Tooling Production Leader

W Talent; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading manufacturing firm in Sheffield is seeking a Tooling Production Leader responsible for managing tooling assets to support safe and efficient production. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in tooling management and proven leadership skills. This position offers competitive salary, 33 days' holiday, and additional benefits aimed at career growth and well-being.

Benefits

33 days' holiday

Pension scheme with 5% contribution

Performance-related bonus

Health Cash Plan

Access to fitness apps and gyms

Development opportunities

Qualifications

• Proven experience in tooling management within an industrial or manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of tooling design, maintenance, and lifecycle principles.
• Demonstrated leadership and team management capabilities.
• Excellent communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain a tooling management system.
• Oversee tooling inventory, usage tracking, and maintenance schedules.
• Drive standardisation and documentation of tooling specifications.
• Lead, coach, and develop the tooling team.

Skills

Tooling management

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Data-driven decision-making

Tools

Tooling software systems

Job description

W Talent are proud to be working exclusively with Independent Forgings and Alloys Ltd (IFA), who are currently seeking to recruit a Days-Based, Tooling Production Leader, based at their manufacturing facility in Hillsborough, Sheffield.

Company Information

Independent Forgings and Alloys (IFA) is one of the UK's leading independent forgers, specialising in the aerospace and industrial sectors. IFA's unique strength lies in its ability to deliver both open-die and closed-die forging, managing the entire production process from raw material to finished product at a single site.

Operating from a 680,000 sq. ft. facility in Hillsborough, Sheffield, IFA manufactures high-integrity forged components in nickel alloys, titanium, stainless steel, and carbon alloys. Its clients include tier-one suppliers in aerospace, nuclear, power generation, marine, and oil & gas all of whom rely on IFA for precision, reliability, and world-class quality.

Tooling Production Leader

The Tooling Production Leader will take responsibility for the design, maintenance, and lifecycle management of tooling assets across the site. This role plays a critical part in ensuring tooling systems support safe, efficient, and high-quality production. The successful candidate will lead the development of a robust tooling management system, champion continuous improvement, and foster a culture of safety and accountability within the tooling team.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive tooling management system.
• Oversee tooling inventory, usage tracking, maintenance schedules, and lifecycle planning.
• Collaborate with design engineering and production teams to ensure tooling availability and performance.
• Drive standardisation and documentation of tooling specifications and procedures.
• Lead, coach, and develop the tooling team to achieve operational excellence.
• Set clear goals, provide regular feedback, and support professional development.
• Ensure all tooling operations comply with health, safety, and environmental regulations.
• Promote a safety-first culture within the tooling team and wider production environment.
• Conduct risk assessments and implement safe working practices for all tooling-related activities.

Application Requirements

• Proven experience in tooling management within an industrial or manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of tooling design, maintenance, and lifecycle principles.
• Demonstrated leadership and team management capabilities.
• Familiarity with tooling software systems and data-driven decision-making.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Salary and Benefits

You will receive 33 days' holiday (including bank holidays), along with access to a pension scheme featuring a 5% IFA contribution. A performance-related bonus scheme is in place, linked to both team and company success. Additional benefits include the Westfield Health Cash Plan, Wellhub access to a variety of fitness apps and local gyms, free workwear and PPE, and genuine development opportunities to support your ongoing career progression.

How to Apply

IFA pride themselves on being a great place to work. To apply for this Tooling Production Leader position, please submit your CV directly to Glyn Dobb at W Talent.