Production Manager in Kent, Leeds

Production Manager | Leeds | £55,000 - £60,000 | Permanent The Opportunity This is an exciting opportunity to join a major freight rail operator at the start of a significant ETCS (European Train Control System) retrofit programme. Based in Leeds, you will lead the installation programme across a fleet of Class 66 locomotives, overseeing production planning, customer engagement, operational performance and day-to-day delivery. Joining the project at an early stage, you will play a key role in establishing efficient installation processes, driving continuous improvement and ensuring installations are delivered safely, on time and to the highest quality standards. With approximately 62 locomotives identified for retrofit and the potential for further fleet opportunities, this is a high-profile position offering genuine long-term career development. Working closely with depot teams, senior management and external stakeholders, you will help shape the future success of a nationally significant rolling stock modernisation programme while contributing to the ongoing growth of the ETCS operation. Production Manager Responsibilities Safety Leadership Lead by example in maintaining a strong safety culture, ensuring employees, contractors, equipment and site activities operate safely and in line with company policies. Investigate incidents and ensure root cause analysis and corrective actions are completed. Programme & Production Planning Plan, manage and deliver ETCS installation and maintenance activities in line with project milestones, operational requirements and production schedules. Performance Management Monitor production efficiency, quality performance and maintenance outputs, ensuring issues are tracked, resolved and closed out effectively. Stakeholder Engagement Liaise with operational teams and key stakeholders to support programme delivery, budget management and operational improvements. Audit & Compliance Prepare for and support internal and external audits, ensuring engineering, maintenance and quality standards are consistently maintained. Tooling & Equipment Control Manage tooling, equipment and calibration requirements, ensuring all assets remain compliant and available to support production activities. Continuous Improvement Drive Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives to improve productivity, quality, efficiency and project performance. Operational Problem Solving Remove barriers to production and provide practical solutions to daily operational challenges, ensuring safe and reliable project delivery. Quality Management Monitor installation quality standards and ensure all work is completed in accordance with engineering specifications and customer requirements. Team Leadership Lead, develop and support team members through coaching, performance management, recruitment, training and employee relations activities. Training & Competency Management Ensure all personnel maintain the required competencies, qualifications and training to perform their duties safely and effectively. Communication & Engagement Conduct toolbox talks, team briefings and engineering communications, ensuring staff remain informed of key project and business developments. Continuous Development Actively identify opportunities to improve processes, team capability and overall operational performance. Ideal Production Manager Production Management & Planning Experience Demonstrable experience managing production, installation, manufacturing, maintenance or modification programmes, with responsibility for planning resources, schedules and operational delivery. Leadership Experience Proven experience leading and developing teams within an engineering, manufacturing or operational environment, with a strong focus on performance, safety and accountability. Rolling Stock Experience Previous experience within rolling stock maintenance, fleet modifications, locomotive engineering or large-scale engineering programmes would be highly advantageous. Stakeholder Management Experience communicating effectively with customers, clients and internal stakeholders, building strong working relationships and ensuring project objectives are achieved. Lean Manufacturing & Continuous Improvement Practical experience applying Lean Manufacturing methodologies such as 5S, Kaizen, Six Sigma or Green Belt principles to improve operational performance and delivery outcomes. Operational Efficiency Improvement Track record of identifying inefficiencies, reducing waste, improving productivity and implementing process improvements within a production or engineering environment. People Management & Engineering Decision Making Previous supervisory or management experience, with the ability to manage performance, support team development and make sound operational and engineering decisions. Incident Investigation & Root Cause Analysis Experience conducting incident investigations, identifying root causes and implementing corrective actions to prevent recurrence and drive continuous improvement. Engineering Qualification HNC, HND or equivalent qualification in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering or a related engineering discipline would be advantageous. Leadership Training Formal supervisory, management or leadership training with a commitment to developing high-performing teams would be advantageous. Location & Working Arrangements Location: Leeds Working Pattern: Monday to Friday, 07:00am - 3:30pm Working Arrangement: Primarily a site-based role, occasional travel to other business locations may be required, but not expected. Production Manager Salary & Benefits Salary: £55,000 - £60,000 per annum, dependent on experience. About Ford & Stanley Group Ford & Stanley Talent Services Group are in the business of people and performance. Our mission is to create one million better workdays through facilitating great recruitment, leadership and occupational mental fitness. We support our clients in their most challenging business areas – recruiting, developing and retaining the best talent from shop floor to boardroom. Ford & Stanley TalentWise – Business specialising in blue collar trade & technical services. Ford & Stanley Recruitment – Business specialising in white collar spanning all company functions. Ford & Stanley Executive Search – Business specialising in Executive Search & Executive Interim Solutions. Ford & Stanley Genius Performance – Performance coaching, training, and mental fitness. Ford & Stanley Talent Services Group Ltd is a Disability Confident employer that is committed to a policy of equal opportunities for all opportunity seekers. We shall adhere to such a policy at all times and will review on an on-going basis all aspects of recruitment to avoid unlawful or undesirable discrimination. We will treat everyone equally irrespective sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, age, disability, colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief or political beliefs and we place an obligation upon all staff to respect and act in accordance with the policy. Ref: Production Manager