Manufacturing Manager in Newton Aycliffe

As a dynamic and tactical Manufacturing Manager, you will steer our business toward achieving key strategic objectives through robust cross-functional collaboration. You will spearhead the transition to a world-class manufacturing function, enhancing our customer experience by ensuring the delivery of high-quality products with a right-first-time approach. The Manufacturing Manager’s role is crucial in upholding our commitment to customer-centricity, with a strong focus on maximizing customer satisfaction.

Immediate Priorities

• Site Familiarity – Get to know the site, the business and most importantly, the people. We are looking for someone who connects well with people at every level, makes people feel valued and is very comfortable being on the shop floor every day.
• Operational Capability – Gather a baseline understanding of our current operational capability. It will be key to bring our people onboard to grasp the basics quickly to create a foundation to build daily, weekly routines to enable a safe and successful environment with 100% colleague engagement.
• Safety and Compliance – Review current safety protocols and ensure compliance with health, safety and environmental regulations to maintain a safe working environment for all employees.

Main Responsibilities

• Leadership
• Vision Setting – Defining a clear vision and goals for the manufacturing team.
• Strategic Tactical Planning – Developing and executing tactical plans to achieve organisational objectives.
• Decision Making – Making informed and timely decisions that align with organisational goals.
• Team Building – Fostering a positive and collaborative culture, promoting effective communication and teamwork.
• Motivation – Inspiring and motivating team members to achieve their best and contribute to organisational success.
• Performance Management – Evaluating and managing individual and team performance, creating an environment for two-way constructive feedback, and facilitating growth.
• Conflict Resolution – Addressing conflicts within the team or functions by finding timely constructive resolutions.
• Communication – Communicating a clear and compelling vision, ensuring transparency and keeping all team members informed and engaged.
• Strategic Alignment – Ensuring that the team’s efforts align with the broader organisational strategy and goals by providing clarity of their contribution.
• General & Task Management
• Prioritisation – Ability to identify and prioritise tasks based on urgency, importance and impact on production goals.
• Time Management – Skill in allocating time efficiently to different tasks and activities, setting realistic deadlines and managing workflow to meet production schedules and deadlines.
• Task Delegation – Capacity to delegate tasks appropriately to team members based on their skills, strengths, and workload.
• Goal Setting – Proficiency in setting SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals for production targets.
• Continuous Improvement – Seek opportunities to optimise manufacturing processes to reduce costs.
• Performance Monitoring – Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for manufacturing and identify areas of improvement.
• Adaptability – Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities, unexpected events and evolving business requirements.
• People
• Team Leadership – Provide clear direction, motivation, and leadership to the direct team.
• Recruitment and Onboarding – Participate in the recruitment process to select qualified team members.
• Training and Development – Identify training needs and provide ongoing professional development opportunities.
• Resource Allocation Prioritisation – Assess resource availability to ensure efficient utilisation.

Desirable but Not Essential

• Experience in kitchen manufacturing or KBB industry.
• Relevant degree or management qualification.
• Quality management expertise (e.g., ISO 9001).
• Minimum Green Belt or equivalent Lean qualification.
• Change management qualification (e.g., ADKAR).

Personal Attributes

• Confident and self-assured.
• Challenges constructively using helpful feedback.
• Debates topics and gains consensus on core issues.
• Engages and inspires others.
• Coaching and supportive.
• Curious and perceptive.

Technical Experience

• 3-5 years of senior management experience within a manufacturing background.
• 5-10 years of manufacturing leadership experience.
• Management of teams with a minimum of 20–70 staff.
• Coaching and motivating experience – ideally in a manufacturing environment.
• Data analysis – experience turning data into action plans.
• Proactive leadership – energy and drive.
• Computer literate (Windows) and able to pick up new applications quickly.

Benefits

We offer an environment that is friendly, welcoming and supportive. We encourage everyone to be the best they can be, working together to achieve great results.