Manufacturing Manager

Traka (Assa Abloy); Ashford; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Bonus scheme

Career development opportunities

Company pension 7% to 12% employer

25 days annual leave + Holiday Flex

Death in Service benefit

Long Service Awards

Cycle to Work Scheme

Childcare Voucher Scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

Sunray Engineering in Ashford, Kent seeks an experienced Manufacturing Manager to lead production operations, drive safety, quality, productivity and people development. You will ensure targets are achieved efficiently while fostering continuous improvement and employee engagement.

Key responsibilities include leading daily operations, developing teams, driving Lean initiatives, monitoring OEE and KPIs, and managing budgets within an ISO environment.

Qualifications

• University degree or equivalent in manufacturing, engineering or operations management.
• Substantial experience leading manufacturing operations in fast-paced environments.
• Proven ability to develop and lead high-performance production teams.
• Strong knowledge of Lean and continuous improvement methods.
• Experience managing budgets and key performance indicators.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Desirable ERP/MRP experience and ISO-certified manufacturing exposure.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day manufacturing operations to meet production, quality, and delivery targets.
• Develop and motivate high-performing production teams.
• Drive Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Monitor KPIs such as OEE, productivity, quality, and cost performance.
• Manage manufacturing budgets and operational resources.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, environmental and quality standards.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Maintenance, Quality and Supply Chain to optimise performance and minimise downtime.

Skills

Degree in Manufacturing/Engineering

Manufacturing management experience

Leadership / team development

Lean Manufacturing

Budget and KPI management

Communication & problem solving

ERP/MRP experience

ISO environment experience

Education

Degree in Manufacturing, Engineering, or Operations Management

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Job description

Manufacturing Manager Location: Ashford, Kent, United Kingdom Contract: Full Time, Permanent

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced Manufacturing Manager to lead our production operations and drive performance across safety, quality, productivity, and people development. You will be responsible for ensuring manufacturing targets are achieved efficiently and safely while fostering a culture of continuous improvement and employee engagement.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day manufacturing operations to achieve production, quality, and delivery targets.
• Develop and motivate high-performing production teams.
• Drive Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Monitor and improve KPIs including OEE, productivity, quality, and cost performance.
• Manage manufacturing budgets and operational resources.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, environmental, and quality standards.
• Work closely with Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, and Supply Chain teams to optimise performance and minimise downtime.

About You

• A degree (or equivalent) in Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations Management, or a related discipline.
• Significant manufacturing management experience in a fast-paced production environment.
• Proven leadership experience managing and developing teams.
• Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience managing operational performance, budgets, and KPIs.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Desirable Experience with ERP/MRP systems.
• Experience within an ISO-certified manufacturing environment.

Why Join Us?

We offer the opportunity to make a significant impact within a growing and ambitious manufacturing operation. You'll join a business that values innovation, continuous improvement, teamwork, and professional development while providing the support and resources needed to succeed.

What We Offer

At Sunray Engineering, we value our people and are committed to supporting their development and wellbeing. In return, we offer:

• Competitive salary.
• Bonus scheme.
• Excellent learning and career development opportunities.
• Company pension scheme with 7% employer contribution, increasing to 12%.
• 25 days annual leave plus Holiday Flex Scheme.
• Death in Service benefit.
• Long Service Awards.
• Cycle to Work Scheme.
• Childcare Voucher Scheme.
• Employee Assistance Programme.

We are the ASSA ABLOY Group Our people have made us the global leader in access solutions. In return, we open doors for them wherever they go. With nearly 63,000 colleagues in more than 70 different countries, we help billions of people experience a more open world. Our innovations make all sorts of spaces – physical and virtual – safer, more secure, and easier to access. As an employer, we value results – not titles, or backgrounds. We empower our people to build their career around their aspirations and our ambitions – supporting them with regular feedback, training, and development opportunities. Our colleagues think broadly about where they can make the most impact, and we encourage them to grow their role locally, regionally, or even internationally. As we welcome new people on board, it’s important to us to have diverse, inclusive teams, and we value different perspectives and experiences. We are the ASSA ABLOY Group Our people have made us the global leader in access solutions. With nearly 63,000 colleagues in more than 70 different countries, we help billions of people experience a more open world. Our innovations make all sorts of spaces – physical and virtual – safer, more secure, and easier to access. As an employer, we value results – not titles, or backgrounds. We empower our people to build their career around their aspirations and our ambitions – supporting them with regular feedback, training, and development opportunities. Our colleagues think broadly about where they can make the most impact, and we encourage them to grow their role locally, regionally, or even internationally. As we welcome new people on board, it’s important to us to have diverse, inclusive teams, and we value different perspectives and experiences.