Plant Manager

Owen Daniels

Coventry

On-site

GBP 90,000 - 125,000

Full time

7 days ago

Be an early applicant

Application generator

Get a reply from this recruiter — a resume and cover letter tailored to exactly what they’re hiring for.

Get past ATS filters

Benefits offered by this job

15% Annual bonus

Career development planning

Pension up to 10% employer

Income protection

Life assurance 4x salary

Share purchase scheme

25 days + bank holidays

Extra 5 days holiday option

Additional service-related holiday

Cash Plan / Private Medical Cover

Employee Assistance Programme

Employee discounts

Employee referral scheme

Free on-site parking

Early finish on Fridays

Job summary

Owen Daniels is seeking an experienced Plant Manager for a Coventry aerospace manufacturing site. You will own site performance, safety, quality and Lean improvements while leading a team of around 100 people in a high-profile operation.

The role requires visible leadership with accountability across 24/7 operations, cross-functional collaboration with Engineering and Projects, and a drive for continuous improvement and cost control.

Qualifications

Proven track record leading a manufacturing facility.
Lean manufacturing and CI with measurable results.
Experience with machining/manufacturing processes and production leadership.
Strong people leadership and culture-building skills.

Responsibilities

Take full ownership of site operations and performance against safety, quality, cost, delivery and productivity objectives.
Lead and develop a 100-strong team, building capability and a culture of engagement and continuous improvement.
Drive Lean initiatives across the site to improve productivity, efficiency and lead times.
Maintain high HSE standards with proactive risk management and safety culture.
Oversee production and manufacturing to meet customer requirements within cost and quality targets.
Collaborate with Engineering, Projects and other functions to support growth and investment.
Manage site budgets and resources to deliver performance within financial parameters.
Identify and implement opportunities for process improvement and change management.

Skills

Operational leadership

Lean manufacturing

Continuous improvement

People leadership

HSE awareness

ERP/MRP experience

KPI management

Cross-functional collaboration

Shop floor presence

Accountability culture

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Job description

Are you an experienced Plant Manager, Operations Manager or Manufacturing Leader with a strong background in Lean manufacturing and developing high-performing teams?

Do you have the leadership presence to take genuine ownership of a site, drive operational excellence and create a culture where people, safety, quality and continuous improvement are at the heart of everything you do?

We are working with an established global aerospace engineering business that is looking for an experienced Plant Manager to take full accountability for the performance and development of its Coventry manufacturing site.

This is a high-profile leadership position within a growing operation. The site operates around the clock, making this a role where strong leadership, visibility and accountability are essential.

Plant Manager

Permanent

Monday to Thursday, 8:00am – 4:30pm, Friday, 8:00am – 3:30pm

Very Competitive Salary on Offer + 15% Bonus

Coventry

Key Responsibilities

Take full ownership of site operations, performance and strategic development, ensuring the plant delivers against safety, quality, cost, delivery and productivity objectives.
Lead and develop a team of approximately 100 employees, building capability, accountability and a strong culture of engagement and continuous improvement.
Drive the Lean agenda across the site, delivering measurable improvements in productivity, efficiency, lead times, cost and operational performance.
Maintain the highest standards of HSE, ensuring risks are proactively managed and a strong safety culture is embedded throughout the operation.
Lead production and manufacturing activities to ensure customer requirements are consistently achieved while maintaining quality and cost expectations.
Work cross-functionally with Engineering, Projects and other functions to support business growth, investment and future‑state planning.
Manage site budgets and resources effectively, ensuring operational performance is delivered within agreed financial parameters.
Identify, develop and implement opportunities for process improvement, change management and culture development.

Essential Experience / Skills / Qualifications

We are looking for an experienced manufacturing leader who can combine strong operational capability with genuine people leadership.
Significant experience leading a manufacturing or production facility, including both direct and indirect teams.
A strong background in machining/manufacturing. Experience within furnacing or associated manufacturing processes would be advantageous but is not essential.
A proven track record of implementing Lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement, with clear examples of measurable results.
Strong experience developing teams, improving capability and creating a culture of accountability and engagement.
A strong understanding of HSE, with a proven track record of maintaining and improving safety performance.
Experience working with manufacturing processes, ERP/MRP systems and operational KPIs.
The confidence and personality to operate effectively at all levels, from the shop floor through to senior leadership.
A hands‑on, visible and positive leadership style, with the ability to build trust while holding people accountable.

The Person

This role is about more than simply managing production.

We are looking for a solid, experienced manufacturing leader with personality — someone who naturally takes ownership, enjoys being visible on the shop floor and genuinely cares about developing people.

You should be able to demonstrate where you have built successful teams, introduced Lean improvements and delivered tangible operational results.

You will be expected to take the site personally — understanding its performance, its people and its opportunities, and creating an environment where everyone feels accountable for delivering the right outcomes.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who wants to make a genuine impact within a global organisation, with significant opportunities for longer‑term career development across the wider group.

Company Benefits