Manager Manufacturing

Zebra-Technologies; Preston; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday + public holidays

Car allowance

Up to 32 hours paid time off per year

Pension Scheme with matched 7%

Private medical cover

Cycle to work scheme

Incentive Compensation: 10% target

Job summary

Zebra Technologies is seeking a Manager Manufacturing at our Preston, UK site. You will lead the manufacturing leadership team and hourly production staff across a 3-shift system, driving standardization and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities include coaching shop-floor leaders, driving HR processes, and delivering Lean/Six Sigma initiatives while maintaining cost control and KPI rigor across the site.

Qualifications

• 5 to 8 years of manufacturing experience with at least 3 years in a supervisory/managerial role.
• Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Business, Engineering or an equivalent qualification.
• Proven Lean/Six Sigma expertise with track record of operator-led improvement.
• Strong financial acumen, including budget control and variance analysis; ERP/MES experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Preston site manufacturing leadership team and 3-shift operations.
• Standardize shift policies, performance metrics, and handover processes for consistency.
• Coach supervisors and team leads; drive visible leadership and bench strength.
• Own HR processes, appraisals, and development; reward high performance.
• Drive Lean/Six Sigma initiatives with Health & Safety and Quality teams.
• Manage costs, monitor KPIs, and report outcomes to senior management.
• Foster cross-functional collaboration with Planning and other departments.

Skills

Leadership

Lean Six Sigma

Financial acumen

Data analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Change management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Operations Management/Business/Engineering

Equivalent qualification

Tools

ERP systems

Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)

Job description

Overview:At Zebra, we are a community of innovators who come together to create new ways of working. United by curiosity and a culture of caring, we develop smart solutions that anticipate our customer’s and partner’s needs and solve their challenges.Being part of Zebra Nation means you are seen, heard, valued, and respected. Drawing from our unique perspectives, we collaborate to deliver on our purpose. Here you are part of a team pushing boundaries today to redefine the work of tomorrow for organizations, their employees, and those they serve.You’ll have opportunities to learn and lead in a forward-thinking environment, defining your path to a fulfilling career while channeling your skills toward causes you care about—locally and globally.Come make an impact every day at Zebra.What We're Looking For:The Manager Manufacturing role is a high-impact, leadership position based at our Preston, UK site. In this pivotal role, you will directly manage our manufacturing leadership team (Supervisors and Team Leads) and the hourly-paid production teams below them, coordinating operations across a 3-shift system. We are seeking a proactive, hands-on leader to elevate our site and redefine operational standards, optimize shift consistency, and build internal bench strength. If you are passionate about driving a culture of continuous improvement, coaching leaders, and building seamless cross-departmental collaboration, this role offers the platform to make a recognizable impact on the future of Preston's manufacturing success.ResponsibilitiesPreston Site Leadership & 3-Shift Standardization : Lead day-to-day operations across our 3-shift system. You will provide the leadership and framework to ensure consistency in policies, performance measures, and operational practices so that all staff experience a unified, fair management style. You will also optimize the 30-minute shift handover overlap to ensure seamless, efficient production transitions.Empowering Shop Floor Leadership: Support Supervisors and Team Leads transition away from administrative computer tasks to focus on shop floor leadership. You will guide them in prioritizing visible leadership, hands-on training, and regular 1-to-1 conversations to build true bench strength.Objective Performance & HR Management : Take full accountability for hiring, development, and team performance. You will shift the site appraisals to a more structured, year-round, metric-driven review process, actively rewarding high performers, constructively addressing poor performance, and resolving complex team grievances.Champion Lean, Quality, & EHS : Be the driving force in our continuous improvement journey. You will implement Lean/Six Sigma methodologies down to the operator level (including our Z-Stripe program), collaborate with the Health & Safety team to champion a zero-incident environment, and partner with Quality staff to ensure our teams consistently meet strict customer expectations.Proactive Financial & KPI Ownership : Provide the tools and resources to meet site cost standards. You will take ownership of Cost Centre budgets, rigorously monitor machine cycle times (set-up, run, tear-down), investigate labour and material variances, and report critical KPI metrics to senior management.Cross-Functional Collaboration & Project Leadership : Act as a strategic advisor and bridgebuilder to resolve complex operational issues. Develop strong networks with key internal teams, specifically aligning Manufacturing and Planning to work collaboratively. Additionally, you will represent the department as a project leader on significant initiatives.Qualifications5 to 8 years of proven experience in a manufacturing environment, including a minimum of 3 years in management or supervisory capacity managing shift supervisors or team leaders.Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Business Administration, Engineering, or an equivalent qualification.Demonstrated expertise in Lean/Six Sigma methodologies with a track record of driving operator-led continuous improvement and waste reduction.Strong financial acumen with experience controlling departmental budgets, managing expenses, and conducting strict labour and material variance analysis.Exceptional leadership and conflict resolution skills, with the ability to drive cultural change, standardize processes across multiple shifts, and manage complex cross-departmental relationships.A proactive mindset with an ability to interpret complex data and ensure system adoption. Experience with modern ERP and manufacturing execution systems.UK Benefits:25 days holiday + public holidaysCar allowanceUp to 32 hours paid time off per year to volunteer with a charity of your choiceReward & Recognition scheme - earn points to spend onlinePension Scheme with a matched contribution up to 7%Private medical coverAccess to an innovative online learning platformCycle to work schemeIncentive Compensation:In addition to base pay, Zebra offers this role the opportunity to earn a performance-based annual cash incentive, at a target equal to 10% of base pay, in accordance with the terms of the applicable incentive plan.Job Posting Statement:To protect candidates from falling victim to online fraudulent activity involving fake job postings and employment offers, please be aware our recruiters will always connect with you via @zebra.com email accounts. Applications are only accepted through our applicant tracking system and only accept personal identifying information through that system. Our Talent Acquisition team will not ask for you to provide personal identifying information via e-mail or outside of the system. If you are a victim of identity theft contact your local police department.AI Technology Statement:Zebra Technologies leverages AI technology to evaluate job applications using objective, job-relevant criteria. This approach enhances efficiency and promotes fairness in the hiring process. However, every decision regarding interviews and hiring is made by our dedicated team, because we believe people make the best decisions about people. For more on how we use technology in hiring and how we process applicant data, see our Zebra Privacy Policy .