Production Manager - Osprey Quay
Sunseeker International Ltd
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Sunseeker International in Poole seeks an experienced GRP Production Manager to lead the production teams responsible for building world‑class luxury motor yachts. This hands‑on leadership role focuses on GRP manufacturing, sub‑assemblies, production planning and developing people to meet safety, quality, and delivery targets.
The successful candidate will be skilled in SAP, Health & Safety, 5S and lean production flows, driving continuous improvement and ensuring changes are implemented without
Qualifications
- Experience in a leadership role within a manufacturing environment.
- Solid understanding of GRP manufacturing processes and sub‑assemblies.
- Working knowledge of SAP, Health & Safety, 5S, and production process flows.
- Proven ability to develop people and manage production teams.
Responsibilities
- Lead and develop production teams to achieve safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives.
- Ensure GRP manufacturing and sub‑assembly activities meet specifications and schedules.
- Monitor KPIs: quality, productivity, efficiency, attendance.
- Drive Lean and 5S to improve processes and performance.
- Plan labour and resources to meet targets within budget.
- Support engineering changes and ensure compliance with latest specs.
- Coach and develop team capability with training and performance management.
Skills
Tools
Job description
Sunseeker was founded on a bold vision: to create a new kind of yacht and redefine what was possible on the water. From our earliest designs in 1967, we’ve pushed boundaries and reshaped the motor yacht industry through innovation, craftsmanship and relentless ambition.
At the heart of every Sunseeker lies a legacy of expert hands and meticulous attention to detail, skills refined and passed down through generations. These are the qualities that set our yachts apart - and the qualities that continue to drive our craft today.
In a world increasingly defined by automation, we remain committed to building hand‑crafted, hand‑finished boats. With over 1,800 talented team members across our busy shipyards - from long‑serving specialists to more than 180 apprentices - our Sunseeker workforce reflects the strength, diversity and pride of our local community. It’s this blend of heritage, skill and passion that makes our shipyards unlike any other place in the world.
We are looking for an experienced GRP Production Manager to lead our production teams in the manufacture of world‑class luxury motor yachts. This is a hands‑on leadership role requiring a strong understanding of GRP manufacturing processes, sub‑assemblies, production planning, and team development. You will be an inspirational leader who thrives in a fast‑paced manufacturing environment, driving safety, quality, delivery performance, and continuous improvement.
The successful candidate will have a solid understanding of GRP production and sub‑assembly operations, coupled with practical knowledge of SAP, Health & Safety, 5S methodologies, and production process flows. You will be passionate about developing people, improving processes, and ensuring that production targets are achieved without compromising quality or safety.
As a GRP Production Manager, you will be responsible for overseeing the day‑to‑day operation of a busy production area, ensuring work is completed safely, efficiently, and to the highest quality standards. You'll spend time on the shop floor supporting Team Leaders and Operatives, monitoring production progress, resolving issues, and driving performance against key business objectives.
Working closely with Planning, Engineering, Quality, and Senior Management teams, you will coordinate labour and resources to meet production schedules, manage design changes, review production data in SAP, and identify opportunities for process improvement. Every day will present new challenges, requiring strong leadership, effective communication, and a continuous improvement mindset.
- Lead and develop production teams to achieve safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives.
- Ensure all GRP manufacturing and sub‑assembly activities are completed in accordance with specifications and production schedules.
- Monitor and drive performance against key production KPIs, including quality, productivity, efficiency, and attendance.
- Promote and maintain the highest standards of Health & Safety, ensuring full compliance with company policies and procedures.
- Utilise SAP to manage production activities, reporting, resource planning, and performance monitoring.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives using Lean manufacturing principles and 5S methodologies.
- Plan labour and resources effectively to ensure production targets are met within budget.
- Support the implementation of engineering changes and ensure products are manufactured to the latest specifications.
- Conduct regular audits and reviews to maintain workplace organisation, process discipline, and operational excellence.
- Develop team capability through coaching, training, performance management, and succession planning.
- Work collaboratively with cross‑functional teams to resolve production issues and improve process flow.
- Drive a culture of accountability, engagement, and operational excellence across the department.
- Have previous experience as a Production Manager, Manufacturing Manager, or similar leadership role within a manufacturing environment.
- Possess a strong understanding of GRP manufacturing processes and sub‑assemblies.
- Demonstrate working knowledge of SAP, Health & Safety requirements, 5S, and production process flows.
- Have proven experience leading, motivating, and developing manufacturing teams.
- Be able to plan, organise, and prioritise workloads to achieve demanding production schedules.
- Understand Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement principles.
- Have excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Be highly organised, proactive, and solution‑focused.
With 7 miles of golden sandy beaches, flanked on both sides by the New Forest National Park and the Jurassic Coast line, working in Poole for a genuinely premiere international brand offers an enviable opportunity to truly live the dream. All the usual benefits you would expect from a sophisticated manufacturing organisation are available, including:
- A generous company pension scheme - 6% employer contribution
- Private medical insurance, including baby bonus and Digital GP (after 2 years)
- Dental insurance (after 2 years)
- Annual leave increases with continued service
- Health Assured EAP
- Trained Mental Health First Aiders
- Death in service scheme (£)
- Employee discounts with a wide range of third party businesses (up to 30% off) including Perkbox
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