Senior Production Manager

Blue Octopus; South Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading forge manufacturing company in South Yorkshire is seeking an experienced Production Manager to oversee performance across cold metal processing and ensure operational excellence. The ideal candidate will possess strong engineering background, excellent problem-solving skills, and effective communication abilities. This role offers a competitive benefits package including holidays, pension contributions, and opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

33 days of holiday

5% pension contribution

Bonus scheme

Health cash plan

Access to fitness app

Free work wear and PPE

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• Knowledge of machining or NDT.
• Strong engineering/manufacturing background ideally from safety-critical sectors.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and decision-making skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and drive performance across cold metal processing and testing areas.
• Develop strategic plans to enhance productivity and efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, and environmental regulations.

Skills

Machining or NDT

Engineering/Manufacturing Background

Problem-solving skills

Effective communication

Education

H&S Qualification – eg IOSH/NEBOSH

Continuous Improvement qualification

Job description

Independent Forgings and Alloys Ltd (IFA) are continuing to invest and grow and are looking to add to our team. Over the last few years we have invested in the business and have successfully doubled our turnover. We are looking to continue this growth and are looking to grow our team.

Due to this continued investment and growth, we are looking to add to our Senior Management team and are looking for an experienced Production Manager / Operations Manager / Head of Cold Works, ideally with experience from a Metals manufacturing environment to help improve efficiencies and processes across the business.

Main Purpose of the Role

Reporting to the Operations Director this is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing and driving performance across our cold metal processing and testing areas. This role is pivotal in ensuring operational excellence, strategic growth, and a culture of continuous improvement, with a strong emphasis on health and safety, departmental plan adherence, capacity analysis, problem solving, and people development.

Main duties of the role include:

• Develop and execute strategic plans to enhance productivity, efficiency, and capacity across all reporting areas.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support wider business objectives and growth initiatives.
• Ensure adherence to departmental plans, KPIs, and production schedules.
• Monitor and optimize workflows, resource allocation, and equipment utilization.
• Lead root cause analysis and implement corrective actions to resolve operational issues.
• Capacity & Performance Analysis
• Conduct regular capacity assessments to identify bottlenecks and opportunities for improvement.
• Use data-driven insights to inform decision-making and long-term planning.
• Build and nurture high-performing teams through coaching, mentoring, and structured development plans.
• Foster a culture of accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement.
• Champion a zero accident culture across all hot works departments.
• Ensure full compliance with health, safety, and environmental regulations.
• Lead incident investigations and implement corrective actions.
• Promote proactive risk assessments and safety training.
• Lead succession planning and talent development initiatives.

Qualifications / Certifications

Essential:

• Knowledge of Machining or NDT
• Strong Engineering/Manufacturing Background, ideally from precision, safety critical industry sectors
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and decision-making skills.
• Effective communicator with the ability to influence at all levels of the organisation

Desirable:

• Knowledge of NDT Accreditations and processes
• Knowledge of Forging and hot metal manufacturing processes
• H&S Qualification – eg IOSH/NEBOSH
• Continuous Improvement qualification

About Independent Forgings

Independent Forgings and Alloys (IFA) is one of Britain’s leading independent aerospace and industrial forgers. The unique feature about IFA is the combination of open and closed-die forging while also undertaking the whole production process from raw material to the finished product in one location. Operating from a 680 000ft2 facility in Sheffield, we manufacture high-integrity, open-die and closed-die forged components in nickel alloy, titanium, stainless steel and carbon alloys for customers and tier-one suppliers within the aerospace, nuclear, power generation, marine as well as oil and gas sector.

Why work for us?

At IFA we pride ourselves on being a great place to work. As one of the UK’s leading forge manufacturing company we want to ensure that we attract, motivate and retain the best people who can deliver the best service to the company and our customers.

We offer you:

• Holidays – you will have 33 days holiday, including bank holidays.
• Pension scheme – IFA wants to provide its employees a good foundation for the life after work and hence offers a 5% contribution.
• Bonus scheme – this is linked to team and company performance.
• Westfield cash plan – IFA provides level 1 health cash plan which comes along with numerous discounts and special offers, including gym discounts, online, high street and grocery retailers and many more.
• Wellhub – access to various fitness apps and gyms in the local area.
• Free work wear and PPE.
• Development – we offer genuine development opportunities to progress your career.