Production Manager

H Squared Talent Ltd; Sindlesham; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hours

Relaxed culture

25 days + bank holidays

Pension matched up to 5%

Healthcare cash plan

Shares scheme

Job summary

H Squared Talent Ltd is seeking a Production Manager to lead the largest production team, collaborating with Engineering to redesign and improve both mature and configurable product ranges. You’ll have autonomy in a small business with a flat structure and no bureaucracy.

The role focuses on lean implementation, production flow optimization, and close work with the senior management team to drive delivery and continuous improvement in a busy manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

• Proven people management experience in production/manufacturing.
• Lean training to green belt level or equivalent and applying it.
• Background in electronics assembly and test.
• Confident decisionmaker with process-improvement mindset.
• Comfort working in a small, busy business with changing, prototype-led products.

Responsibilities

• Lead a small production and service team, alongside an experienced supervisor.
• Relayout the production area, improve flow, apply lean principles for predictable output.
• Make decisions and act on production issues without waiting for sign-off.
• Work with Engineering on ECNs, NCRs and continuous redesign of products.
• Manage component obsolescence, availability and lead times.
• Contribute to senior management team and report to MD.

Skills

People management

Lean (Green Belt)

Electronics assembly

Decision making

Prototype environment

Job description

Take ownership of production and a seat on the management team

Flexible hours and a relaxed, down-to-earth culture

25 days' holiday plus bank holidays, pension with up to 5% matched, healthcare cash plan and a shares scheme

Office-based, a 15-minute walk from the station

This isn't a role where you keep an established production line ticking over - it's one where you get to shape how production runs.

Our client is a specialist manufacturer of test equipment, with a globally recognised name, serving customers in aerospace and defence amongst other markets. The business is very busy, the order book is full, and the team has grown significantly over the past year. You'll lead the largest team in the business, make the decisions and change how things are done. You'll have the autonomy to do it, in a small business with a flat structure where everyone knows everyone and there's no bureaucracy to wade through.

It's a varied challenge. One product range is mature and stable, but obsolescence and lead times keep you on your toes. The other is a highly configurable product where every unit is different and things change daily. You'll work closely with Engineering to improve both, one sub-assembly at a time, while production carries on.

What you'll be doing:

• Leading a small production and service team, working alongside an experienced production supervisor who looks after day-to-day planning and scheduling
• Re-laying out the production area, improving flow and applying lean principles to deliver a more predictable output
• Making decisions and acting on production issues without waiting for sign-off at every step
• Working with Engineering on ECNs, NCRs and the continuous redesign of the product range
• Managing the impact of component obsolescence, availability and lead times
• Contributing as a member of the senior management team, reporting to the Managing Director

The Candidate: Production Manager

The ideal candidate will have most of the following:

• Proven people management experience in a production or manufacturing environment
• Lean training to at least green belt level or equivalent, plus experience of applying it
• A background in electronics assembly and test.
• A confident decisionmaker with a process improvement mindset
• Comfort working in a small, busy business with changing, prototype-led products