Head of Manufacturing

Practicus; Hemel Hempstead; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Practical, hands-on Head of Manufacturing role in Hemel Hempstead leading a fast-moving consumer products site. You will own all manufacturing operations, safety, quality and continuous improvement, guiding a small leadership team and coordinating with external partners to enable scale.

You will drive manufacturing excellence, implement Lean initiatives, and ensure the site delivers robust performance while developing people and processes for future growth.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading a manufacturing operation and small site-based team.
• Track record implementing new manufacturing equipment and process improvements.
• Strong understanding of quality, compliance, HSE, maintenance and performance.

Responsibilities

• Take full ownership of day-to-day manufacturing operations including production, engineering, maintenance, HSE, quality and continuous improvement.
• Lead and develop a small manufacturing leadership team with clear accountability.
• Establish a culture around health, safety, quality, compliance and operational excellence.
• Identify and deliver improvements to efficiency, capacity, yield, cost, quality and downtime.
• Oversee implementation of new equipment and ensure assets are reliable and fit for growth.
• Develop and implement Lean / Continuous Improvement initiatives.
• Own manufacturing performance metrics, reporting and operating rhythms.
• Collaborate with Product Development and on-site technical teams to enable manufacturability.
• Partner with Procurement and Supply Chain on raw materials and packaging.

Skills

Leadership

Manufacturing operations

HSE & safety

Lean / CI

People development

Job description

Location - Hemel Hempstead - 5 days on site

Are you an experienced manufacturing leader who thrives in a fast-paced, hands-on environment?

We’re working with a high-growth consumer products business undergoing an exciting period of transformation and expansion. As the business continues to scale, they are looking for a Head of Manufacturing to take full ownership of their manufacturing operation and play a key role in building the foundations for the next stage of growth.

This is a newly created leadership position with genuine scope to make your mark. You’ll have ownership of a manufacturing site, a small but established leadership team, external manufacturing partners and the wider manufacturing strategy.

The Opportunity

This is not a role for someone who wants to sit behind a desk managing from a distance.

You’ll be a visible, hands-on leader who takes ownership of the people, culture, facilities, production, engineering, quality, safety and performance of the site. The operation is relatively small, which means you’ll have the opportunity to influence virtually every aspect of manufacturing and make meaningful improvements quickly.

You’ll also oversee relationships with external co-manufacturers and contribute to the development of a broader manufacturing network as the business expands internationally.

Key Responsibilities

• Take full ownership of day-to-day manufacturing operations, including production, engineering, maintenance, HSE, quality and continuous improvement.
• Lead and develop a small manufacturing leadership team, creating clear accountability, confidence and autonomy.
• Establish a strong culture around health, safety, quality, compliance and operational excellence.
• Identify and deliver improvements across efficiency, capacity, yield, cost, quality and downtime.
• Lead the implementation of new manufacturing equipment and ensure assets are reliable, well maintained and fit for future growth.
• Develop and implement Lean / Continuous Improvement initiatives.
• Own manufacturing performance metrics, reporting and operating rhythms.
• Work closely with Product Development and on-site technical teams to ensure new and existing products can be manufactured effectively.
• Partner with Procurement and Supply Chain on raw material quality, security of supply, dual sourcing and packaging.
• Manage and develop co-manufacturing relationships, including identifying and onboarding new manufacturing partners.
• Provide a clear, data-led view of manufacturing capability, challenging unrealistic expectations while finding practical solutions.
• Support longer-term manufacturing strategy beyond a single site as the business continues to scale.

What We’re Looking For

We’re interested in experienced manufacturing leaders who have actually run a factory or manufacturing site and are comfortable taking ownership.

You’ll ideally bring:

• Proven experience leading a manufacturing operation and managing a smaller, site-based team.
• Experience implementing new manufacturing equipment and improving manufacturing processes.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing fundamentals, including quality, compliance, HSE, maintenance and operational performance.
• A track record of driving improvements in both efficiency and compliance.
• Experience with Lean, Continuous Improvement, TPM or similar methodologies.
• The confidence to make decisions and empower teams rather than having every issue escalated.
• A highly hands-on approach and willingness to get involved in the detail when required.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across Product, Supply Chain, Procurement and commercial teams.
• The ability to operate beyond the immediate site and think about manufacturing strategy more broadly.
• A genuine commitment to health and safety and consistently high operational standards.

Sector background is flexible.

Experience across FMCG, food, personal care, pharmaceutical, chemicals or other regulated manufacturing environments could all be relevant. What matters most is your manufacturing leadership capability and your ability to operate effectively in a high-growth environment.

If you’re a confident, hands-on manufacturing leader looking for an opportunity where you can have genuine ownership and visible impact, we’d be keen to hear from you.