Production Manager - 12 Months Contract

Caterpillar; Peterborough; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading manufacturing company in Peterborough is seeking a Production Manager for a 12-month contract. The role involves managing production operations, ensuring quality and safety compliance, and overseeing staff training. Desired candidates should have experience in quality management and process improvement. The position offers a competitive salary of £30,200 to £39,900 based on experience.

Benefits

25 days annual leave

Up to 9% Bonus

Contributory pension scheme

Contributory share scheme

Flexible benefits including health and dental care plans

Qualifications

• Knowledge of quality management methods and adherence to organizational processes.
• Ability to analyze problems and create alternative solutions.
• Skills in planning and organizing tasks and resources.
• Experience in process improvement and identifying performance issues.
• Knowledge of human resources processes for talent management.
• Understanding of day-to-day manufacturing operations.
• Ability to ensure safety compliance and implement emergency processes.
• Experience in training staff on production machinery.

Responsibilities

• Manage direct reports and support operational tasks within the team.
• Utilize quality indicators and ensure compliance with quality goals.
• Analyze production issues and create actionable plans.
• Monitor and adjust workflow to mitigate bottlenecks.
• Implement methods for improving critical manufacturing processes.
• Oversee safety inspections and maintain compliance.
• Prepare training materials and deliver training sessions.

Skills

Quality Management

Analytical Thinking

Planning and Organizing

Process Improvement

Talent Management

Manufacturing Operations

Manufacturing Safety

Production Training

Job description

Overview

Career Area: Manufacturing

Job Description:

Production Manager (12 months contract) — Peterborough, UK. Salary £30,200 to £39,900 (dependent on experience).

Location and Benefits

Location: Peterborough, UK

Benefits:

• 25 days annual leave
• Up to 9% Bonus
• Contributory pension scheme - Caterpillar will double the employee's contribution Up to 10%
• Contributory share scheme - Caterpillar will match 50% of the employee's contribution
• Optional flexible benefits including access to health and dental care plans, EV car lease, holiday purchase

About IPSD

Caterpillar’s Industrial Power Systems Division (IPSD) designs, tests and manufactures 0.5 to 18L Cat and Perkins engines that power over 5000 applications including Marine, Petroleum, Industrial Applications, Electric Generators, and Locomotives. Caterpillar’s company strategy includes sustainability as one of four focus areas and IPSD is engaged and actively preparing green energy solutions for the future.

Job Summary

This fixed-term contract role will provide the successful candidate with in-depth experience in people management within a leadership role, including management of direct reports and all associated systems (Kronos/Workday/Occupational Health) needed to support our wider team while managing a tactical operational area.

Additional Info

• 12-month fixed-term role
• Role will cover AM/PM shift on rotating schedule

What You Will Have

Quality Management: Knowledge of quality management methods, tools, and techniques and the ability to create and support an environment that meets the quality goals of the organization.

• Utilizes quality indicators relevant to own unit or function
• Adheres to organizational quality management processes and practices
• Applies key aspects of continuous improvement processes and evaluates impact on quality
• Uses quality evaluation tools and techniques such as walkthroughs and inspections
• Works with quality assurance methods, tools and techniques

Analytical Thinking: Knowledge of techniques and tools that promote effective analysis; ability to determine the root cause of organizational problems and create alternative solutions that resolve these problems.

• Approaches a situation or problem by defining the problem or issue and determining its significance
• Makes a systematic comparison of two or more alternative solutions
• Uses flow charts, Pareto charts, fish diagrams, etc. to disclose meaningful data patterns
• Identifies the major forces, events and people impacting and impacted by the situation at hand
• Uses logic and intuition to make inferences about the meaning of the data and arrive at conclusions

Planning and Organizing: Knowledge of planning and organizing tasks and resources to complete work in a structured and methodical way.

• Raises awareness of potential bottlenecks and disruptions to the schedule
• Breaks tasks into manageable steps and integrates into a personal work plan
• Escalates concerns over competing or conflicting priorities
• Monitors progress and adjusts tactics as needed
• Creates action plans to ensure responsibilities are accomplished

Process Improvement: Understanding and insight into evaluating current production methods and focus on continuous improvement of processes, products and services.

• Defines critical workflows for executing key processes
• Identifies process problems that limit performance
• Implements methods for improving and establishing controls for critical processes
• Focuses on the most significant problems to maximize efficiency gains
• Surfaces systemic problems for organizational resolution

Talent Management: Knowledge of human resources and talent management processes; ability to lead, motivate, evaluate, and reward employees.

• Delegates tasks to the right people
• Explains processes on hiring, leading, motivating, evaluating, developing and rewarding people
• Coordinates work schedules and workloads for employees
• Transforms resistance into support and helps poor performers improve
• Applies standard procedures and policies in talent management

Manufacturing Operations: Knowledge of manufacturing operations; able to perform day-to-day operations of a manufacturing plant or facility.

• Identifies safety hazards and anomalies during the manufacturing process
• Works with basic manufacturing procedures like productivity enhancement and quality control
• Participates in regular and ad-hoc operations review meetings
• Supports process improvement projects to deliver high-quality products
• Follows regulatory processes and procedures for the plant or facility

Manufacturing Safety: Knowledge of manufacturing safety; ability to identify hazards and meet regulatory safety requirements for workers, environment and site.

• Consults on new tools and techniques for safety protection
• Performs safety inspections to ensure OSHA compliance
• Designs and implements emergency response processes
• Promotes workplace safety among supervisors and workers
• Assesses hazards, initiates corrective action
• Ensures compliance with safety policies and regulations

Production Training: Knowledge of delivering training on safe and efficient operation of production machinery

• Prepares lesson plans and materials for training
• Documents production processes and writes user manuals
• Instructs staff in basic setup and operation of machinery
• Schedules and conducts training sessions
• Maintains records of training completion

What You Will Get

The successful candidate will gain essential experience and operational knowledge of people management systems and techniques.

Note: The panel cannot make assumptions when shortlisting; please demonstrate your qualifications and experience on your CV relevant to the criteria outlined.

Posting Dates: September 24, 2025 – October 1, 2025

EEO and Hiring Information

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply. Not ready to apply? Join our Talent Community.