Production Team Lead — Lean CNC Manufacturing

Cosworth; Northampton; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Cosworth is seeking a Production Team Leader to head a dynamic manufacturing team in Northampton. You will drive daily production performance, ensure strict quality and safety adherence, and collaborate across Production, Quality, Engineering, HR, and Supply Chain to meet business objectives.

You will develop team capability, coordinate shift activities, and lead continuous improvement initiatives to optimise processes and throughput.

Qualifications

• Experience in a production & manufacturing leadership role.
• Experience of CNC machining, with milling/turning and/or grinding desirable.
• Experience in resource planning & operational management.
• Demonstrable team leadership skills, including coaching & performance management.
• Strong understanding of Lean manufacturing principles, continuous improvement & problem solving techniques.
• A strong understanding of quality, health & safety compliance within a manufacturing environment.
• Excellent communication & interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective relationships and collaborate across functions.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily production activities, allocating labour and resources to maximise efficiency.
• Monitor production schedules, WIP, and material flow to ensure on-time delivery and minimise bottlenecks.
• Support daily production planning, readiness, and shift handovers, communicating risks, issues, and performance against plan.
• Drive continuous improvement by resolving production challenges and supporting New Product Introduction (NPI).
• Ensure compliance with quality standards through adherence to work instructions and investigation of non-conformances.
• Lead, coach, and develop team members through training, performance reviews, probation management, and regular one-to-one meetings.
• Manage workforce planning, including attendance, absence, overtime, return-to-work processes, and shift compliance.
• Support recruitment, employee relations, and disciplinary processes while promoting a positive and inclusive working environment.
• Champion Health & Safety by investigating incidents, maintaining 5S standards, and ensuring compliance with company policies and procedures.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support operational excellence, resource planning, and continuous business improvement.
• Consider the health and safety, environmental and energy impact of all activities.
• Support the Company’s compliance with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 by following policy and best practice.

Skills

Leadership

CNC machining knowledge

Resource planning

Coaching & performance mgmt

Lean manufacturing

Quality & safety compliance

Communication & collaboration

Job description

Cosworth is seeking a Production Team Leader to head a dynamic manufacturing team in Northampton. You will drive daily production performance, ensure strict quality and safety adherence, and collaborate across Production, Quality, Engineering, HR, and Supply Chain to meet business objectives.

You will develop team capability, coordinate shift activities, and lead continuous improvement initiatives to optimise processes and throughput.