Plant Manager

Escape Recruitment Services Ltd; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 61,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus opportunity

Enhanced holiday entitlement

Contributory pension

Employee benefits and assistance

Job summary

Escape Recruitment Services Ltd is seeking a Plant Area Manager with an Engineering background to lead a key production and packing operation on our manufacturing site.

You will report to the Production Manager and oversee production, packing, storage and dispatch, driving performance and team development.

Qualifications

• Engineering background required.
• Experience in heavy, process or high-volume manufacturing.
• Experience leading production, plant or operational teams.
• Strong understanding of plant reliability and maintenance.
• Strong people management and communication skills.
• Ability to balance operational performance, safety and cost control.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop production teams and supervisors.
• Drive plant performance, reliability, productivity and CI.
• Collaborate with Engineering and Maintenance to improve equipment reliability.
• Monitor KPIs, manage budgets and control costs.
• Maintain high health and safety standards.
• Support site investment, improvement projects and operational change.
• Develop people and build a high-performing team.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Communication

Problem solving

Continuous improvement

Plant reliability

Education

Engineering qualification or apprenticeship

Job description

We're recruiting for a Plant Area Manager with an Engineering background to lead a key production and packing operation within an established manufacturing business.

This is an opportunity to join a site that benefits from ongoing investment, with a strong focus on improving performance, developing people and building for the future.

We've met the hiring manager, who is knowledgeable, approachable and genuinely easy to work with. This is a role for someone who wants to make an impact, develop their skills and build a long‑term career within the wider business.

The Role

Reporting to the Production Manager, you'll take responsibility for the safe, efficient running of production, packing, storage and dispatch, leading supervisors and operational teams.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading and developing production teams, including supervisors.
• Driving plant performance, reliability, productivity and continuous improvement.
• Working closely with Engineering and Maintenance to improve equipment reliability and operational efficiency.
• Monitoring KPIs, managing budgets and controlling costs.
• Maintaining high standards of health and safety.
• Supporting site investment, improvement projects and operational change.
• Developing people and building a high‑performing team.

About You

An Engineering background is key to this opportunity. We're keen to speak with candidates who understand plant, equipment and industrial processes, alongside having the leadership skills to manage a production operation.

You'll ideally have:

• An engineering qualification, apprenticeship or strong engineering‑based career background.
• Experience in heavy, process or high‑volume manufacturing.
• Experience leading production, plant or operational teams.
• A good understanding of plant reliability, maintenance and continuous improvement.
• Strong people management, communication and problem‑solving skills.
• The ability to balance operational performance, safety and cost control.

You might already be a Plant Manager or Production Manager, or an Engineering Manager looking to broaden your responsibilities into a wider operational leadership role.

What's on Offer?

• Salary up to £68,000, depending on experience.
• Bonus opportunity.
• Enhanced holiday entitlement and contributory pension.
• Employee benefits and assistance programme.
• A site with ongoing investment and improvement projects.
• Genuine scope for long‑term career development and progression.

If you're an engineering‑led operational professional looking for your next challenge, where you can influence performance, develop your team and grow with the business, we'd love to have a confidential conversation.