Head Of Manufacturing

Morgan Ryder Associates; High Wycombe; On-site; GBP 54,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension

25 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays

Life insurance

Health care scheme

Virtual GP

Gym membership discount

Retail discounts

Job summary

Morgan Ryder Associates is seeking an ambitious Head of Manufacturing to own our manufacturing operation and lead a ~100-strong team in a made‑to‑order environment. You’ll work with Shift Managers and broader teams to deliver safety, quality, productivity and performance.

You will drive output, optimise labour, reduce waste and instill a culture of accountability and continuous improvement on the shop floor.

Qualifications

• Experience leading manufacturing in a high-variety, made-to-order environment.
• Proven ability to drive productivity, safety and quality improvements.
• Strong leadership, coaching and people development skills.
• Excellent organisation and prioritisation in a fast-paced setting.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day manufacturing operations to meet demand safely, efficiently and on time.
• Drive output, productivity and labour efficiency with daily/hourly targets.
• Reduce overtime, waste and scrap through better processes and planning.
• Build a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and discipline.
• Develop Shift Managers and Team Leaders into a high-performing leadership team.
• Champion Lean, 5S, Kaizen and root-cause analysis across the operation.
• Monitor performance, identify issues and take corrective action.
• Collaborate with Planning, Quality, Customer Service and Operations.

Skills

Manufacturing leadership

Lean manufacturing

5S

Kaizen

Six Sigma (advantage)

Job description

Head of Manufacturing

Lead. Improve. Inspire. Deliver.

We're looking for an ambitious, people-focused Head of Manufacturing to take ownership of our manufacturing operation and lead a team of around 100 people in a fast-paced, made-to-order environment.

This is a highly visible leadership role for someone who thrives on the shop floor, enjoys solving problems and knows how to turn operational challenges into measurable improvements.

Reporting to the Operations Director, you'll lead our production teams and work closely with Shift Managers, Team Leaders and wider business functions to deliver safety, quality, productivity and performance.

What you'll be responsible for

• Lead day-to-day manufacturing operations to deliver customer demand safely, efficiently and on time.
• Drive output, productivity and labour efficiency, with a strong focus on achieving daily and hourly targets.
• Reduce overtime, waste and scrap through better processes, planning and workforce utilisation.
• Build a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and operational discipline.
• Lead and develop Shift Managers and Team Leaders, creating a strong, engaged and high-performing leadership team.
• Champion Lean, 5S, Kaizen, root‑cause analysis and problem‑solving across the operation.
• Monitor factory performance, identify issues quickly and take decisive corrective action.
• Work collaboratively with Planning, Quality, Customer Service and Operations to achieve business objectives.
• Be a highly visible, approachable leader who sets the standard and leads from the front.

What we're looking for

• You’ll be an experienced manufacturing leader with experience ideally gained within a high‑variety, made‑to‑order environment.
• Strong leadership skills and the ability to motivate, coach and develop people.
• Excellent organisation and prioritisation skills in a changing, fast‑paced environment.
• A hands‑on, practical approach to problem solving and troubleshooting.
• A track record of improving productivity, efficiency and operational performance.
• The confidence to set clear expectations, hold people accountable and build respect.
• Excellent communication skills and a genuine focus on customers and teamwork.
• Resilience, adaptability and a continuous‑improvement mindset.
• Lean Manufacturing, 5S, Kaizen or Six Sigma experience would be advantageous.

This is an opportunity to make a real difference. You'll have the visibility, responsibility and influence to shape how our manufacturing operation performs - while developing a talented team and creating a culture where people and performance go hand in hand.

On offer

A salary to £90,000

• Pension
• 25 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays
• Life insurance
• Health care scheme
• Virtual GP
• Gym membership discount
• Retail discounts

Equal opportunities are important to us. We believe that diversity and inclusion at Morgan Ryder Associates are critical to our success as DE&I positive company, so we want to recruit, develop, and keep the best talent. We encourage applications from everyone, regardless of background, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, ethnicity, belief, age, family or parental status, and any other characteristic.