Production Manager - Darlington

Cepac Limited; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

33 days holiday including bank holidays

Up to 6% employer pension contribution

Performance-related bonus

Private medical cover for you and your family

Income Protection Insurance

4x salary death in service benefit

Job summary

A leading packaging company in Tees Valley is seeking an experienced Production Manager to oversee operational excellence and lead a high-speed manufacturing team. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in corrugated or fast-paced manufacturing, strong leadership and communication skills, and a focus on continuous improvement. This role offers a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• Significant senior management experience in corrugated or fast paced manufacturing.
• Strong leadership, communication, and coaching skills.
• Proven ability to drive change and deliver operational improvements.
• Analytical mindset with a focus on data-driven decision-making.
• Flexible and proactive approach to managing major projects and busy periods.
• Flexible and proactive approach to managing major projects and busy periods.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the operational plan for production and customer service.
• Champion Health & Safety best practice across departments.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives for efficiency, waste reduction, and quality.
• Ensure accurate data capture on key metrics.
• Maintain BRC AA accreditation standards and site hygiene protocols.
• Manage costs and identify capital investment opportunities.
• Provide leadership and support team development.
• Provide engaging leadership, set clear targets, and support team development through PDRs and training plans.

Skills

Leadership

Change management

Data-driven decision making

Communication skills

Coaching

Six Sigma

Project management

Education

Qualifications in management and continuous improvement (e.g., Six Sigma)

Six Sigma certification

Job description

Job vacancies: Production Manager - Darlington

Your role

Are you an experienced manufacturing leader with a passion for operational excellence and continuous improvement?

Cepac Darlington is looking for a Production Manager to join our senior leadership team and drive performance across our high-speed corrugated packaging operation. This is a fantastic opportunity to make a measurable impact in a business committed to innovation, quality, and world-class standards.

The Role

• Lead and develop the operational plan to deliver reliable, profitable production and exceptional customer service.
• Champion Health & Safety best practice across all departments.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency, reduce waste, and improve quality.
• Ensure accurate data capture and reporting on key metrics such as downtime, waste, and quality.
• Maintain BRC AA accreditation standards and 5S site hygiene protocols.
• Collaborate with Print, Corrugation, Conversion, and Engineering teams to optimise performance.
• Manage costs effectively and identify opportunities for capital investment.
• Provide engaging leadership, set clear targets, and support team development through PDRs and training plans.

The Person

• Significant senior management experience in corrugated or fast paced manufacturing.
• Strong leadership, communication, and coaching skills.
• Proven ability to drive change and deliver operational improvements.
• Analytical mindset with a focus on data-driven decision-making.
• Qualifications in management and continuous improvement (e.g., Six Sigma) are highly desirable.
• Flexible and proactive approach to managing major projects and busy periods.

The Package

We recognise that great people drive great results — that’s why we offer a competitive salary and benefits package, including:

• 33 days holiday (including bank holidays)
• Up to 6% employer pension contribution
• Performance-related bonus
• Private medical cover for you and your family
• Income Protection Insurance
• 4x salary death in service benefit

The Company

Cepac is the UK’s leading independent corrugated packaging producer. At our Darlington site, we specialise in Flutepac – a brand of sustainable, paper-based food packaging designed for the “food-to-go” market, fresh produce, baked goods, ready meals and more. Flutepac provides innovative alternatives to plastic packaging, supporting our customers in meeting consumer demand for eco-friendly solutions while reducing environmental impact.

Join a forward-thinking team where your expertise will help shape the future of our Darlington site and deliver outstanding results for our customers.

Meadows Road, Brookfield Park
Manvers, Wath Upon Dearne
Rotherham
S63 5DJ
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Paper Mill Road, Rawcliffe Bridge
Goole
East Riding of Yorkshire
DN14 8SL
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]