Production Team Lead

Walker Cole International Ltd; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Walker Cole International Ltd is seeking a Production Team Leader for a pharmaceutical manufacturing site in the North West. You will lead a high-performing team, ensure production schedules are met and drive continuous improvement while upholding quality and compliance.

You will work with Engineering for maintenance, calibration and validation, manage deviations, maintain training records, and foster cross-functional collaboration with QA, EHS and other functions.

Qualifications

• Pharma manufacturing in cGMP aseptic filling environments.
• Experience with RABS/Isolators.
• Knowledge of MHRA/FDA regulations and inspection readiness.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the production team, with regular performance appraisals and coaching.
• Ensure training records are up to date and team is cGMP/EHS compliant.
• Record production activities and manage deviations/incidents and investigations.
• Coordinate with Engineering for maintenance, calibration, and validation activities.
• Act as liaison with QA, Engineering and EHS to ensure timely issue resolution.

Skills

cGMP

Lean Six Sigma

Problem solving

Leadership

Education

Life science/engineering degree

Tools

RABS/Isolators experience

Job description

Walker Cole International is exclusively supporting a growing pharmaceutical manufacturing organisation in the North West in the search for a Production Team Leader. This is a great opportunity to lead a high-performing manufacturing team, combining hands‑on leadership with strategic oversight to ensure production schedules are met, quality standards are upheld and continuous improvement is driven forward.

Your responsibilities as the Production Team Leader will include:

• Leading and managing the production team, conducting regular performance appraisals and coaching team members in problem-solving and continuous improvement activities.
• Ensuring the team is fully trained and equipped to operate within cGMP and EHS standards, maintaining accurate training records and documentation.
• Ensuring production activities are accurately recorded and that deviations or incidents are promptly reported, investigated and resolved to prevent reoccurrence.
• Working closely with Engineering to ensure planned preventative maintenance, calibration and validation activities are executed on schedule, and implementing KPIs to track Right First Time performance.
• Acting as a key liaison between cross‑functional departments including Quality Assurance, Engineering and EHS, ensuring effective communication and timely issue resolution.

The successful candidate will demonstrate the following:

• Proven experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing with competency associated with cGMP aseptic filling facilities, including drug product formulation, maintenance and qualification activities.
• Extensive manufacturing/technical experience in a cGMP environment, ideally with exposure to RABS/Isolators.
• Strong knowledge of Lean/Six Sigma techniques and problem-solving, with a track record of applying continuous improvement methodologies.
• Proficiency in cGMP, EHS, MHRA and FDA regulations, with a focus on maintaining inspection readiness.
• Graduate in an appropriate discipline (life science/engineering) or equivalent experience in the pharmaceutical industry/cGxP environment.

Production Team Leader | Manufacturing Team Leader | GMP Operations | Aseptic Manufacturing | Sterile Manufacturing | Lean Six Sigma | Continuous Improvement | cGMP | EHS | Right First Time | Aseptic Filling | Pharmaceutical Manufacturing