Production Manager

Mansell Recruitment Group; Rochester; On-site; GBP 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

Mansell Recruitment Group is helping a Rochester-based manufacturer recruit a hands-on Production Manager to drive lean improvements and scale operations during a period of growth.

You will lead shop-floor teams, implement practical lean systems, and help plan labour and inventory while ensuring quality and on‑time despatch across the factory. This role demands strong leadership and a practical, can-do approach.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in a senior manufacturing leadership role.
• Proven experience implementing lean processes.
• Confident in leading, coaching and developing shop-floor teams.
• Experience with production planning or MRP is useful.

Responsibilities

• Lead production cell leads and teams day to day
• Put lean systems in place and keep them used
• Run daily production meetings and keep workstations organized
• Time jobs to estimate costs and capacity
• Reduce rework and identify root causes of quality issues
• Improve factory layout and flow for smoother material movement
• Support labour planning and inventory control; cross-train the team

Skills

Lean manufacturing

Team leadership

Problem solving

Production planning

MRP experience

Tools

MRP software

Job description

Production Manager | Lean & Scale-Up | Up to £60,000

A well-established manufacturer in Rochester is looking for a Production Manager to help the business grow without simply adding space or headcount.

This is a hands‑on leadership role. You will run the shop floor, put practical lean systems in place and get more from the current factory and team — better flow, less waste, higher quality and on‑time despatch.

The role

• Lead production cell leads and teams day to day
• Put simple lean systems in place and keep them used
• Run a daily production meeting and keep workstations organised
• Give the team time to make small, practical improvements
• Time jobs properly so costs and capacity are clear
• Reduce rework and get to the root cause of quality issues
• Improve factory layout and flow so work can move more easily
• Help plan labour, cross‑train the team and keep inventory under control
• Maintain health and safety standards and build working relationships across departments

What we're looking for

• 5+ years in a senior manufacturing leadership role
• Proven experience putting lean processes in place, not just talking about them
• Confidence leading, coaching and developing a shop‑floor team
• Strong problem‑solving and a practical, can‑do approach
• MRP / production planning experience would be useful

The package

• Up to around £60,000, with flexibility for the right person
• Based in Rochester
• Opportunity to shape how the factory runs during a period of growth