Team Leader Production Resource

Role Summary: Team Leader Production Operations – AWE, Burghfield (between Reading and Basingstoke). This site‑based position works a rotating shift pattern: two weeks early shifts (06:00 – 14:45) followed by two weeks late shifts (14:15 – 23:00). Free on‑site parking is available. Salary range £37,670 – £43,000 depends on suitability, qualifications and experience.

Key Accountabilities:

• Lead a team of up to 26 production personnel to deliver operational plans safely and securely.
• Full line‑management accountability for behaviour, attendance, conduct and performance.
• Own team performance, set clear expectations and actively manage against safety, quality, delivery and cost objectives.
• Drive a high‑performance culture, hold individuals accountable and recognise good performance.
• Proactively manage underperformance and capability gaps with structured improvement plans.

Key Responsibilities:

• Set clear expectations, roles and performance requirements so team members understand their responsibilities.
• Actively manage individual and team performance, providing regular feedback and addressing underperformance or behavioural concerns promptly.
• Work closely with the Production Task Manager to plan, prioritise and deploy resources in line with programme demand.
• Allocate workload effectively, matching the right skills to tasks and operational priorities.
• Monitor and drive KPIs across safety, quality, delivery and efficiency, taking action when standards are not met.
• Develop team capability through coaching, mentoring and supporting training and accreditation plans.
• Lead and facilitate daily/weekly performance routines, including visual management (accountability boards).
• Identify and escalate risks to delivery, particularly around resource, capability or performance issues.
• Support recruitment, onboarding and integration of new personnel into the team.
• Drive continuous improvement, recognising opportunities to improve processes, efficiency and team performance.
• Build effective working relationships with task managers, support functions and wider operations teams.
• Actively engage with and support the corporate Production Operative PDG process.
• Give advice and guidance on career development, coaching, feedback and appropriate support.
• Provide a diverse and inclusive working environment that allows individuals to flourish.
• Adopt a See It, Own It, Solve It mindset, identifying obstacles and owning solutions.
• Undertake reasonable duties as required by line or task management, including work elsewhere in the UK or overseas.

Qualifications:

• Proven line management experience and ability to lead, motivate and manage diverse teams in a safety‑critical environment.
• Strong performance management capability, including setting clear expectations and standards, managing underperformance, absence and conduct, driving accountability and continuous improvement.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills.
• Experience (desired) in a high‑hazard, manufacturing, defence, nuclear or regulated environment.
• Formal leadership or management qualification (e.g. ILM, NVQ Level 3/5 or equivalent).
• Experience of lean manufacturing / continuous improvement tools (e.g. 6S, visual management, waste reduction).
• Demonstrable experience in workforce planning and skills matrix management.
• Experience supporting training plans, accreditation and competence frameworks.
• Knowledge of unionised environments and experience managing employee relations professionally.
• Experience of incident investigation and root cause analysis.
• Ability to interpret and act on operational data to inform decision‑making.
• Experience in recruitment, onboarding and developing new staff into operational roles.
• Calm, constructive working style in a changing priority environment with initiative, enthusiasm, flexibility and ability to meet tight deadlines.

Important Information:

• You must obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role; this will be funded by AWE.
• You must be a British Citizen who has been resident in the UK for the past 5 years for SC clearance and 10 years for DV clearance.
• Full security clearance and citizenship are mandatory prerequisites.

Benefits:

• 9‑day working fortnight – every other Friday off in addition to 270 hours annual leave.
• Market‑leading contributory pension scheme (9‑13% of pensionable pay).
• Maternity leave – 39 weeks full pay; Paternity leave – 4 weeks full pay.
• Professional career development funding and annual membership of relevant professional bodies.
• Employee Assistance Programme and occupational health services.
• Life assurance (four times annual salary).
• Discounts on a wide range of everyday spending.
• Special leave policy – paid time off for volunteering, public service (including reserve forces) and caring.