At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead production activities and ensure quality delivery across all operations.
- Company: Established leader in the shoe manufacturing industry with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible hours, global travel opportunities, and generous annual leave.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth in a supportive and collaborative environment.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team and make a real impact in a hands-on leadership role.
- Qualifications: Qualified engineer with 5+ years in senior leadership and strong planning skills.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 50000 € per year.
Location: Kettering, UK
Salary: up to £50,000.00 per annum DOE
Hours: 37.5 hrs per week
Ref: 07/26
About Us
In 1919, SATRA began setting standards and advancing technology for Britain's Shoe Manufacturing Industry, including the manufacture of physical testing machinery used for both quality control and product development. Today, our Test Equipment Division manufactures a wide range of testing machinery in Kettering, which is exported worldwide and trusted by global supply chains.
About The Role
The Production Manager is responsible for the end-to-end coordination of production activities. This role will oversee operational delivery across buying, design, production, warehousing and quality, ensuring customer commitments are met on time, to expected quality levels, and within margin expectations. This is a hands-on leadership role requiring a strong engineering background, sound production management experience, and growing commercial awareness.
Key Responsibilities
- Operational Delivery & Planning: Own and improve end-to-end delivery performance from order acceptance through to shipment, installation, commissioning and service. Lead integrated planning across engineering, production, servicing and buying, ensuring priorities, capacity and risks are visible.
- Production & Service Oversight: Manage and support team leaders responsible for mechanical, electrical and software/firmware design; mechanical production and assembly; electrical production, calibration and commissioning; global service and technical support.
- Warehousing & Order Fulfilment: Ensure production, calibration and service activities follow agreed processes and quality standards. Ensure clear logging and escalation of design, production, supplier or parts defects.
- Commercial & Margin Awareness: Achieve financial objectives through operational decision-making and close working with sales and logistics teams. Reduce avoidable cost leakage through improved planning, sourcing feedback, internal manufacture vs subcontract decisions, and service charging clarity. Work closely with direct report and senior leadership to help shape and deliver upon the division's commercial strategy.
- Customer & Market Engagement: Support development of service offerings, training, upgrades and aftermarket opportunities. Contribute operational and technical input into marketing materials, product positioning and business development activity. Support sales and logistics teams to resolve product or service-related customer complaints swiftly.
- Leadership & Team Development: Communicate clearly and professionally with internal and external stakeholders. Lead, coach and develop team leaders, improving planning discipline, accountability and confidence. Encourage a commercially aware, customer-focused culture across production and service teams. Support skills development, training records and succession planning.
- Continuous Improvement & Governance: Work with the divisional manager to drive strategic product development aimed at gaining and/or maintaining a competitive advantage throughout the range. Improve consistency of operational processes without introducing unnecessary bureaucracy. Ensure feedback loops exist between sales, production, service, engineering, buying and quality. Support audit readiness for CE/UKCA and UKAS calibration-related activities.
About You
Personal Attributes: Practical, grounded and delivery focused. Comfortable balancing technical, commercial and people demands. Calm under pressure and able to prioritise. Willing to challenge constructively and improve ways of working. Strong IT skills with an innate interest in keeping abreast of modern technology. Longer term ambition to grow into broader operational leadership. A confident communicator capable of addressing and presenting to internal and external audiences.
Essential Competencies/Experience: A qualified mechanical and/or electrical engineer. 5+ years experience within a senior leadership role. Experience leading both design and production teams. Strong planning, coordination and problem-solving skills. Commercial awareness (cost, margin, customer impact). Experience managing and using ERP systems. Comfortable working in a low-volume, high-value manufacturing environment. Knowledge of European and/or international machinery regulations. UK-based with right to work in the UK.
Desirable Competencies/Experience: Experience using Business Central ERP. Exposure to profit and loss accounts. Experience with machine learning and IoT. Experience in the manufacture of high precision capital equipment. Involvement in business development and/or product marketing.
Benefits Include: Staff benefits include 25 - 30 days (service related) annual leave; life assurance; a group personal pension plan; income protection; free parking; flexible working hours; potential for global travel.
Closing date for receipt of applications is Friday 6th June 2026. 1st Stage Teams interviews will take place 16th June. 2nd Stage in person interviews will take place 24th June.
Production Manager in Kettering employer: SATRA Technology
SATRA is an exceptional employer located in Kettering, UK, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters innovation and professional growth. With a strong commitment to employee development, competitive salaries, and comprehensive benefits including flexible working hours and opportunities for global travel, SATRA ensures that its team members thrive both personally and professionally. Join us to be part of a legacy that has been advancing technology in the shoe manufacturing industry since 1919.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Production Manager in Kettering
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts on LinkedIn or at local events. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that Production Manager role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its products. We want you to show off your knowledge about SATRA and how you can contribute to their mission. Tailor your answers to highlight your engineering background and production management experience.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Do mock interviews with friends or family. We suggest focusing on common questions related to operational delivery and team leadership, so you’re ready to impress when it counts.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Production Manager in Kettering
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Production Manager role. Highlight your engineering background and any relevant experience in production management. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of your leadership experience and how you've improved operational processes in the past.
Showcase Your Technical Skills:Since this role requires a strong technical background, don’t forget to mention your experience with ERP systems and any knowledge of machinery regulations. We love seeing candidates who are up-to-date with modern technology!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us you’re genuinely interested in joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at SATRA Technology
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your engineering knowledge, especially in mechanical and electrical fields. Be ready to discuss your experience in production management and how it relates to the role of Production Manager.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've led teams in the past. Highlight your ability to coach and develop team leaders, as well as how you've improved planning discipline and accountability within your teams.
✨Understand the Business
Familiarise yourself with SATRA's operations and their impact on the shoe manufacturing industry. Be prepared to discuss how you can contribute to their commercial strategy and improve operational delivery.
✨Ask Smart Questions
Prepare insightful questions about the company's production processes, challenges they face, and their future goals. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if it's the right fit for you.
