Manufacturing Team Leader

Recruitment South East Ltd; Herstmonceux; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Recruitment South East Ltd. is seeking an experienced Manufacturing Team Leader to head a skilled production team in a high‑tech engineering environment. The role focuses on delivering quality, on-time delivery and cost targets, while actively coaching staff on the shop floor.

You will oversee end-to-end manufacturing processes and collaborate with Production, Planning, Purchasing and Quality teams to improve performance and drive continuous improvement on the shop floor.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a manufacturing team in a high-technology engineering environment.
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement techniques.
• Strong organizational, planning and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with shop-floor staff, technical teams and senior management.

Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate and develop the manufacturing team.
• Organise workloads and daily priorities.
• Monitor attendance, productivity, performance and standards.
• Coordinate training and cross-training as needed.
• Ensure materials and components are traceable throughout production.
• Review upcoming work and prepare tooling, programmes and setup information.
• Resolve day-to-day manufacturing problems and prevent delays.
• Provide progress updates to Planning and Production Manager.
• Support continuous improvement activities (Kaizen, 5S, root-cause analysis).
• Maintain quality procedures, documentation and training records.

Skills

Manufacturing knowledge

Leadership

Planning

Problem solving

Communication

Numeracy

Computer literacy

Lean manufacturing

Education

Engineering apprenticeship

HNC/HND in Mechanical Engineering

ILM Level 3 leadership qualification

Job description

Please only apply if you have the right to work in the UK.

Manufacturing Team Leader

Location: Hailsham, East Sussex

Full-time, permanent

We are seeking an experienced and hands‑on Manufacturing Team Leader to lead a skilled production team within a successful, high‑technology engineering business.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone with strong manufacturing knowledge who enjoys being visible on the shop floor, supporting their team and improving the way work is planned and delivered.

The role

Reporting to the Production Manager, you will take responsibility for the day‑to‑day performance of a manufacturing team, ensuring customer requirements are achieved across quality, delivery and cost.

You will oversee the manufacturing process from raw material through to component finishing, working closely with Production, Planning, Purchasing, Quality and Engineering.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading, motivating and developing the manufacturing team.
• Organising workloads and communicating daily priorities.
• Monitoring attendance, productivity, performance and standards.
• Identifying training needs and coordinating cross‑training.
• Ensuring materials and components remain fully traceable throughout production.
• Reviewing upcoming work to ensure materials, programmes, tooling and set‑up information are ready.
• Resolving day‑to‑day manufacturing problems and preventing delays.
• Monitoring production activity to achieve right‑first‑time manufacture.
• Providing accurate progress updates to Planning and the Production Manager.
• Helping to establish and achieve quality, delivery and cost KPIs.
• Maintaining visual management systems across the manufacturing area.
• Supporting continuous improvement, Kaizen, 5S and problem‑solving activities.
• Assisting with root‑cause analysis and coordinating rework where required.
• Ensuring quality procedures, documentation, labelling and training records remain current.

About you

You will be an experienced manufacturing professional who can combine confident leadership with a practical, hands‑on approach.

You will ideally have:

• Strong knowledge of manufacturing, fabrication, production assembly and testing processes.
• Experience managing or supervising within a manufacturing environment.
• Leadership, coaching and team‑development experience.
• Experience within a low‑volume, high‑tolerance engineering environment.
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement techniques.
• Strong organisational, planning and problem‑solving skills.
• The ability to communicate effectively with shop‑floor employees, technical teams and senior management.
• Good numeracy and computer literacy.
• A proactive and positive approach to achieving results.

Experience within a high‑technology or precision engineering environment would be particularly beneficial.

An engineering apprenticeship, HNC/HND in Mechanical Engineering or an ILM Level 3 leadership qualification would be advantageous, although relevant practical experience is equally important.

This position would suit an established Manufacturing Team Leader, Production Supervisor or experienced manufacturing professional ready to take the next step in their leadership career.