Process Improvement Manager

Zest Recruitment; Peterborough; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A respected manufacturing company in Peterborough seeks a Process Improvement Manager to lead projects that enhance quality and productivity. The ideal candidate will thrive in data-led decision-making and enjoy working closely with teams to implement best practices. Responsibilities include developing improvement plans and ensuring team alignment across production and engineering. This role offers a pathway into senior leadership positions, with strong support from a committed management team.

Benefits

Career progression opportunities

Supportive leadership

Qualifications

• Proven experience in manufacturing process improvement or CI role.
• Strong analytical capability with confidence using data for decisions.
• Experience with production teams in fast-paced environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end improvement projects using data analysis.
• Evaluate existing processes to introduce best-practice solutions.
• Create and maintain clear standard operating procedures.

Skills

Data analysis

Process improvement

Collaboration

Leadership

Analytical capability

Tools

Escada

Operational Management Platforms (OMP)

Job description

Manufacturing | Continuous Improvement | Leadership Opportunity

There are moments in a career where experience, influence and timing all line up. This is one of them.

Our client is a long‑established, highly respected manufacturing business with a proud operational heritage and an exciting future ahead. Having invested heavily in people, technology and infrastructure, they're now looking for a Process Improvement Manager to play a pivotal role in shaping the next chapter of their operation.

This is a role for someone who enjoys being close to the process, thrives on data‑led decision making, and gets genuine satisfaction from seeing improvements take root on the shop floor – not just on paper.

The Opportunity

At the heart of the operation sits a complex, fast‑moving production environment. Your mission will be to identify, plan and deliver meaningful improvements that drive quality, productivity and cost performance – while strengthening the link between core production and downstream operations.

You’ll be trusted with real responsibility, supported by an engaged senior leadership team, and given the space to make your mark. This isn’t about firefighting – it’s about building capability, embedding best practice and leaving things better than you found them.

What You’ll Be Responsible For

Driving Process Improvement

• Leading end‑to‑end improvement projects using data analysis, optimisation tools and structured problem‑solving.
• Developing and delivering improvement and bottleneck plans focused on quality, waste reduction and throughput.
• Evaluating existing processes and introducing best‑practice solutions that stick.
• Managing process control strategies to maximise system performance and product consistency.
• Creating, embedding and maintaining clear standard operating procedures.

Integration & Collaboration

• Strengthening integration between core production and conversion teams through targeted projects, reviews and feedback loops.
• Acting as a key link between production, engineering, quality and planning to ensure alignment and flow.

Leadership & Change

• Coaching Charge Hands and operational teams through process changes and new ways of working.
• Identifying training and change‑management needs and helping teams adapt confidently.

Performance & Governance

• Developing tools to track, analyse and report KPIs that genuinely drive performance.
• Supporting investigations into quality concerns and customer complaints through detailed data interrogation.
• Championing health, safety and environmental excellence – leading by example at all times.

What Success Looks Like

You’ll know you’re succeeding when:

• Waste is falling, productivity is rising and quality is visibly improving.
• Teams understand the "why" behind changes – and own them.
• Data is trusted, used and acted upon.
• The operation feels calmer, more predictable and better connected.
• You’re seen as a go‑to problem solver and future leader.

What We’re Looking For

This role would suit someone who combines technical understanding with people‑first leadership.

Background & Experience

• Proven experience in a manufacturing process improvement or CI role.
• Strong analytical capability with confidence using data to drive decisions.
• Experience working closely with production teams in fast‑paced environments.
• Exposure to process control systems (Escada knowledge is advantageous).
• Understanding of operational management platforms such as OMP would be beneficial.

Traits & Behaviours

• Naturally collaborative with strong interpersonal skills.
• Performance‑driven, organised and results‑oriented.
• Comfortable taking a strategic view while staying hands‑on.
• Calm, credible and able to influence without authority.
• Curious, resilient and motivated by continuous improvement.

Progression & Support

This is a business that invests in its people. You’ll be supported by a visible, engaged senior leadership team who value improvement, development and internal progression. For the right individual, this role offers a clear pathway into broader operational or senior leadership positions as the business continues to grow and evolve.

If you’re someone who enjoys turning complexity into clarity, data into action, and teams into high performers – this could be a genuinely rewarding next step.

For more information contact Shaf Islam on [e-mail]

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