Production Manager

Wienerberger; Sittingbourne; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Weekly Pay

Christmas Bonus

Share Scheme (SIP)

Perks & Discounts

Career Growth

Job summary

Wienerberger in Sittingbourne is seeking a proactive Production Manager to oversee shift-based manufacturing operations, maximise efficiency, uphold quality standards, and foster a strong safety culture.

You will be visible on the shop floor, coaching and mentoring your team to build future leaders while driving KPIs and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership capabilities with ability to motivate and mentor teams.
• Exceptional communication skills with a track record of improvement through collaboration.
• Analytical mindset to interpret production data and drive decisions.
• IT literacy and comfort with manufacturing software and systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop shift teams to meet daily/weekly production targets and KPIs.
• Foster a high-performance culture with continuous improvement, clear communication and engagement.
• Manage performance, absence and disciplinary matters per company guidelines.
• Create development plans, deliver targeted training, and perform regular appraisals.
• Work on the shop floor to investigate and resolve real-time production issues.
• Collaborate with Planning to optimise schedules and maintain stock levels.
• Drive continuous improvement to reduce waste and costs and improve efficiency.
• Provide daily reports on output, scrap and efficiency; review SOPs and risk assessments.
• Promote a proactive health and safety culture and ensure compliance with policies.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Analytical skills

IT literacy

Job description

About the role

We are seeking a proactive Production Manager to oversee our shift-based manufacturing operations. In this pivotal role, you will be directly accountable for maximising efficiency, maintaining strict quality standards, and fostering a high-performance safety culture.

A central focus of this position is proactive people management. You won't just sit in an office, you will be visible on the shop floor, inspiring, coaching, and mentoring your team to achieve operational success and equip our future leaders.

Key Responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

• Team Leadership & Development
  • Lead and inspire shift team leaders to consistently hit daily/weekly production targets and achieve KPIs.
  • Foster a high-performance culture rooted in continuous improvement, clear communication, and strong employee engagement.
  • Manage performance, absence, and disciplinary matters in strict line with company guidelines.
  • Build development plans, deliver targeted training, and conduct regular performance appraisals.
  • Work directly on the shop floor to investigate and resolve real-time production challenges.
• Production, Quality & Continuous Improvement
  • Optimise output to maintain stock at agreed levels of availability, collaborating closely with the Planning team to execute efficient schedules.
  • Drive continuous improvement programmes aimed at eliminating waste, reducing costs, and boosting process efficiency.
  • Manage change effectively to deliver sustainable, measurable improvements in manufacturing performance.
  • Provide clear, concise daily reports covering output, scrap, and operational efficiencies.
  • Develop and review departmental risk assessments and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Health, Safety & Compliance
  • Promote a proactive H&S culture to eliminate accidents, ensuring full compliance with corporate, legal, and environmental policies.
  • Act as the primary point of contact for shift incidents, leading thorough accident investigations and logging all hazards or near-misses.
  • Enforce strict workplace hygiene, housekeeping, and the correct use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Communication & Collaboration
  • Proactively communicate operational issues, bottlenecks, or lost time to the Planning team to mitigate schedule impacts.
  • Partner with the Maintenance Manager and Tool Room Team Leader to ensure all resources are available to meet the scheduled plan

We offer a collaborative working environment where your leadership will directly impact our growth.

You will have access to ongoing training for continuous learning and self-development to help you thrive in your career

Hours of Work: Monday to Friday 07:00 to 15:30 (includes a 30 minute unpaid break)

About you

Essential

• Proven leadership skills: A strong motivator capable of setting high standards, influencing others, and mentoring future leaders
• Exceptional communication: A natural team builder with a track record of delivering improvement through others.
• Analytical mindset: The ability to analyse production data and confidently act on the results.
• Tech-savvy: Fully IT literate

Desirable

• A solid understanding of Lean manufacturing techniques.
• Experience working within a manufacturing environment focused on Injection Moulding & Assembly.

About our Benefits

• Weekly Pay: £50,000.00 per annum (Weekly paid)
• Financial Bonuses: Christmas Bonus (subject to company performance).
• Share Scheme (SIP): The ability to become a shareholder via our Share Scheme.
• Perks & Discounts: Benefit Platform offering health, wellbeing, and money-saving opportunities.
• Career Growth: Training and opportunities to grow your career with us, including certified machinery training

The closing date for this role is subject to change and may be closed earlier than advertised.