Production Manager

Gi Group; Wakefield; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency is seeking a dynamic Production Manager to oversee day-to-day operations at a high-volume manufacturing site in Wakefield. This role involves driving safety, quality, and performance excellence while leading production teams and optimizing processes. Candidates should have significant experience in operational management, a strong technical understanding of processes, and excellent leadership capabilities. Join a collaborative environment focused on continuous improvement and operational success.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in operational management in high-volume environments.
• Strong technical understanding of production capabilities.
• Highly developed leadership and management skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all manufacturing activities and ensure safety compliance.
• Lead production teams to achieve key performance indicators.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives and optimize processes.

Skills

Operational management

Leadership capabilities

Continuous improvement methodologies

Technical understanding of manufacturing processes

Financial acumen

Employee relations

Job description

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.

Should you require any support or assistance, please contact your local Gi Group office.