Production & Operations Manager - Career Progression Opportunity

We are currently recruiting for an experienced Production Team Leader, Production Supervisor, Shift Supervisor or Junior Production Manager to join our client based in Lambourn Woodlands who is ready to take the next step in their career and move into a broader Production & Operations Management role. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who has already gained solid hands-on experience leading people within a manufacturing or production environment and is now looking for greater responsibility, ownership and the opportunity to make a real impact across an operation. You don't necessarily need previous experience within the chemical industry. What matters most is your production background, leadership experience, ability to organise people and resources, and your desire to progress.

Our client is a well-established, independent contract chemical manufacturer and toll blender. Established in 1970, the business has built a strong reputation for high-quality bespoke chemical manufacturing, liquid and powder blending, solvent recycling and packing solutions. Following continued growth across a number of product and market sectors, they are looking to strengthen their operational leadership team with someone who can take ownership of day-to-day production planning and operations while developing their career within the business.

The Role

This is a hands-on operational leadership position. You will be responsible for coordinating day-to-day production activity, ensuring customer orders are delivered on time, and supporting and developing the production team. Working closely with Production, Quality, Laboratory, Projects and Maintenance, you will help ensure the site runs safely, efficiently and effectively. The role would suit someone who is currently a Production Team Leader, Shift Leader, Production Supervisor, Senior Operator or Junior Production Manager and is ready to broaden their responsibilities.

• Plan, coordinate and oversee daily production, blending and packaging activities to ensure customer orders are delivered on time.
• Lead, support and develop production supervisors, operators and other site personnel.
• Allocate labour, raw materials and equipment effectively to meet production requirements.
• Manage short- and long-term changes to customer orders and adjust production schedules accordingly.
• Balance customer requirements with internal production capacity and priorities.
• Monitor production performance and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce waste and increase plant utilisation.
• Identify and resolve day-to-day production issues and bottlenecks.
• Support continuous improvement and introduce practical improvements to production processes and ways of working.
• Work closely with Projects and Maintenance to plan scheduled downtime and minimise disruption to production and customer deliveries.
• Maintain high standards of health, safety, environmental compliance and housekeeping across the manufacturing site.
• Work closely with Laboratory and Quality teams to ensure products consistently meet customer specifications and required quality standards.
• Monitor production priorities and communicate effectively with colleagues across the business.
• Help develop a positive, accountable and safety-focused production culture.

The Person

Our client is particularly interested in candidates who have progressed through a hands-on manufacturing or production environment and are now ready to take the next step. You may currently be working as a:

• Production Team Leader
• Production Supervisor
• Shift Supervisor / Shift Leader
• Senior Production Operative
• Production Coordinator
• Junior Production Manager
• Manufacturing Team Leader

You'll ideally have:

• Previous experience leading or supervising a production/manufacturing team.
• A good understanding of production planning, scheduling and resource allocation.
• Experience working in a busy manufacturing environment where priorities can change quickly.
• The confidence to take ownership, make decisions and resolve operational problems.
• Strong organisational, analytical and communication skills.
• Good IT skills and experience using production, MRP or ERP systems.
• A practical, hands-on approach to management rather than being purely office based.
• A genuine interest in developing your career and taking on increased operational responsibility.

Experience within chemical manufacturing would be advantageous, but is not essential. Experience in other process, manufacturing, blending, FMCG, industrial or production environments will be considered. Experience with SAGE 200 would be beneficial.

A Great Opportunity for Progression

This role is ideally suited to someone who has already demonstrated that they can lead a production team and keep an operation running effectively, but is now ready to take ownership of a wider range of responsibilities. You will have the opportunity to work closely with the wider management team, gain broader exposure to production planning and site operations, and develop your management skills within an established and growing business.

Benefits

• Free on-site parking
• 20 days' holiday + Bank Holidays
• Pension scheme
• Opportunity to develop and progress within a growing business