Continuous Improvement & Health and Safety Manager in Suffolk

A long-established specialist manufacturer of high-value, bespoke vehicles is entering a period of operational transformation and is hiring a hands-on Continuous Improvement, Health & Safety & Purchasing Lead to drive that change from the shop floor up. This is a rare opportunity to take full ownership of CI, H&S and purchasing in a business that is ready for improvement, open to challenge and committed to building sustainable operational discipline.

The Opportunity

This is not a consultancy or desk-based role. You will be on the shop floor daily observing, mapping, improving and coaching. You'll report directly to the CEO and operate with autonomy, shaping how the business works and leaving behind capability that lasts.

What You will Do

• Map current-state value streams and quantify waste across all build types
• Lead 5S implementation and run structured Kaizen events
• Improve production flow, takt time, sequencing, layout and scheduling
• Establish standard work and visual management across the workshop
• Coach teams in CI tools through live improvement activity
• Act as the competent person for Health & Safety, owning risk assessments, work-at-height compliance, COSHH and incident investigations
• Conduct H&S audits, maintain statutory documentation and lead toolbox talks
• Overhaul purchasing practices: supplier performance, stock control, lead times and alignment with build schedules
• Track KPIs across CI, H&S and purchasing, reporting directly to senior leadership

What You will Bring

• Proven hands-on CI experience in manufacturing, ideally low-volume or bespoke production
• Strong working knowledge of lean tools: VSM, 5S, Kaizen, standard work, visual management and root cause analysis
• Practical H&S experience including risk assessments, PUWER, COSHH and Work at Height
• Purchasing experience: supplier negotiation, inventory control and aligning procurement with production flow
• A shop-floor mindset credible with skilled craftspeople and comfortable in overalls
• Structured, data-driven thinking with the ability to baseline and measure improvement
• Strong coaching ability and a commitment to building capability, not dependency

Desirable: Six Sigma/Lean qualification, experience in Danaher/TPS-style environments, CIPS or equivalent procurement experience.

Benefits

• £45,000 - £55,000 salary depending on experience
• Direct influence over CI, H&S and purchasing strategy
• High autonomy with direct access to senior leadership
• Opportunity to lead a two-year transformation programme with measurable impact
• Stable, long-established manufacturer with strong demand for its products
• Clear progression as operational maturity increases

What Success Looks Like

Within two years, you'll have delivered:

• Faster, more consistent build processes with reduced rework
• Full H&S compliance, including robust work-at-height and COSHH controls
• A purchasing function that supports production rather than constraining it
• A self-sustaining 5S standard maintained by the teams
• A trained group of CI practitioners able to run improvements independently
• A culture where problems are surfaced and solved, not worked around