Shift Production Manager

Ford-; Leeds; On-site; GBP 74,000 - 92,000; Full time

Job summary

Ford & Stanley Talent Services Group partnered with a rail client to recruit a Shift Production Manager in Leeds. You will lead depot engineering operations, oversee fleet maintenance activities and ensure safety, quality and reliability targets are met on a fast-paced shift.

This 3-month safety-critical contract requires strong leadership, excellent people management and a proven track record in rolling stock or similar high-risk environments.

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading teams in rail/rolling stock or safety-critical contexts.
• Proven background delivering operational maintenance and production performance.
• Strong people management, coaching and development capabilities.
• NEBOSH Certificate or current progression toward NEBOSH qualification.
• Excellent knowledge of health and safety regulations and compliance.
• Capable of fast-paced operational/engineering decision making.
• Strong stakeholder management and clear communication.

Responsibilities

• Lead and direct depot production teams to deliver maintenance, servicing, cleaning and defect rectification.
• Manage day-to-day depot operations to meet fleet availability targets.
• Maintain technical, engineering and safety standards across the depot.
• Coordinate rolling stock movements within depot rules and procedures.
• Develop multidisciplinary teams and drive safety culture through audits and checks.
• Investigate incidents and implement corrective actions for continuous improvement.
• Handle performance, attendance and disciplinary matters per company policy.
• Support workforce development through coaching and succession planning.
• Collaborate with stakeholders and third parties to meet contractual commitments.
• Act as Fire Manager and Chief Evacuation Manager on shift.
• Dute for Depot Production Manager when required.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Stakeholder management

Safety-critical environment

People development

Communication

Education

NEBOSH Certificate

Job description

Shift Production Manager | £400 - £500 per day

Leeds | initial 3 month contract | Safety Critical Position

The Opportunity

Ford & Stanley are partnered with a key rail client to recruit a Shift Production Manager to lead depot engineering operations and ensure the safe, efficient and compliant delivery of fleet maintenance activities.

This is a pivotal leadership role within Rolling Stock Engineering, responsible for managing frontline production teams across a busy depot environment. You will lead maintenance, servicing, cleaning, defect rectification and train movement activities, ensuring fleet availability targets are achieved while maintaining the highest standards of safety, quality and operational performance.

Working within a safety-critical environment, you'll be responsible for the effective utilisation of depot resources, people and facilities whilst driving continuous improvement and delivering operational excellence across the depot.

The Role: Shift Production Manager

As Shift Production Manager, you will provide leadership and direction to the depot production teams on shift, ensuring all rolling stock maintenance and servicing activities are completed safely, efficiently and to agreed standards.

You will be responsible for making real-time operational decisions, prioritising workloads, managing depot movements and ensuring trains are available for passenger service while maintaining compliance with technical, safety and environmental requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and direct depot production teams to deliver scheduled rolling stock maintenance, servicing, cleaning and defect rectification activities.
• Manage day-to-day depot operations, ensuring fleet availability targets and maintenance plans are achieved.
• Ensure all technical, engineering and safety standards are maintained across the depot environment.
• Coordinate rolling stock movements within depot limits in compliance with rule book requirements and local operating procedures.
• Lead and develop multidisciplinary teams including Production Team Leaders, Movement Team Leaders and Maintenance Leaders.
• Drive a positive safety culture through regular audits, inspections, briefings and management checks.
• Investigate accidents, incidents and near misses, implementing corrective actions and driving continuous improvement.
• Manage employee performance, attendance, disciplinary and grievance matters in line with company procedures.
• Support workforce development through coaching, training and succession planning initiatives.
• Work closely with operational stakeholders and third-party customers to ensure contractual and operational commitments are achieved.
• Act as Fire Manager and Chief Evacuation Manager whilst on shift.
• Deputise for the Depot Production Manager when required.

Essential Criteria

• Significant experience leading teams within a rail, rolling stock, fleet maintenance or safety-critical engineering environment.
• Proven background managing operational delivery, maintenance activities and production performance.
• Strong people management experience, including coaching, performance management and employee development.
• NEBOSH Certificate or currently working towards NEBOSH qualification.
• Excellent understanding of Health & Safety legislation and compliance requirements.
• Demonstrable experience making operational and engineering decisions within a fast-paced environment.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.

Desirable Criteria

• ONC, HNC or HND qualification in an Engineering discipline.
• Degree qualified in Engineering or related discipline.
• Management qualification.
• Experience within rolling stock maintenance depots.
• Experience conducting quality, technical or safety audits

About Ford & Stanley Group

Ford & Stanley Talent Services Group are in the business of people and performance. Our mission is to create one million better workdays through facilitating great recruitment, leadership and occupational mental fitness. We support our clients in their most challenging business areas, recruiting, developing and retaining the best talent from shop floor to boardroom.

Ford & Stanley Talent Services Group Ltd is a Disability Confident employer that is committed to a policy of equal opportunities for all opportunity seekers. We shall adhere to such a policy at all times and will review on an ongoing basis all aspects of recruitment to avoid unlawful or undesirable discrimination. We will treat everyone equally irrespective of sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, age, disability, colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief or political beliefs and we place an obligation upon all staff to respect and act in accordance with the policy.

Services advertised by Ford & Stanley are that of an employment consultancy business.