Production Manager

Ford & Stanley Select; Otley; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Ford & Stanley Group in Leeds is recruiting a Production Manager to lead the ETCS retrofit installation program across a fleet of locomotives. You will oversee production planning, safety, quality and delivery against milestones, while engaging with depot teams and external stakeholders.

The role offers a high-profile, long-term career path within a major rolling stock modernization programme, with a focus on Lean improvements, team leadership and on-time execution.

Qualifications

• Production management and planning experience in engineering/manufacturing.
• Strong leadership with safety and accountability focus.
• Rolling stock or large-scale engineering programme exposure favorable.
• Stakeholder management with customers and internal teams.
• Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement experience.
• Ability to identify inefficiencies and implement improvements.
• People management and engineering decision-making ability.
• Incident investigation and root-cause analysis capability.
• Engineering qualification (HNC/HND or equivalent) preferred.
• Leadership training and commitment to developing teams.

Responsibilities

• Safety leadership and maintaining a strong safety culture.
• Plan, manage and deliver ETCS installation and maintenance activities.
• Monitor production efficiency, quality performance and outputs.
• Engage with stakeholders to support delivery and budget management.
• Audit readiness and compliance with engineering and quality standards.
• Manage tooling, equipment and calibration requirements.
• Drive Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Provide practical solutions to daily operational challenges.
• Ensure work meets customer requirements and specifications.
• Lead, develop and coach team members; manage performance and training.
• Maintain required competencies and conduct regular briefings.
• Communicate project updates through toolbox talks and briefings.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes and overall performance.

Skills

Production planning

Leadership

Rolling stock

Stakeholder management

Lean manufacturing

Problem solving

Quality management

Engineering decision making

Incident investigation

Engineering qualification

Leadership training

Education

HNC/HND in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering

Job description

Production Manager | Leeds | £55,000 - £60,000 | Permanent

The Opportunity

This is an exciting opportunity to join a major freight rail operator at the start of a significant ETCS (European Train Control System) retrofit programme. Based in Leeds, you will lead the installation programme across a fleet of Class 66 locomotives, overseeing production planning, customer engagement, operational performance and day-to-day delivery.

Joining the project at an early stage, you will play a key role in establishing efficient installation processes, driving continuous improvement and ensuring installations are delivered safely, on time and to the highest quality standards. With approximately 62 locomotives identified for retrofit and the potential for further fleet opportunities, this is a high-profile position offering genuine long-term career development.

Working closely with depot teams, senior management and external stakeholders, you will help shape the future success of a nationally significant rolling stock modernisation programme while contributing to the ongoing growth of the ETCS operation.

Production Manager Responsibilities

• Safety Leadership Lead by example in maintaining a strong safety culture, ensuring employees, contractors, equipment and site activities operate safely and in line with company policies. Investigate incidents and ensure root cause analysis and corrective actions are completed.
• Programme & Production Planning Plan, manage and deliver ETCS installation and maintenance activities in line with project milestones, operational requirements and production schedules.
• Performance Management Monitor production efficiency, quality performance and maintenance outputs, ensuring issues are tracked, resolved and closed out effectively.
• Stakeholder Engagement Liaise with operational teams and key stakeholders to support programme delivery, budget management and operational improvements.
• Audit & Compliance Prepare for and support internal and external audits, ensuring engineering, maintenance and quality standards are consistently maintained.
• Tooling & Equipment Control Manage tooling, equipment and calibration requirements, ensuring all assets remain compliant and available to support production activities.
• Continuous Improvement Drive Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives to improve productivity, quality, efficiency and project performance.
• Operational Problem Solving Remove barriers to production and provide practical solutions to daily operational challenges, ensuring safe and reliable project delivery.
• Quality Management Monitor installation quality standards and ensure all work is completed in accordance with engineering specifications and customer requirements.
• Team Leadership Lead, develop and support team members through coaching, performance management, recruitment, training and employee relations activities.
• Training & Competency Management Ensure all personnel maintain the required competencies, qualifications and training to perform their duties safely and effectively.
• Communication & Engagement Conduct toolbox talks, team briefings and engineering communications, ensuring staff remain informed of key project and business developments.
• Continuous Development Actively identify opportunities to improve processes, team capability and overall operational performance.

Ideal Production Manager

• Production Management & Planning Experience Demonstrable experience managing production, installation, manufacturing, maintenance or modification programmes, with responsibility for planning resources, schedules and operational delivery.
• Leadership Experience Proven experience leading and developing teams within an engineering, manufacturing or operational environment, with a strong focus on performance, safety and accountability.
• Rolling Stock Experience Previous experience within rolling stock maintenance, fleet modifications, locomotive engineering or large-scale engineering programmes would be highly advantageous.
• Stakeholder Management Experience communicating effectively with customers, clients and internal stakeholders, building strong working relationships and ensuring project objectives are achieved.
• Lean Manufacturing & Continuous Improvement Practical experience applying Lean Manufacturing methodologies such as 5S, Kaizen, Six Sigma or Green Belt principles to improve operational performance and delivery outcomes.
• Operational Efficiency Improvement Track record of identifying inefficiencies, reducing waste, improving productivity and implementing process improvements within a production or engineering environment.
• People Management & Engineering Decision Making Previous supervisory or management experience, with the ability to manage performance, support team development and make sound operational and engineering decisions.
• Incident Investigation & Root Cause Analysis Experience conducting incident investigations, identifying root causes and implementing corrective actions to prevent recurrence and drive continuous improvement.
• Engineering Qualification HNC, HND or equivalent qualification in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering or a related engineering discipline would be advantageous.
• Leadership Training Formal supervisory, management or leadership training with a commitment to developing high-performing teams would be advantageous.

Location & Working Arrangements

• Location: Leeds
• Working Pattern: Monday to Friday, 07:00am - 3:30pm
• Working Arrangement: Primarily a site-based role, occasional travel to other business locations may be required, but not expected.

Production Manager Salary & Benefits

• Salary: £55,000 - £60,000 per annum, dependent on experience.

About Ford & Stanley Group

Ford & Stanley Talent Services Group Ltd is a Disability Confident employer that is committed to a policy of equal opportunities for all opportunity seekers. We shall adhere to such a policy at all times and will review on an on-going basis all aspects of recruitment to avoid unlawful or undesirable discrimination. We will treat everyone equally irrespective sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civilpartnership status, age, disability, colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief or political beliefs and we place an obligation upon all staff to respect and act in accordance with the policy.

Ref: Production Manager