Production Manager - Weekend Shift Friday - Sunday

thales; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Thales in Glasgow is seeking an experienced Activity Manager to lead a manufacturing cell on Friday to Sunday weekend shifts. You will own day-to-day production operations, drive safety, quality and performance, and develop a high-performing team.

You will work with cross-functional teams to optimise processes, apply Lean principles, monitor KPIs, and implement corrective actions to sustain world-class standards.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading teams in a manufacturing or production environment.
• Strong understanding of HSE, quality standards, and operational KPIs.
• Passion for continuous improvement, Lean manufacturing, and team development.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills with the ability to inspire and influence.
• A proactive, solution-focused mindset.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day manufacturing operations for the weekend shift (Friday–Sunday).
• Drive health, safety and environmental compliance across the cell.
• Ensure production plans align with Master Production Schedule and customer requirements.
• Monitor daily performance and report KPIs; escalate issues and implement corrective actions.
• Embed Lean principles and CI culture; support recruitment and development of the team.
• Coach, develop and motivate staff; manage attendance and shift planning.

Skills

Leadership

Lean manufacturing

Continuous improvement

Communication

HSE knowledge

KPIs

Tools

Chorus

Job description

Location: Glasgow, United Kingdom

Activity Manager Weekend Shift Friday - Sunday

At Thales, we innovate with purpose. We are looking for an experienced and driven Activity Manager to lead a high-performing manufacturing cell in Glasgow. This is an exciting opportunity to play a pivotal role in delivering world-class solutions while inspiring and developing a talented team.

As an Activity Manager, you'll take ownership of day-to-day manufacturing operations, ensuring performance targets are met, processes are optimised, and teams are empowered to succeed. Working closely with cross-functional teams, you'll drive operational excellence and continuous improvement across your area.

What You'll Be Doing

Health, Safety & Environment

Champion a strong safety culture, ensuring the wellbeing of all team members.

Lead all HSE activities including risk assessments, PPE compliance, training, and health surveillance.

Encourage proactive hazard identification and reporting across the team.

Quality

Ensure all processes comply with Thales standards and procedures (Chorus).

Take ownership of quality control within your area.

Work collaboratively in cross-functional teams to drive continuous improvement.

Production & Performance

Plan and deliver work schedules aligned to the Master Production Schedule and customer requirements.

Monitor and report on daily performance, ensuring team engagement with KPIs.

Promote and embed Lean principles and a culture of continuous improvement (CI).

Escalate and resolve production issues, implementing corrective actions where needed.

Leadership & People Management

Lead, coach, motivate, and develop your team to achieve excellence.

Support training, cross-skilling, and workforce planning to maximise flexibility.

Manage day-to-day people matters including performance, absence, and shift planning.

Drive an inclusive culture aligned to Thales' Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) values.

Support recruitment and onboarding to meet operational needs.

What We're Looking For

Proven experience leading teams in a manufacturing or production environment

Strong understanding of HSE, quality standards, and operational KPIs

Passion for continuous improvement, Lean manufacturing, and team development

Excellent communication and leadership skills with the ability to inspire and influence

A proactive, solution-focused mindset

What We Can Offer You

At Thales, we invest in you - your career, your development, and your wellbeing:

Career Growth: Access to world-class training, mentoring, and global career opportunities

Development: Learn from industry-leading experts and cutting-edge projects

Internal Mobility: We prioritise promoting from within our global organisation

Flexible Working: Options including flexible start/finish times - 4 day week

Wellbeing Focus: Supporting your health, lifestyle, and ambitions

Interested?

We'd love to hear from you. If you're curious to learn more, we encourage an informal conversation with our Talent Acquisition Partner.

Join Thales and be part of a team that is redefining what's possible.

#LI-AH1

At Thales, we ensure equal opportunities, pay and working conditions for all. The benefits we offer include private medical insurance, buying or selling annual leave, cycle to work schemes, employee discounts, paid volunteering day, stocks and shares, annual bonus and much more depending on the role. Read more about our benefits here.

We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued for who they are and the unique strengths they bring. Discover more about our programmes, employee networks, wellbeing policies, and inclusive features here.

If this role isn't quite right for you, we encourage you to join our talent community where your details will be shared with our recruitment teams for other potential opportunities. Join the Talent Community here.

Join Thales in the UK - Innovate with us and shape the future!