Plant Manager

Hitachi; Newton Aycliffe; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday

Pension scheme with contributions up

Private medical insurance

Group Life Insurance

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

Hitachi Rail UK Limited seeks a Plant Manager to take overall responsibility for one of the UK’s most advanced rail manufacturing facilities at Newton Aycliffe. You will lead a large, multi-disciplinary team of around 500 employees, driving operational excellence across manufacturing, planning, and site maintenance.

Reporting to the Senior Director Manufacturing Vehicles, you will shape strategic objectives, manage a substantial budget, and collaborate with global teams to deliver world-class

Qualifications

• Significant senior leadership experience in complex manufacturing/engineering environments.
• Proven track record delivering results across quality, cost, delivery, and operational metrics.
• Experience leading large multi-functional teams in high-volume/high-value settings.
• Strong stakeholder management including unions and employee reps.

Responsibilities

• Lead manufacturing operations at the Newton Aycliffe facility ensuring safe, efficient delivery of programs.
• Drive performance against productivity, quality, cost, delivery and ops metrics.
• Provide inspirational leadership to a large, diverse team and foster accountability.
• Manage a significant operating budget and hit financial targets.
• Oversee internal programme delivery, ensuring cost, quality and schedule adherence.
• Champion Health, Safety, Environmental and Quality standards.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Operations management

Stakeholder management

Education

Engineering degree or equivalent

Tools

SAP

Six Sigma

Job description

Location: Newton Aycliffe, Durham, United Kingdom

Job ID: R0143765

Date Posted: 2026-09-03

Company Name: Hitachi Rail UK Limited

Profession (Job Category): Production & Skilled Trades

Job Schedule: Full time

Remote: No

About Us

A career at Hitachi Rail will help create a legacy. With operations in every corner of the world, our work goes to the cutting-edge of digital transformation and technology. From the multi-cultural strength of our global organisation to the sustainable and innovative ways we work to bring people together, there’s something for everyone to get stuck into. And that’s where you come in.

Job Description

Your New Role

As Plant Manager, you will take overall responsibility for one of the UK’s most advanced rail manufacturing facilities, leading the delivery of complex vehicle manufacturing programmes from our Newton Aycliffe site.

Reporting to the Senior Director Manufacturing Vehicles, this is a highly visible and business‑critical leadership role. You will lead a large multi‑disciplinary organisation of approximately 500 employees and be responsible for ensuring operational excellence across manufacturing, planning, project manufacturing management and site maintenance functions.

As a key member of the UK Executive leadership team, you will play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering strategic objectives, driving operational performance, developing high‑performing teams, and ensuring the successful delivery of world‑class rail vehicles to our customers.

Some Key Responsibilities

• Lead all manufacturing operations at the Newton Aycliffe facility, ensuring safe, efficient and high‑quality delivery of customer programmes.
• Drive performance across productivity, quality, cost, delivery and operational excellence measures.
• Provide inspirational leadership to a diverse team of senior leaders and managers, developing capability and fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
• Own and manage a significant operational budget while delivering agreed financial and business performance targets.
• Oversee internal programme delivery, ensuring projects are executed to cost, quality and schedule commitments.
• Champion Health, Safety, Environmental and Quality standards, creating a culture where safety is always the highest priority.
• Build strong relationships with customers, trade unions, employee representatives and key stakeholders across the business.
• Collaborate with global manufacturing teams across Europe, Japan and North America to drive innovation, best practice and continuous improvement.
• Lead organisational planning and resource strategies that support both current and future business requirements.
• Create a positive and engaging working environment aligned to Hitachi’s values of Harmony, Sincerity and Pioneering Spirit.

About You

You are an accomplished senior leader with a proven track record of leading complex manufacturing operations within engineering, industrial, automotive, aerospace, rail or similarly regulated environments.

You will bring exceptional leadership capability, commercial awareness and operational expertise, with the ability to inspire large teams whilst consistently delivering against demanding business objectives.

We are looking for someone who has:

• Significant senior leadership experience within a complex manufacturing and/or engineering organisation.
• A strong record of delivering results across quality, cost, delivery and operational performance metrics.
• Experience leading large, multi-functional teams in a high-volume or high-value manufacturing environment.
• Strong stakeholder management and employee relations experience, including working with trade unions and employee representative bodies.
• The ability to think strategically while maintaining a focus on day-to-day operational execution.
• Excellent communication, influencing and decision‑making skills.
• A passion for developing people, building high‑performing teams and creating an engaging workplace culture.
• Degree‑level qualification in Engineering, Manufacturing or a related discipline, or equivalent experience.

Experience of SAP and Six Sigma methodologies would be advantageous.

Why Join Hitachi Rail?

This is a unique opportunity to lead one of the UK’s most important rail manufacturing facilities at a time of continued transformation and growth. You will have the opportunity to make a significant impact on the future of manufacturing, contribute to major transportation programmes and work alongside talented colleagues across our global network.

If you are a strategic manufacturing leader who thrives in complex environments and is passionate about delivering operational excellence, we’d love to hear from you.

What We Offer

We value the importance of all our employees and, when you join our fantastic organisation, you could be entitled to:

• Competitive salary
• Potential opportunity for annual performance-related bonus
• 25 days holiday
• Pension scheme with contributions up to 9%
• Private medical insurance
• Personal Accident Insurance
• Group Income Protection
• Group Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Programme

We also offer additional benefits through our flexible benefits platform, allowing you to tailor rewards to suit your lifestyle.

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At Hitachi Rail, there is a place for everyone.

We welcome and value differences in background, age, gender, sexuality, family status, disability, race, nationality, ethnicity, religion, and world view.

It is our commitment to create an inclusive environment - we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

We would be delighted if you would be one of our followers at https://www.linkedin.com/company/hitachirail