Manufacturing Manager

Howden, A Chart Industries Company; Peterborough; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

33 days holiday

Company pension

Onsite parking

Progression opportunities

Cycle to work

Employee assistance programme

Job summary

Howden Turbo UK – Peterborough site is seeking an experienced Manufacturing Manager to lead Machining Operations. You will champion safety, drive operational excellence and develop a high-performing team across the manufacturing function.

The role involves contributing to the Manufacturing strategy, delivering projects, and ensuring customer commitments are met with focus on quality and efficiency. This is a permanent onsite role with a strong emphasis on continuous improvement and leadership.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience within a manufacturing, production or engineering environment.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, production planning and performance management.
• Experience delivering safety, quality and regulatory compliance (IOSH desirable).
• Experience delivering both new build and aftermarket products in a complex engineering setting.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Manufacturing function, with accountability for Machining operations.
• Champion safety, wellbeing and environmental responsibility across the team.
• Ensure on-time delivery to quality standards and cost targets.
• Develop, coach and lead a high-performing team including supervisors and operators.
• Drive continuous improvement via lean, Six Sigma and Kaizen initiatives.
• Collaborate with Project Management, Engineering and Supply Chain to deliver projects.

Skills

Leadership

Manufacturing operations

Safety compliance

Project management

Communication

Stakeholder management

Analytical thinking

Team development

Customer focus

English fluency

Education

IOSH qualification

Tools

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Kaizen

Job description

Location: Peterborough , England, United Kingdom, PE4 5HG

Company: Howden, a Chart Industries company

The Role

We are looking for an experienced and inspiring Manufacturing Manager to lead our Machining Operations in Peterborough. Reporting into the Operations Leadership Team, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring our Manufacturing function delivers outstanding performance across safety, quality, delivery, cost and customer satisfaction.

This is a hands‑on leadership position where you will champion a strong safety culture, drive operational excellence and continuous improvement, and develop a high‑performing team capable of supporting both new build and aftermarket requirements. Working closely with colleagues across Operations, Engineering, Production Engineering, Supply Chain and Project Management, you will help shape and deliver the Manufacturing strategy while ensuring customer commitments are consistently achieved.

As a key member of the Operations Management Team, you’ll have the opportunity to influence business performance, enhance manufacturing capability, improve efficiency, and invest in the future development of both our people and processes.

About Us

Howden Turbo UK – formerly Peter Brotherhood – is a long‑established engineering business with over 150 years of heritage in the design, manufacture and servicing of steam turbines and high‑integrity rotating equipment. From our Peterborough site, we support customers across power generation, defence, marine and industrial markets, delivering engineered solutions where reliability and performance are critical.

Now part of Howden and the wider Chart Industries group, we combine deep local expertise with the scale and innovation of a global engineering leader. This gives our teams the opportunity to work on complex, high‑value projects while contributing to Chart’s Nexus of Clean™ mission, supporting cleaner energy, improved efficiency and reduced emissions worldwide.

Joining our Peterborough operation means becoming part of a skilled, collaborative team where heritage meets innovation, and where your work directly supports the future of sustainable industrial technology.

What You Will Do

• Lead and manage the Manufacturing function, with specific accountability for Machining operations.
• Champion a culture of safety, wellbeing and environmental responsibility, driving a zero‑accident mindset across the team.
• Ensure products are delivered on time, to the required quality standards and within agreed cost targets.
• Develop, coach and lead a high‑performing team, including supervisors, skilled operators and apprentices.
• Drive operational excellence through continuous improvement initiatives, lean manufacturing principles, Six Sigma and Kaizen methodologies.
• Collaborate closely with Project Management, Engineering, Production Engineering, Supply Chain and other key stakeholders to ensure effective delivery of customer projects.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators, ensuring objectives and operational targets are achieved. Identify opportunities to improve productivity, reduce waste, lower costs and increase profitability while maintaining quality and delivery performance.
• Support capacity planning, forecasting and resource management activities to ensure efficient utilisation of manufacturing capability.
• Ensure machinery, equipment and facilities are maintained effectively to maximise productivity and operational reliability.
• Introduce and develop measures such as Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) to drive data‑led decision making.
• Prepare and support business cases for capital investment, equipment upgrades and manufacturing modernisation initiatives.
• Manage departmental budgets and resources effectively to support operational and strategic objectives.
• Lead problem‑solving activities, challenge existing processes and implement innovative solutions that improve business performance.
• Support the development and execution of the Operations strategy while contributing to wider business objectives and group initiatives.
• Maintain awareness of emerging technologies, customer expectations, industry developments and regulatory requirements to ensure continued competitiveness.

What Do You Bring?

An ideal candidate would likely have the following profile:

• Proven leadership experience within a manufacturing, production or engineering environment.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, production planning and operational performance management.
• Demonstrable experience managing safety, quality and regulatory compliance, ideally supported by an IOSH qualification or willingness to obtain one.
• Experience delivering both new build and aftermarket products within a complex engineering or industrial environment.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Strong project management awareness, including experience participating in project reviews and managing delivery priorities.
• Experience leading, coaching and developing teams, with a passion for building high‑performing and engaged workforces.
• Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build strong relationships across all levels of the organisation.
• Commercial awareness with an understanding of budgets, operational finance, KPIs and resource planning.
• Customer‑focused mindset with a commitment to delivering exceptional service and operational performance.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving capability, with a proactive approach to overcoming challenges and implementing improvements.
• A collaborative, team‑oriented leadership style with the confidence to challenge existing practices and drive positive change.
• Fluent English language skills, both written and verbal.

We’ve put together some criteria that we think is important for this role, but don’t worry if your experience and expertise isn’t an exact match. If you feel that you can add value to our role and to Howden more broadly, we would welcome your application and be eager to learn more about you.

This is a permanent position based at our office in Peterborough, including an early finish on Friday. Our range of fantastic benefits includes:

• Generous holiday entitlement package totalling 33 days annual leave
• Howden Pension Plan with a maximum employer contribution of 7%
• Company electric vehicle scheme through salary sacrifice
• Enhanced Maternity, Paternity, shared parental and adoption leave pay
• Free onsite parking
• Group Income Protection plan
• Access to My Howden Benefits & Wellbeing Portal - Cycle2Work programme, range of discounts across sivarious retailers, employee assistance programme, wealth of information to support health & wellbeing
• Dedicated Spark Service - free counselling, physiotherapy, financial support, medical second opinion, remote GP, personal training, nutrition consultations etc
• Opportunity to be involved in our ESG ‘Bright Future’ initiatives - STEM ambassador & volunteering