Manufacturing Manager

First Recruitment Services; Uckfield; On-site; GBP 43,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-site parking

Generous bonus scheme

Pension scheme

Uniforms provided

24 days holiday + bank holidays

Job summary

First Recruitment Services is seeking a Manufacturing Manager for a busy Uckfield site in East Sussex. The role heads daily production across multiple assembly lines, guiding a team of around 30 operatives and 2 Team Leaders to hit targets and deliver quality and on-time delivery.

You will drive Lean improvements, manage inventory and capacity, and collaborate with Engineering, Quality and Warehouse to optimise performance.

Qualifications

• Previous experience as a Production Manager or Manufacturing Manager or similar leadership role.
• Strong experience in a manufacturing environment and production planning.
• Excellent KPI management and performance improvement skills.
• Good knowledge of quality, safety and compliance requirements.

Responsibilities

• Plan and manage production schedules to meet customer demand.
• Lead, motivate, and develop Production Team Leaders and Production Operatives.
• Monitor and improve production performance, efficiency, output and labour utilisation.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives including Lean Manufacturing, 5S, waste reduction and process optimisation.
• Manage inventory, raw material availability, WIP and finished goods stock levels.
• Analyse and report on key operational KPIs including productivity, downtime, quality, scrap, rework and delivery performance.
• Ensure products are manufactured to the highest quality standards.
• Work with Engineering, Quality, Warehouse and other departments to improve performance.
• Lead health and safety initiatives and maintain compliance across the site.
• Drive improvements in OEE, efficiency, productivity and manufacturing costs.

Skills

Production leadership

Manufacturing experience

KPI management

ERP & Excel

Lean/ Six Sigma (optional)

Tools

ERP system

Microsoft Excel

Job description

We are very pleased to be working alongside our established, reputable and very professional client as they seek to recruit a Manufacturing Manager on a full time permanent at their busy site in Uckfield, East Sussex.

Our client is a well-established UK manufacturer supplying innovative solutions to customers nationwide. They are seeking an experienced Manufacturing Manager to lead their manufacturing operations, drive continuous improvement, and ensure the highest standards of quality, safety, and efficiency across the production facility.

This is an excellent opportunity for a dynamic hands-on manufacturing leader who enjoys developing teams, improving processes, and delivering operational excellence in a fast-paced / high volume production environment.

Manufacturing Manager

Uckfield - with plenty of parking available for all staff on site.

Full time permanent role - Monday - Friday 39 hours per week. Mon-Thu (Apply online only) and early finish at 1515 on Fridays.

43000- 45000 per year plus generous company bonus scheme available. 24 days holiday plus all UK bank holidays, good company pension scheme. Suitable work clothes supplied.

The role - Manufacturing Manager

As Manufacturing Manager, you will take responsibility for the day-to-day running of multiple assembly lines, ensuring production targets, quality standards, and customer delivery requirements are consistently achieved. You will lead a team of approximately 30 production operatives and 2 Team Leaders while driving performance improvements across the operation.

Duties and responsibilities include:

• Plan and manage production schedules to meet customer demand
• Lead, motivate, and develop Production Team Leaders and Production Operatives.
• Monitor and improve production performance, efficiency, output, and labour utilisation.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives including Lean Manufacturing, 5S, waste reduction and process optimisation.
• Manage inventory, raw material availability, work-in-progress (WIP), and finished goods stock levels.
• Analyse and report on key operational KPIs including productivity, downtime, quality, scrap, rework, and delivery performance.
• Ensure products are manufactured to the highest quality standards.
• Work collaboratively with Engineering, Quality, Warehouse and other departments to improve operational performance.
• Lead health and safety initiatives and maintain compliance across the manufacturing environment.
• Drive improvements in OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness), efficiency, productivity, and manufacturing costs.

Experience, skills and competencies required:

Essential

• Previous experience as a Production Manager, Manufacturing Manager, Production Supervisor or similar leadership role.
• Strong experience within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong production planning and inventory management experience.
• Experience managing teams within a production or assembly operation.
• Excellent KPI management and performance improvement skills.
• Good knowledge of quality, safety and compliance requirements.
• Strong ERP system and Microsoft Excel skills.

Desirable - not essential

• Lean Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma experience.
• Experience driving OEE, labour efficiency and productivity improvements.
• Multi-line production management experience.
• Forecasting and capacity planning knowledge.
• Health & Safety qualification or certification.

Please note that no terminology in this advert is intended to discriminate on the grounds of a person's gender, marital status, race, religion, colour, age, disability or sexual orientation. Every candidate will be assessed only in accordance with their merits, qualifications and ability to perform the duties of the job