Team Leader - Manufacturing Assembly

Unipart; West Midlands; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

33 days holiday including bank holiday

Pension

Life assurance

Employee assistance programme

Wellbeing support

Cycle to work scheme

Job summary

Unipart Manufacturing is launching a flagship, fast-paced Coventry project combining high-volume electrification assembly with injection moulding inputs. You will supervise shop-floor teams, drive on-time output, and ensure right-first-time quality while embedding Unipart Lean practices.

The role focuses on leading shifts, coaching operators, and partnering with Quality, Maintenance and Logistics to deliver continuous improvement in a growing environment.

Qualifications

• Leadership experience supervising production operators in fast-paced manufacturing or JIT environments.
• Practical Lean manufacturing knowledge including 5S, visual management and continuous improvement tools.
• Experience in assembly processes, electrification components, or polymer/injection moulding is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Production Line Supervision - lead operators to meet daily output and schedules.
• Maintain quality standards and investigate defects to support zero-PPM goals.
• Uphold Health, Safety, and Environment standards and lead investigations.
• Apply Lean tools and coach teams in standardized work and KPIs.
• Lead shift briefings, manage attendance, and collaborate with Quality/Maintenance/Logistics.
• Adapt scope as the project evolves and help shape processes.

Skills

Leadership

Lean

Continuous improvement

Technical familiarity

Interpersonal coaching

Job description

Scroll down for a complete overview of what this job will require Are you the right candidate for this opportunity

Team Leader - Manufacturing assembly with electrification and injection moulding inputs

Coventry

£37,750 plus 33 days holiday (including bank holidays), pension, life assurance, employee assistance programme, wellbeing support, and flexible benefits including cycle to work scheme

About The Role

Unipart Manufacturing is launching a flagship, fast-paced manufacturing project in Coventry, combining high-volume electrification assembly with complex injection moulding inputs. Fully aligned with Unipart's Sector and Growth Strategy and The Unipart Way Forward Plan, this exciting venture will scale rapidly from zero to over 200 team members within a four-month period, carrying potential to evolve into a standalone business. We are looking for driven, hands-on Assembly Team Leaders to provide direct supervision to shop-floor production teams. You will lead shift teams to achieve on-time output, deliver right-first-time quality, and embed Unipart Way lean practices into daily operations.

• Production Line Supervision - Lead, motivate, and direct production operators to achieve daily output targets, maintain production schedules, and drive line efficiency
• Quality and Zero-Defect Standards - Maintain production area quality standards, audit Quality Gates (Poke-Yokes), investigate defects for containment, and support zero-PPM quality goals
• Health, Safety, and Environment - Upkeep the highest levels of Health and Safety and 5S housekeeping, complete risk assessments, and lead accident/near-miss investigations
• The Unipart Way and Lean Tools - Employ Lean manufacturing techniques, communicate business KPIs, and actively coach operators in continuous improvement tools and standardised work
• Team Leadership and Development - Conduct shift briefings, manage time and attendance, perform return-to-work interviews, and foster cross-functional collaboration with Quality, Maintenance, and Logistics
• Change Management - This is a fast-paced, evolving project where your scope will grow alongside the initiative itself - while core deliverables are clear, flexibility is key - you'll have the opportunity to shape processes, adapt to changing priorities, and directly influence the project's direction as it unfolds

About You

We'd love you to have the following skills and experience, but please apply if you think you'd be able to perform well in this role!

• Leadership Experience - Proven track record supervising production operators within a fast-paced, demanding manufacturing or Just-In-Time (JIT) environment
• Lean and Continuous Improvement - Practical experience applying Lean manufacturing principles, 5S, visual management, and continuous improvement tools
• Technical Familiarity - Previous experience in assembly processes, electrification components, or polymer/injection moulding operations is highly advantageous
• Interpersonal and Coaching Skills - Strong ability to motivate teams, communicate target performance expectations clearly, and coach others

About Unipart

We are a supply chain performance improvement partner. We Design, Make, Move, and Improve components in our customers' supply chains, keeping their operations and assets moving and working better, for longer. Through our commitment to continuously driving operational efficiencies, we improve performance - saving time, cost, and carbon. Our ambition is to be the driving force behind efficient, resilient, and sustainable supply chains.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

We believe that a great workplace is one where you can bring your whole self to work. Our recruitment process is designed to be accessible, inclusive, and based entirely on merit. We define merit through a combination of technical skills and the core behaviours that help our people thrive at Unipart. We welcome applications from everyone, regardless of background or circumstances. We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity that exceeds our statutory obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and subsequent legislation. Whether it's your age, disability, neurodiversity, gender identity, family status, or any other characteristic that makes you 'you' - it is your talent and potential that we value most. Adjustments for you: We want you to perform at your best. If you require any reasonable adjustments or have specific accessibility needs at any stage of the application or interview process, please let us know. We are here to support you.

You may have experience in or be interested in the following: production supervisor, shift leader, manufacturing supervisor, assembly team leader, line leader, production team leader, manufacturing team leader, shift supervisor, cell leader, operations team leader