Graduate Production Manager

MTrec Ltd; Washington; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Good pension scheme

Career progression opportunity

Competitive salary

Job summary

MTrec Ltd is seeking a Graduate Production Manager to join a rapidly growing specialist manufacturer. The role involves comprehensive training to oversee daily manufacturing, plan schedules, and lead a 45‑strong production team with a focus on meeting budgets and deadlines.

You will work closely with senior leadership, learn to drive KPI analysis, and contribute to continuous improvement while ensuring safety standards and on-time production.

Qualifications

• Degree in a related field (Engineering, Manufacturing, Business Management, Supply Chain or Operations).
• Demonstrable leadership potential from university projects, sports teams, or supervisory roles.
• Excellent organizational and planning skills with the ability to manage a fast-paced workload.
• Strong IT literacy and data analysis skills to evaluate KPIs and identify inefficiencies.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day manufacturing processes and participate in leadership development.
• Plan production schedules and allocate resources (people, materials, equipment) to meet targets.
• Monitor site KPIs and communicate performance plans and targets to the team.
• Lead and motivate a production team of around 45 operatives on a day shift.
• Identify opportunities to optimise processes, reduce costs and drive continuous improvement.
• Ensure safety and compliance with safe working practices on shift.

Skills

Leadership potential

Data analysis

IT literacy

Education

Degree in Engineering/Manufacturing/Business/Operations

Job description

The Company

Our client is a highly successful, specialist manufacturer experiencing rapid growth. To support their expanding operations, they are seeking an ambitious and driven individual to join the team as a Graduate Production Manager. This is a fantastic opportunity for a motivated graduate to step directly into a leadership pipeline with structured mentorship, fast-tracked career progression and hands-on operational training.

The Role

• As a Graduate Production Manager, you will undergo comprehensive training to oversee and manage the day-to-day manufacturing processes.
• Working closely with senior leadership, you will learn to ensure products are manufactured efficiently, on time and within budget.
• Learning to plan production schedules, allocate resources (personnel, materials, and equipment) and maintain rigorous quality standards.
• Stepping into a day-shift leadership role, ultimately managing and motivating a production team of 45 operatives.
• Learning to monitor, analyze, and communicate site performance plans, KPIs, and targets to ensure the team is aligned on shared goals.
• Identifying opportunities to optimize processes, reduce manufacturing costs, eliminate waste, and foster a continuous improvement culture.
• Taking full accountability for the daily safety and well-being of your department on shift, ensuring absolute compliance with safe working practices.
• Coaching, developing, and leading staff members as your management skills mature.

The Person

• This role is ideal for a high-calibre graduate looking to jumpstart a career in operational management and manufacturing leadership.
• Degree qualified (or equivalent) in a related field such as Engineering, Manufacturing, Business Management, Supply Chain or Operations.
• Previous experience in an engineering or manufacturing environment is preferred.
• Demonstrable leadership potential, which may include university group project leadership, sports team captaincy, or supervisory experience in a part‑time job.
• Excellent organizational and planning skills, with the ability to manage and prioritize a busy, fast‑paced workload.
• Highly IT literate with strong data analysis skills to evaluate KPIs and identify process inefficiencies.

The Benefits

• You will be working for a well‑established growing employer.
• An excellent salary.
• Career progression opportunity.
• A good pension scheme.
• The company are fully compliant with the latest health and safety requirements for current safe working practices.