Manufacturing Team Leader

Apex Recruitment (United Kingdom); Long Eaton; On-site; GBP 41,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

Apex Recruitment - Leamington Spa is seeking a Manufacturing Team Leader to lead, develop and drive a high-performing production team on rotating shifts in a busy facility.

You will supervise operators, provide hands-on leadership on the shop floor and collaborate with Process Managers to improve safety, quality, delivery and overall performance.

Qualifications

• Previous leadership experience in manufacturing or production.
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to lead teams and drive improvements on safety, quality and delivery.
• Willingness to work rotating shifts.

Responsibilities

• Lead, support, motivate and develop production operators.
• Provide clear technical guidance across the shop floor.
• Coordinate personnel and machine resources to meet production requirements.
• Support shift planning, workforce deployment and effective shift handovers.
• Ensure production, quality and safety procedures are consistently followed.
• Monitor performance and take action when faults, disruptions or deviations occur.
• Investigate production issues and support effective corrective actions.
• Drive continuous improvement, process optimisation and 5S standards.
• Maintain employee training records and qualification matrices.
• Manage team attendance, timekeeping and day-to-day employee matters.
• Maintain clear and regular communication across the team and wider operation.

Skills

Manufacturing leadership

Team management

Communication

Problem solving

Health and safety

5S

Shift management

Job description

Manufacturing Team Leader – Lead, Develop & Drive Production Excellence

Location: Long Eaton
Contract: Temporary to Permanent
Pay: £20.61 per hour, inclusive of shift allowance
Hours: Rotating fortnightly shifts – 06:00–14:00 & 14:00–22:00

Ready to take the next step in your manufacturing career and develop your leadership experience?

This is an excellent opportunity to join a busy manufacturing environment where you'll take an active role in leading production teams, developing operators and helping to drive improvements across safety, quality, delivery and performance.

Working closely with experienced Team Leaders and Process Managers, you'll provide hands-on leadership on the shop floor, ensuring your team has the guidance, resources and support needed to perform at their best.

Why Join?

This Manufacturing Team Leader role offers a great opportunity to build and strengthen your manufacturing leadership experience within a hands-on production environment. You'll have the chance to influence day-to-day operations, develop employees and contribute directly to continuous improvement across the manufacturing process.

Key Responsibilities of the Manufacturing Team Leader:

• Lead, support, motivate and develop production operators.
• Provide clear technical guidance and instruction across the shop floor.
• Coordinate employees and machine resources to meet production requirements.
• Support shift planning, workforce deployment and effective shift handovers.
• Ensure production, quality and safety procedures are consistently followed.
• Monitor performance and take action when faults, disruptions or deviations occur.
• Investigate production issues and support effective corrective actions.
• Drive continuous improvement, process optimisation and 5S standards.
• Maintain employee training records and qualification matrices.
• Manage team attendance, timekeeping and day-to-day employee matters.
• Maintain clear and regular communication across the team and wider operation.

What We're Looking For:

The successful Manufacturing Team Leader will be a confident and approachable leader who can bring structure, direction and support to a busy production environment.

You’ll need strong communication and problem-solving skills, alongside the resilience to handle workplace challenges objectively and maintain high standards under pressure.

Previous experience within a manufacturing or production environment is essential, with experience supporting, supervising or leading others highly advantageous.

Hours & Pay:

Rotating Fortnightly Shifts: 06:00–14:00 & 14:00–22:00

Pay: £19.05 per hour, plus £1.56 shift allowance

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you're looking to develop your leadership career while remaining hands‑on within manufacturing, this could be an excellent next move.

Key Skills:

• Manufacturing leadership
• production leadership
• team management
• employee development
• workforce planning
• continuous improvement
• health and safety
• 5S
• problem solving
• operator training
• quality processes
• shift management
• communication