Manufacturing Team Leader

Distinction Doors is the UK's leading composite door supplier offering bespoke, premium doors with an extensive colour palette to create wonderful entrances to people's homes. We have an opportunity for a Manufacturing Team Leader to join our Paint department on our AM shift, working at our site in Tankersley on a full-time basis (37.5 hours).

The Role

Reporting to the Manufacturing Shift Manager, the Manufacturing Team Leader plays a key role in leading and motivating operations team members to drive daily production targets, quality standards, and safety compliance through effective people management, adherence to Safe Working Practices (SWPs) and the implementation of lean manufacturing techniques including 5S and continuous improvement. This role bridges the gap between leadership and frontline operations to ensure efficient workflow.

Key responsibilities include:

• Supervise, coach, and motivate team members to drive productivity and efficiency through effective management of attendance, performance and daily task assignment.
• Conduct regular one-to-one meetings with direct reports to manage performance and conduct and support development.
• Identify training needs for team members and work collaboratively with the Manufacturing Shift Manager and HR/L&D Team to drive individual development plans aligned with the skills matrix and skill gaps within the business.
• Manage the department training plan, ensuring it is accurate and updated regularly in conjunction with the HR/L&D Team and the Manufacturing Shift Manager, and working proactively with fellow Team Leaders to ensure training plans align.
• Manage team attendance through strong leadership, specifically reacting to unplanned absence, handling timely absence call-backs, conducting prompt return-to-work meetings, and working closely with the HR Team daily to identify trends, assess impact and ensure effective absence management.
• Meet daily and weekly production schedules, ensuring maximum efficiency and minimal downtime.
• Accountable for leading and delivering daily shift briefs on time at the start and end of each shift, taking ownership for managing team expectations, communicating performance and key business updates, and working in line with the Manufacturing Shift Manager to understand shift challenges to be addressed.
• Enforce health and safety regulations, ensuring a safe, clean and organised working environment and promoting lean manufacturing techniques including 5S.
• Establish strong working relations with the HSE team, working positively and collaboratively with them to understand HSE principles and support the communication and implementation of them into operations.
• Embed and encourage a 'right first time' culture to ensure team accountability and ensuring faults and defects are identified and addressed promptly, ensuring defects and faults do not exit your department(s) and proceed on the production line without being addressed, reported and resolved appropriately.
• Participate as required in CI projects, offering input and insight from your area of expertise and leading change as required.

Education, Experience & Knowledge

• GCSE in English, Maths & Science (Pass Level) or equivalent (essential).
• A minimum of 1 years' experience in a manufacturing supervisory/management role (essential).
• Educated to degree level in a relevant manufacturing or business discipline or equivalent Level 7 qualification (desirable).

The Person

Our people are at the heart of what we do so finding the right talent to join us is important. The right person for this role will have:

• Knowledge of lean manufacturing principles such as 5S and Six Sigma.
• Strong and competent decision-making skills.
• Strong knowledge of health and safety standards within a manufacturing environment.
• Commitment to maintaining high-quality standards and show attention to detail.
• Strong people management skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate teams, challenge and support and hold teams accountable.
• The ability to work in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple priorities and the ability to deal with rapidly changing business conditions.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to effectively collaborate with stakeholders at all levels.
• Good time management skills and the ability to prioritise, problem-solve and use initiative.
• Proficient skills in using MS Office applications.
• The ability to accept and provide feedback, be challenged on your advice and work well under pressure.
• A continuous learning mindset to stay updated with changes in manufacturing practices, laws, and regulations.
• A can-do attitude and a strong work ethic.
• An understanding of production costs including waste and downtime.
• A strong understanding of customer expectations/needs and the impact of failure/cost of poor quality.

The Benefits

A competitive salary between £35,000 - £42,000 per annum. 25 days holiday plus.