Production Engineering Team Leader

Job Description: Production Team Leader (PTL) Opportunity Overview We are recruiting for a Production Team Leader (PTL) with the ambition, capability, and hunger to grow into the Business Unit Leader (BUL) role within 1–2 years. This is an excellent opportunity for a driven individual who wants to progress into senior management in a fast-paced, engineering-led manufacturing environment. About the Role The PTL will ensure that the team achieves daily customer requirements in Quality, Delivery, and Cost, while driving continuous improvement and maintaining a safe and efficient operation. This person will focus on sustaining and improving Lean manufacturing practices — particularly flow and pull systems — by coaching and supporting Cell Leaders and team members. The PTL will be a hands-on leader, fostering positive behaviours, addressing poor performance constructively, and developing a culture of problem-solving, creativity, and continuous improvement. Key Growth Expectation Career Progression Goal: Evolve into the Business Unit Leader (BUL) position within 1–2 years. Starting Salary: Up to £50,000, with clear growth potential within the first and second years, tied to leadership development and business impact. Core Responsibilities Leadership & People Development • Coach and mentor Cell Leaders and team members to achieve consistent high performance. • Foster a positive, accountable, and improvement-driven team culture. • Address poor performance, absenteeism, and morale issues constructively and promptly. • Lead daily QDC (Quality, Delivery, Cost) team huddles and maintain performance boards. • Coordinate cross-training and ensure an up-to-date Training Matrix. • Be a visible leader on the shop floor, motivating and guiding the team during Gemba walks. Operational Excellence • Uphold Lean principles, including standard work, one-piece flow, and visual management. • Ensure real-time documentation (scrap sheets, FTT, production targets) is accurate and up to date. • Drive continuous improvement (CI), Kaizen, and 5S initiatives. • Maintain manufacturing systems and ensure all documentation and labelling align with current standards. • Support the BUL in administering company policies and achieving performance targets. Engineering & Process Improvement • Strengthen our mechanical engineering and problem-solving capabilities, especially in: – Sheet metal cutting and forming – Tooling design and optimisation – Turning and assembly processes • Lead Gemba walks to identify and act on opportunities for safety, quality, delivery, and productivity improvements. • Support flow cell setup, kanban systems, TPM, SMED, and visual management across the unit. Administration & Systems • Ensure accurate and timely Sage/MRP transactions (back-flushing, scrap, rework). • Manage shift handovers, start-ups, and staff allocations effectively. • Collaborate with the BUL to maintain correct TAKT times, staffing levels, and standard work splits. Minimum Requirements / Qualifications • Strong mechanical engineering background with hands-on capability. • Proven experience in manufacturing, fabrication, and production assembly. • Sound knowledge of Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methods. • Proficiency in MRP/ERP systems (Sage experience an advantage). • Good working knowledge of Microsoft Excel and Word. • Excellent leadership and communication skills — both verbal and written. • Strong analytical, organisational, and problem-solving abilities. • Demonstrated ability to motivate, support, and develop teams. Company Values We expect all team members — and especially our leaders — to live our values daily: • Customer First – Always prioritise the customer, both external and internal. • Dependable – Do what you say you will; follow through with excellence. • Courageous – Be brave, take initiative, and act decisively when needed. • Positive – Bring energy and a can-do attitude to every challenge. • Problem Solver – Strive to deliver better engineered solutions for our customers. Summary This is a strategic development role designed for a high-potential leader ready to step into senior management within a short timeframe. If you have strong mechanical engineering knowledge, a passion for Lean manufacturing, and the leadership energy to inspire teams and drive improvement — we want to hear from you