Production Manager

Gi Group; Stoke-on-Trent; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading staffing agency is seeking a Production Manager for their manufacturing site in Stoke-on-Trent. The successful candidate will oversee daily operations, ensuring safety and quality standards while optimizing processes for efficiency. Responsibilities include leading production teams, driving continuous improvement initiatives, and managing staffing levels. The ideal candidate will have significant operational management experience within high-volume environments and strong leadership skills. This is a full-time permanent position, and applications are open until February 3rd, 2026.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in operational or production management in a high-volume environment.
• Strong technical understanding of manufacturing processes.
• Excellent knowledge of continuous improvement methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Oversee manufacturing activities while ensuring safety and quality standards.
• Lead production teams and optimize processes for efficiency.
• Monitor KPIs to drive continuous improvement.
• Manage staffing levels and performance reviews.

Skills

Operational Management

Continuous Improvement

Leadership Skills

Technical Understanding

Commercial Acumen

Project Management

Job description

Overview

Are you an experienced production leader ready to drive performance, inspire teams, and shape the future of a high‑volume manufacturing site? This is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic Production Manager to take ownership of day‑to‑day operations and deliver excellence across safety, quality, people, and performance.

As Production Manager, you will oversee all manufacturing activities within the facility, ensuring operations run safely, efficiently, and to the highest quality standards. Working closely with HSE, Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain teams, you will lead production teams, optimise processes, and drive continuous improvement to meet customer expectations and organisational goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Safety & Environmental Leadership
  • Champion a safety‑first culture and ensure full compliance with internal policies and regulatory requirements.
  • Lead safety audits and risk assessments, ensuring timely and effective corrective actions.
  • Promote sustainability initiatives, including waste reduction, recycling, and energy efficiency.
• Operational Leadership
  • Lead daily production activities across multiple shifts to ensure schedule adherence and on‑time delivery.
  • Allocate labour, equipment, and materials to maximise throughput and minimise downtime.
  • Monitor and improve key KPIs, including OEE, throughput, waste, downtime, and labour efficiency.
• Quality & Compliance
  • Ensure all products meet quality standards, customer specifications, and regulatory requirements.
  • Work with the Quality team to investigate non‑conformances and implement corrective actions.
  • Maintain compliance with ISO, BRC, GMP, and other relevant industry standards.
• People Management
  • Lead and develop supervisors, line leaders, and production staff.
  • Coach, train, and upskill teams to build capability and support career progression.
  • Manage staffing levels, performance reviews, and recruitment for production roles.
• Continuous Improvement & Process Optimisation
  • Drive initiatives to reduce waste, improve cycle times, and enhance equipment reliability.
  • Apply lean tools such as 5S, Kaizen, SMED, root cause analysis, and value stream mapping.
  • Collaborate with Engineering and Maintenance on equipment upgrades, line optimisation, and automation projects.
• Planning & Reporting
  • Develop daily/weekly/monthly production plans with Supply Chain and Planning teams.
  • Track and report performance, identify variances, and implement action plans.
  • Manage production budgets, including labour, overtime, materials, and operational costs.

About You

You’ll bring a strong blend of operational expertise, leadership capability, and commercial awareness. Thrive in fast‑paced, high‑volume environments and enjoy working collaboratively across functions.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Significant experience in operational or production management within a high‑volume, process‑driven environment.
• Strong technical understanding of manufacturing processes and production capabilities.
• Excellent knowledge of continuous improvement methodologies.
• Highly developed leadership and people‑management skills.
• Strong commercial acumen and financial awareness.
• Experience partnering across multiple business functions.
• Employee relations experience, ideally including Trade Union engagement.
• Project management capability.

Job Info

• Job Title: Production Manager
• Company: Gi Group
• Location: Stoke, Staffordshire
• Posted: Jan 3rd 2026
• Closes: Feb 3rd 2026
• Sector: Manufacturing & Surveying
• Contract: Permanent
• Hours: Full Time