Production Manager in Newbury

We are seeking an experienced Production Manager to lead our workshop operations and manage production scheduling at our factory in Newbury. This is a pivotal role combining hands‑on leadership with strategic planning and data‑driven decision‑making. You will be responsible for coordinating people, materials, and workflow across multiple concurrent bespoke projects – ensuring they are delivered safely, efficiently, and to the highest quality standards. You’ll analyze production requirements, schedule effectively, and continually develop our production team, our capabilities and capacity.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan/schedule and oversee all production activities, balancing resource capability, workload, capacity, and deadlines, meeting job budgets, specifications, and quality standards.
• Ensure materials, contracted services, and components are available in‑line with production plans.
• Lead, motivate, and develop a team of skilled production staff.
• Uphold high standards of health, safety, and environmental compliance.
• Use data and reporting to manage production requirements; identify and address issues, bottlenecks, and drive improvement.
• Responsible for production area layout, enhancements, maintenance and overall housekeeping.
• Identify and drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance and increase capability, workflow, quality, and profitability.
• Overall responsibility for production and companywide safety, including reviewing current and ongoing controls and implementing improvements.
• Working closely with cross‑functioning teams.
• Deliver business objectives and initiatives.
• Evaluate and implement required equipment, software, and/or process improvements.
• Day‑to‑day line manager responsibilities.

Skills & Experience Required

• Experience managing a safety‑first production environment and culture.
• Proven experience in production management in signage or similar industry (production, manufacturing, and fabrication).
• Strong analytical and planning skills with a focus on production scheduling and workflow optimisation.
• Comfortable implementing, working with, and developing job management, scheduling, or ERP systems.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills, able to respect, motivate and coordinate a diverse skilled and respected team.
• Solid understanding of relevant materials, and associated handling and processing.
• Solid understanding of relevant production machinery/equipment, and associated capabilities and limitations.
• Calm, organized, and solutions‑driven, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously with a can‑do attitude.

Qualifications

• Proven experience and practical leadership are key.
• Existing Health & Safety or supervisory certification (e.g. IOSH, first aid) advantageous.

In return, we offer a competitive salary and benefits package, a friendly and supportive work environment, 24 days annual leave plus public holidays. Hours: 8:30 – 4:45, finishing at 4pm on a Friday. Pension contribution 5% employee contribution and 3% employer contribution.