Manufacturing Operations Leader: Growth, Lean & Quality

Michael Page; Manchester; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

Bonus

Benefits

Job summary

Michael Page is seeking a Head of Manufacturing in Greater Manchester to lead production operations, shape operational strategy, and drive continuous improvement. This pivotal role reports to the Managing Director and focuses on delivering safe, on-time, high-quality products while developing high-performing teams.

The ideal candidate will have senior manufacturing leadership experience, expertise in Lean and operational excellence, and a track record of improving productivity, quality, and

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for all manufacturing operations.
• Develop and implement manufacturing strategies aligned with business objectives.
• Lead and inspire production teams to achieve operational excellence.
• Foster a culture of accountability, safety, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure production targets are achieved safely, efficiently, and cost-effectively.
• Drive improvements in productivity, efficiency, quality, and delivery performance.
• Monitor and report on key operational KPIs.
• Optimise resource utilisation, labour planning, and manufacturing capacity.
• Lead Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to eliminate waste, reduce costs, and improve productivity.
• Implement best practices in operational excellence and manufacturing performance.
• Drive a culture of innovation and process improvement throughout the operation.
• Ensure products meet customer, regulatory, and company quality standards.
• Maintain robust quality management processes and controls.
• Lead corrective actions and root cause investigations where required.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant industry and regulatory requirements.
• Lead, coach, and develop manufacturing managers, supervisors, and team leaders.
• Build succession plans and support the development of future leaders.
• Drive employee engagement and performance management processes.
• Create a high-performance culture focused on achieving business objectives.
• Manage manufacturing budgets and operational costs.
• Deliver productivity and efficiency improvements that enhance profitability.
• Support capital investment planning and business improvement projects.
• Contribute to business planning and strategic growth initiatives.

Skills

Senior leadership

Operational excellence

Lean manufacturing

Production planning

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder management

Financial awareness

People development

Education

Degree in Manufacturing/Engineering/Operations Management

NEBOSH/IOSH Health & Safety qualification

ERP or manufacturing systems experience

Tools

ERP software

Manufacturing systems

Job description

Michael Page is seeking a Head of Manufacturing in Greater Manchester to lead production operations, shape operational strategy, and drive continuous improvement. This pivotal role reports to the Managing Director and focuses on delivering safe, on-time, high-quality products while developing high-performing teams.

The ideal candidate will have senior manufacturing leadership experience, expertise in Lean and operational excellence, and a track record of improving productivity, quality, and