Manufacturing Team Leader

Progressive Recruitment; Stevenage; On-site; GBP 41,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits

Career development opportunities

Job summary

Progressive Recruitment is seeking a Manufacturing Team Leader near Stevenage to manage daily production activities and develop a high‑performing team on a busy shop floor. You will drive Lean initiatives, coach staff and ensure target attainment, quality and safety standards.

The role combines people leadership with operational ownership, providing opportunities to influence processes and deliver continuous improvements across manufacturing and assembly functions.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a manufacturing team on a shop floor.
• Strong coaching and mentoring skills.
• Experience driving Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate and develop a manufacturing team.
• Create a positive, high‑performing team environment.
• Support employee development through coaching and mentoring.
• Manage day‑to‑day manufacturing activities to meet production targets.
• Drive Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement initiatives.
• Conduct root cause analysis and implement corrective actions.
• Identify opportunities to improve productivity, efficiency and quality.
• Collaborate with Production, Engineering and Quality teams.
• Support assembly, machining and welding operations.
• Monitor team performance and operational KPIs.
• Promote high standards of health & safety and quality.
• Support operational excellence and manufacturing improvement activities.

Skills

People management

Leadership

Lean manufacturing

Continuous improvement

Root cause analysis

Problem solving

Stakeholder management

Team development

Job description

Manufacturing Team Leader

Location: near Stevenage, Hertfordshire

Commutable from: Stevenage, Letchworth Garden City, Welwyn Garden City, Hertford, St Albans, Biggleswade, Bedford, Royston, Hitchin, Harlow, Hemel Hempstead, Luton and surrounding areas

Salary: Up to £45,000 + Benefits

Type: Permanent, Full Time

Manufacturing Team Leader | People Management | Production Leadership | Continuous Improvement | Lean Manufacturing | Stevenage | Up to £45,000

A leading Engineering & Manufacturing organisation is seeking a Manufacturing Team Leader to join its operations team at its manufacturing facility near Stevenage.

This is an excellent opportunity for a Manufacturing Team Leader, Production Team Leader, Manufacturing Supervisor, Production Supervisor or Assembly Team Leader looking to take ownership of a key manufacturing area within a growing business.

The successful candidate will lead a team within a busy manufacturing environment, ensuring production targets, quality standards and operational objectives are achieved whilst creating a positive, high‑performing team culture. Strong People Management, coaching and leadership skills will be essential, as this role requires an individual who enjoys developing others, leading from the front and maintaining a visible presence on the shop floor.

Alongside team leadership responsibilities, you'll play a key role in driving Continuous Improvement, improving manufacturing efficiencies, implementing best practice and helping modernise existing processes. This is an opportunity to join a business where you can genuinely influence how the department develops over time.

Unlike many Manufacturing Team Leader positions, this role offers a combination of People Management, operational leadership and continuous improvement responsibility, allowing you to make a visible impact on both team performance and manufacturing operations.

The Manufacturing Team Leader Role

As a Manufacturing Team Leader, you will be responsible for leading day‑to‑day manufacturing activities whilst developing your team and driving operational improvements across production and assembly operations.

Responsibilities will include:

• Leading, motivating and developing a manufacturing team
• Creating a positive and high‑performing team environment
• Supporting employee development through coaching and mentoring
• Managing day‑to‑day manufacturing activities to ensure production targets are achieved
• Driving Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement initiatives
• Conducting Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and implementing corrective actions
• Identifying opportunities to improve productivity, efficiency and quality
• Working closely with Production, Engineering and Quality teams
• Supporting assembly, machining and welding operations
• Monitoring team performance and operational KPIs
• Promoting high standards of Health & Safety and Quality
• Supporting operational excellence and manufacturing improvement activities

What We're Looking For

• Experience within a Manufacturing Team Leader, Production Team Leader, Manufacturing Supervisor, Production Supervisor or similar leadership position
• Previous People Management experience within a manufacturing environment
• Strong team leadership, coaching and mentoring skills
• Experience driving Continuous Improvement initiatives
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles
• Experience conducting Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and structured problem solving
• Ability to build credibility and engagement on the shop floor
• Experience improving manufacturing processes and operational performance
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
• A proactive, hands‑on leadership style with a "can‑do" approach

Industry Backgrounds Considered

• Manufacturing / Assembly / Industrial Engineering / Precision Engineering
• Aerospace / Automotive / Electronics Manufacturing / FMCG
• Production Engineering / General Manufacturing

What's On Offer?

• Salary up to £45,000 + Benefits
• Opportunity to lead within a growing manufacturing operation
• Significant People Management responsibility
• Exposure to Continuous Improvement and Lean Manufacturing programmes
• Opportunity to influence and modernise manufacturing processes
• Long‑term career development opportunities
• Diverse manufacturing, assembly and operational improvement projects
• A highly visible role with genuine impact on business performance
• Close collaboration with senior operational leadership

This Manufacturing Team Leader role is commutable from: Stevenage, Letchworth Garden City, Welwyn Garden City, Hertford, St Albans, Biggleswade, Bedford, Royston, Hitchin, Harlow, Hemel Hempstead, Luton and surrounding areas.