Production Supervisor

H.B. Fuller; Preston; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

H.B. Fuller, the largest pureplay adhesives company globally, is seeking a Production Supervisor in Preston. This crucial role involves overseeing the safe and efficient manufacturing of bonding agents while leading a team in a collaborative environment committed to safety and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in chemical manufacturing.
• 5+ years of experience managing teams in a production environment.
• Fluent in English, both spoken and written.

Responsibilities

• Ensure adherence to H.B. Fuller’s EHS standards and UK Health & Safety regulations.
• Supervise production across five areas with annual output of 2,800–3,200 tonnes.
• Lead and develop production team members to meet quality and service goals.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Practical knowledge of KPI deployment

High proficiency in Microsoft Office tools

Education

Degree in Chemical Engineering or equivalent

Similar technical qualification (e.g. HNC)

Tools

ERP systems (e.g., SAP or PRISM)

Job description

As the largest pureplay adhesives company in the world, H.B. Fuller’s (NYSE: FUL) innovative, functional coatings, adhesives and sealants enhance the quality, safety and performance of products people use every day. Founded in 1887, with 2023 revenue of $3.5 billion, our mission to Connect What Matters is brought to life by more than 7,000 global team members who collaborate with customers across more than 30 market segments in over 140countries to develop highly specified solutions that enable customers to bring world-changing innovations to their end markets.

Position Title: Production Supervisor
Location: Preston, UK – Onsite

Position Overview

The Production Supervisor at our Preston site supports the Plant Manager and is responsible for overseeing safe, efficient, and high-quality manufacturing of bonding agents. This role leads daily operations across five plant areas and ensures compliance with UK legislation and H.B. Fuller EHS standards. The ideal candidate will also contribute to cross-functional plant projects and continuous improvement initiatives.

Primary Responsibilities

• Ensure adherence to H.B. Fuller’s EHS standards and UK Health & Safety regulations

• Foster and promote a strong safety culture within manufacturing and warehouse operations

• Supervise production across five areas with annual output of 2,800–3,200 tonnes

• Plan and allocate manpower, including external temporary labor

• Monitor and report plant-level KPIs to operational leadership

• Ensure high availability and efficiency of production equipment in collaboration with maintenance

• Lead and develop production team members to meet quality and service goals

• Support internal projects related to equipment, quality, logistics, and safety

• Identify and implement continuous improvement initiatives

• Participate in customer audits as needed

Minimum Requirements

• Degree in Chemical Engineering (or equivalent) or similar technical qualification (e.g. HNC)

• 5+ years of experience in chemical manufacturing

• 5+ years of experience managing teams in a production environment

• Strong communication skills with the ability to operate across all organizational levels

• Fluent in English, both spoken and written

• Practical knowledge of KPI deployment and operational performance metrics

• High proficiency in Microsoft Office tools

Preferred Requirements

• Experience in adhesives, paints, inks, or chemical production

• Exposure to international manufacturing environments

• Familiarity with Lean, 5S, and Six Sigma methodologies (certification a plus)

• Strong leadership track record and performance management experience

• Proficient in ERP systems (e.g., SAP or PRISM)

H.B. Fuller is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and proud to have created a collaborative culture where employees around the world are seen, heard, and respected. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability, or marital status or status as a protected veteran, or any other legally protected classification.

H.B. Fuller does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or staffing firms. To conduct business with H.B. Fuller, a written service agreement must be executed by Human Resources prior to submitting any information relating to a potential candidate. Without a signed service agreement, H.B. Fuller shall not be obligated for payment of any fee or compensation.