Hands-On Production Lead — Small Team, 3-Shift

Aqumen Business Solutions Ltd; Greater Lincolnshire; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Aqumen Recruitment is seeking a hands-on Production Supervisor to join a Lincolnshire manufacturing site. You will lead a small team of around six operatives, keep production running, and drive quality, safety and performance.

The role covers a rotating three-shift pattern (6:00-14:00, 14:00-22:00, 22:00-06:00) and requires experience with plastics, food, pharmaceuticals or other fast-paced manufacturing environments, plus a proactive, shop-floor leadership style.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a production supervisory, team leader or senior operator role within manufacturing.
• A strong understanding of manufacturing processes and production machinery.
• Experience working towards production targets and KPIs.
• A practical, hands-on approach with the confidence to support shop-floor operations.
• Good problem-solving skills and the ability to react quickly to production challenges.
• Strong communication and leadership skills.
• Willingness to work a rotating three-shift pattern.
• Experience within plastics, injection moulding, extrusion, food manufacturing or pharmaceutical production.
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement principles.
• Experience identifying basic machinery faults and working alongside maintenance teams.
• Previous responsibility for small production teams.

Responsibilities

• Supervise, motivate and support a team of approximately 6 production operatives.
• Ensure daily and weekly production targets are consistently achieved.
• Take a hands-on approach to production, supporting operators and assisting with machinery when required.
• Monitor machine performance, ensuring equipment is running efficiently and downtime is kept to a minimum.
• Identify production issues and work proactively to resolve problems quickly.
• Coordinate workloads, allocate tasks and ensure appropriate staffing levels across production lines.
• Ensure products are manufactured to the required quality standards and specifications.
• Work closely with maintenance teams to report faults and minimise disruption to production.
• Monitor production output, efficiency, waste and overall team performance.
• Ensure all health, safety, hygiene and operational procedures are followed.
• Provide effective shift handovers, communicating production performance, outstanding issues and priorities.
• Support the training and development of production operatives.
• Promote continuous improvement and identify opportunities to improve productivity and operational efficiency.

Skills

Team leadership

Lean manufacturing

Problem solving

Strong communication

Hands-on

Shop-floor leadership

Tools

Injection moulding

Manufacturing machinery

Job description

Aqumen Recruitment is seeking a hands-on Production Supervisor to join a Lincolnshire manufacturing site. You will lead a small team of around six operatives, keep production running, and drive quality, safety and performance.

The role covers a rotating three-shift pattern (6:00-14:00, 14:00-22:00, 22:00-06:00) and requires experience with plastics, food, pharmaceuticals or other fast-paced manufacturing environments, plus a proactive, shop-floor leadership style.