Plant Manager

W Talent; West Midlands; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

W Talent seeks a hands-on Plant Manager to oversee a highly automated FMCG operation in the West Midlands. You will manage day-to-day production, health and safety, maintenance, facilities and continuous improvement, while driving efficiency and strong quality standards across the site.

You will work closely with production and engineering teams to identify opportunities, implement solutions, and maintain site performance aligned with retailer requirements.

Qualifications

• Strong engineering background with hands-on experience in FMCG manufacturing.
• Proven leadership in a highly automated environment.
• Experience implementing maintenance strategies and PPM programmes.
• Proficient in Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methods.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive change quickly.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day manufacturing operations ensuring targets and quality are met.
• Ensure Health & Safety across the operation with a proactive safety culture.
• Collaborate with engineering and maintenance to maximise equipment reliability.
• Drive Lean initiatives and continuous improvement across the site.
• Develop robust processes to support consistent production performance.
• Maintain focus on quality and customer service in FMCG for major retailers.

Skills

FMCG management

Automated production lines

Maintenance & PPM

Lean & CI

Hands-on leadership

Retailer experience

Team engagement

Commercial decision-making

Education

Engineering background

Tools

PPM programmes

Job description

My client is a well-established FMCG manufacturer operating within a highly automated production environment. The business has a strong focus on operational excellence, quality, safety and continuous improvement, supported by sophisticated automated manufacturing processes.

About the Role

We are seeking a hands-on Plant Manager to take responsibility for the day-to-day performance and continuous improvement of a highly automated manufacturing operation in the West Midlands. This is a broad operational role, with responsibility extending beyond production into Health & Safety, Maintenance, Facilities and Lean/Continuous Improvement. The successful candidate will be comfortable being close to the operation, working alongside production and engineering teams, identifying opportunities for improvement and driving solutions through to implementation.

Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day manufacturing operation, ensuring production targets, quality standards and customer requirements are consistently achieved.
• Take overall responsibility for Health & Safety across the operation, promoting a strong and proactive safety culture.
• Work closely with engineering and maintenance teams to maximise equipment reliability, availability and performance.
• Lead and develop PPM (Planned Preventative Maintenance) initiatives to improve asset reliability and reduce unplanned downtime.
• Oversee site facilities, ensuring the plant remains safe, compliant and operationally effective.
• Drive Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives across the operation.
• Identify and eliminate waste, inefficiency and recurring operational issues through structured problem-solving.
• Work hands-on with automated production lines, understanding the interaction between equipment, processes and people.
• Develop robust processes and standards to support consistent production performance.
• Maintain a strong focus on quality and customer service, particularly within an FMCG environment supplying major retailers.

Qualifications

• A strong engineering background, ideally combining a relevant academic qualification with substantial hands-on engineering experience.

Required Skills

• Proven managerial experience within an FMCG or highly automated manufacturing environment.
• Practical experience working with automated production lines and manufacturing equipment.
• A strong understanding of maintenance principles, with experience of developing and leading PPM programmes.
• Demonstrable experience of Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.
• A hands-on approach, with the credibility and confidence to work directly with production and engineering teams.
• Experience of working within a fast-paced FMCG environment where quality, efficiency and customer service are critical.
• Experience of manufacturing products supplied to major UK retailers.
• Strong leadership and communication skills, with the ability to engage teams and drive change.
• A practical, commercially aware approach and the ability to make decisions quickly in a manufacturing environment.