Production Manager

Probus Recruitment Ltd; Bamber Bridge; On-site; GBP 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global chemical manufacturer is seeking a Production Manager to oversee a team of 25-30 operators in a fast-paced environment. The successful candidate will drive operational performance, safety, and compliance while fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Required qualifications include 5+ years in production leadership, strong motivation skills, and expertise in continuous improvement methodologies. The role offers a competitive salary and benefits, including a generous bonus and pension contributions.

Benefits

25 days holiday + bank holidays

8% annual bonus

Life assurance (4x salary)

Permanent health insurance (50% monthly salary)

Group Dependant Plan (45% of salary)

Qualifications

• 5+ years' experience in a production/operations leadership role, ideally in chemical or related manufacturing.
• Track record of motivating teams and delivering results.
• Strong understanding of continuous improvement tools like Lean.

Responsibilities

• Lead a production team of 25-30 operators and two supervisors.
• Oversee efficient production to meet quality and lead-time expectations.
• Champion continuous improvement initiatives across operations.

Skills

Leadership

Continuous Improvement

Communication

Problem-Solving

Team Motivation

Tools

SAP

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job title: Production Manager – Specialist Chemical Manufacturing

Salary: £50,000 pa + 8% Bonus + 25 Days Holiday + BH + 11% Pension (Combined) + Life Assurance (4x Salary) + Group Dependant Plan (45% of salary) + Permanent Health Insurance (50% of monthly salary)

Location: South Preston - PR5 Area

Hours: 24/5 Operations Environment (Day-Based Leadership Role)

Are you an experienced Production Leader with a passion for continuous improvement, team leadership, and operational excellence? Would you thrive in a fast-paced, global manufacturing environment where your expertise directly supports ambitious growth and world-class production standards?

Join a market-leading, internationally recognised specialist chemical manufacturer as we continue to invest, expand, and raise performance across our Lancashire operations.

About the Company

With over a century of innovation behind us, we are a global leader in the development and production of specialty chemical solutions used in countless modern applications. Our purpose is to solve real-world challenges through science, quality, and operational excellence, supported by dedicated teams across our worldwide manufacturing footprint.

The Role: Production Manager

Reporting to the Plant Manager, you will lead a team of 25-30 operators and two supervisors within a complex chemical blending and batch processing environment. You'll oversee a 16/7 operation, ensuring safe, efficient, high-quality output while driving a culture of continuous improvement.

This is a highly visible role where your ideas will shape performance, processes, and people development.

Key Responsibilities

People Leadership

• Lead, coach, develop, and motivate a production team of 25-30.
• Manage resource planning, including temporary labour, to meet operational demands.

Operational Performance

• Oversee the efficient production of chemical products to meet quality and customer lead-time expectations.
• Champion continuous improvement initiatives (5S, Lean, Six Sigma).
• Track, analyse, and present plant and operational KPIs.

Safety & Compliance

• Ensure full compliance with EHS standards and foster a best-in‑class safety culture.
• Support risk assessments, audits, and process safety activities.

Projects & Change

• Contribute to plant projects across PSM, equipment upgrades, quality, and logistics.
• Prepare capital expenditure proposals and take part in customer audits.

Equipment & Reliability

• Work closely with Maintenance to maximise equipment uptime and overall plant reliability.

What You'll Bring

• 5+ years' experience in a production/operations leadership role—ideally within chemical, process, FMCG or related manufacturing environments.
• A track record of motivating teams and delivering results under pressure.
• Strong understanding of continuous improvement tools, especially Lean.
• Good grasp of production KPIs, problem-solving, and process optimisation.
• Experience using ERP systems (SAP preferred) and Microsoft Office.
• Excellent communication, organisation, and stakeholder-management skills.

What's in It for You

• £50,000 pa salary + 8% annual bonus
• 11% combined pension scheme
• 25 days holiday + bank holidays
• Life assurance (4x salary)
• Permanent health insurance (50% monthly salary)
• Group Dependant Plan (45% salary)
• Excellent career development opportunities within a global group
• A role where your impact is visible, valued, and rewarded

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you're a hands‑on leader who thrives on developing people, improving processes, and driving performance, we want to hear from you.

Apply today and help shape the future of a world‑class chemical manufacturing operation.