; Plymouth; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A precision engineering company in Plymouth seeks a CNC Turning Manager to oversee workflow and enhance operational efficiency. This role involves setting priorities, people leadership, and driving continuous improvement initiatives. The ideal candidate will have proven experience in CNC turning and people management within a fast-paced environment. Responsibilities include facilitating cross-functional communication, monitoring performance, and implementing development plans. This position promises career growth and a culture focused on innovation and quality.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a manufacturing or production leadership role, ideally in a fast-paced, high-mix environment.
• Experience in People Management.
• Proven experience in CNC Turning and Milling (essential).
• Experience in planning workload priorities.
• Lean Six Sigma or similar continuous improvement qualifications (desirable).

Responsibilities

• Define, prioritise, and communicate work pipeline priorities for Turning.
• Lead, manage, and coach a team of Area Leads, Setters, and operators.
• Monitor workflow progress and adjust priorities based on changing business needs.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives within the value stream.

Skills

Leadership

CNC Turning

Continuous Improvement

Problem Solving

Communication

Education

Production / Engineering qualification

Tools

FANUC control systems

Job description

DK Recruitment are working with a world-renowned, precision Engineering business based in Plymouth who are expanding their Engineering Management team. The business has a strong culture of innovation, professional growth and are offering an exciting career journey.

The CNC Turning Manager plays a pivotal role in the workflow structure, providing direction and operational oversight across their assigned area. Responsible for defining and prioritising the work for their dedicated area, the CNC Turning Manager have a clear and actionable workload to drive On Time Delivery (OTD). By acting as the primary liaison between customer services and production, the CNC Turning Manager maintains up-to-date order status visibility and supports the resolution of operational issues.

In addition to workflow management, this role, this role is accountable for people leadership, talent development, and creating a positive team culture. By focusing on both people and process, the CNC Turning Manager enables their teams to deliver high-quality results while fostering continuous improvement, engagement, and collaboration.

Key Responsibilities:

• Define, prioritise, and communicate the work pipeline priorities for Turning
• Provide Area Leads with clear, actionable worklists aligned to customer and business priorities
• Ensure alignment with quality standards and technical requirements by collaborating closely with Area Leads, Setters, and Leading Hands
• Lead, manage, and coach a team of Area Leads, Setters, and operators to ensure performance, engagement, and professional growth.
• Create a high-performance culture that promotes collaboration, ownership, and pride in quality.
• Implement structured people development plans, including training, mentoring, and succession planning to build future capability
• Champion a culture of safety, quality, and respect, embedding best practices and continuous learning.
• Support Area Leads in resolving operational and production issues that impact On Time Delivery
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives within the value stream to enhance quality, efficiency, and delivery performance
• Facilitate daily communication and coordination between cross-functional teams including production, planning, and resource deployment
• Monitor workflow progress and adjust priorities in response to changing business needs
• Participate in capacity planning and resource allocation decisions in partnership with the Resource Deployment Team
• Attend regular meetings with the Senior Management team to coordinate ongoing progress and discuss constraints
• Monitor performance and progress in your own area, analysing corrective actions and preventative measures
• Foster a culture of measurable continuous improvement and lean operations
• Identify and analyse production bottlenecks and workflow to improve throughput and overall efficiency

Knowledge & Experience:

• Proven experience in a manufacturing or production leadership role, ideally in a fast-paced, high-mix environment
• Experience in People Management
• Proven experience in CNC Turning and Milling (essential)
• Experience in planning workload priorities
• Experience with continuous improvement in the workplace
• Lean Six Sigma / Similar CI qualifications (desirable)
• Production / Engineering qualification (highly desirable)
• Ability to identify and support problem solving of bottlenecks
• Experience of FANUC control systems (desirable)