Tooling Production Manager

Blue Octopus; South Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading independent aerospace and industrial forging company in South Yorkshire is seeking an experienced Tooling Production Manager to oversee tooling design and lifecycle management. The successful candidate will drive improvements, foster safety, and manage the tooling team. Competitive benefits include 33 days holiday, pension contributions, and a bonus scheme.

Benefits

33 days holiday

5% pension contribution

Bonus scheme

Health cash plan

Access to fitness apps and local gyms

Free work wear and PPE

Career 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.
• Familiarity with tooling software systems and data-driven decision-making.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive tooling management system.
• Oversee tooling inventory, usage tracking, and maintenance schedules.
• Collaborate with design engineering and production teams.
• Drive standardization and documentation of tooling specifications.
• Lead, coach, and develop the tooling team.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, and environmental regulations.
• Conduct risk assessments and implement safe working practices.

Skills

Tooling management experience

Tooling design understanding

Leadership skills

Communication skills

Data-driven decision-making

Tools

Tooling software systems

Job description

Independent Forgings and Alloys Ltd (IFA) are continuing to invest and grow and we are looking to add to our Senior Management team. We are now looking for an experienced Tooling Production Manager. 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 for the right people to help us join our team.

Main Purpose of the Role

The Tooling Manager is responsible for overseeing the design, maintenance, and lifecycle management of tooling assets across the site. This role ensures that tooling systems support safe, efficient, and high-quality production. The successful candidate will lead the development of a robust tooling management system, drive continuous improvement, and foster a culture of safety and accountability within the tooling team.

Main duties of the role include:

• 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 standardization 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 across production interfaces.
• Conduct risk assessments and implement safe working practices for tooling activities

Your background should include

• 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.

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.