Head of Manufacturing

Morgan Ryder Associates; Wales; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading manufacturing company in Wales is seeking a Head of Manufacturing to oversee multiple sites and enhance operational efficiency. The ideal candidate will have a proven background in manufacturing leadership, a strong grasp of continuous improvement methods, and the ability to foster a safety-first culture. This role offers an opportunity to shape the future of operations within a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading manufacturing operations in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to engage teams.
• Experience in implementing structured improvement methods.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop operations across multiple manufacturing sites.
• Champion a safety-first culture and ensure compliance.
• Drive product quality and enhance processes.

Skills

Leadership

Continuous Improvement

Data Analysis

Safety Compliance

Job description

Head of Manufacturing

Multi-Site Operations

Builth Wells

A unique opportunity has arisen for a proven manufacturing leader to join a well-established, growing business supplying high-quality products into essential sectors. With multiple sites under your remit, you'll play a pivotal role in shaping the operational future of a business that blends traditional expertise with an appetite for progress.

The Role

We're looking for a Head of Manufacturing who can balance strategic leadership with a hands-on, people-focused approach. This role isn't about imposing frameworks or rolling out theory - it's about understanding what already works, respecting the teams and culture that deliver it, and finding the right ways to build on that foundation.

You'll take ownership of performance across safety, quality, service, and cost. Using real-time data and meaningful KPIs, you'll identify practical opportunities for improvement - whether that's enhancing day-to-day processes or removing long-standing bottlenecks. The role will require a deep understanding of manufacturing operations and how to implement continuous improvement in a business that's on the journey, not at the destination.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop operations across multiple manufacturing sites, ensuring consistency and accountability.
• Champion a safety-first culture, ensuring compliance and proactive risk management.
• Work closely with site teams to understand current performance and unlock areas for improvement through structured, sustainable change.
• Drive product quality and service standards by enhancing processes, skills, and systems.
• Use data to inform decisions - not just to track outcomes - and build team capability to act on insight.
• Lead with integrity and empathy, understanding the importance of engaging people in the process of change.

About You

• You have proven experience leading manufacturing operations in an animal feed manufacturer - one that's fast-paced, people-led, and driven by quality and service.
• You understand how to introduce structured improvement methods in a practical, grounded way.
• You've worked in businesses where Lean, or similar continuous improvement approaches, were embedded because they worked, not because they were fashionable.
• You're a strong leader - but you listen before you act, and you know how to bring people with you.
• You have a strong grip on the numbers, but you also know that change only sticks when the culture supports it.

At Morgan Ryder we can provide you with a full range of employment opportunities from short term and fixed term temporary vacancies to permanent positions.

We recruit for companies that operate in the following industries: Defence Equipment, Food and Drink Manufacturers, FMCG, Packaging, Engineering, Automotive, Aerospace, Warehousing, Logistics, Waste Management, Petro Chemical, Pharmaceutical, Power & Renewable Energy.

Our commitment:

Equal opportunities are important to us. We believe that diversity and inclusion at Morgan Ryder Associates are critical to our success as a 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.

Please note that calls to and from the offices of Morgan Ryder Associates Ltd. may be monitored or recorded. This is to ensure compliance with regulatory procedures, record business transactions and for training purposes.