At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead production activities and ensure timely delivery of high-quality products.
- Company: Join SATRA, a pioneer in the shoe manufacturing industry since 1919.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, flexible hours, global travel opportunities, and generous leave.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with opportunities for professional growth and development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a hands-on leadership role with cutting-edge technology.
- 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 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, and 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
- 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:
- 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 Northampton employer: SATRA Technology
SATRA is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Kettering where innovation meets tradition. With a strong focus on employee development, we provide opportunities for growth through hands-on leadership roles and continuous improvement initiatives. Our competitive benefits package, including flexible working hours and global travel potential, ensures that our team members are well-supported both personally and professionally.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Production Manager in Northampton
✨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. Show us you’re genuinely interested in SATRA and how your engineering background can contribute to their success. Tailor your answers to reflect their values and goals!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your leadership stories! We want to hear about times you’ve successfully led teams or improved processes. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses and make them impactful.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. 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 Northampton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Production Manager role. Highlight your engineering background and 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 delivery in the past.
Showcase Your Commercial Awareness:Since commercial awareness is key for this role, be sure to mention any relevant experiences where you’ve made decisions that positively impacted costs or margins. We love seeing candidates who understand the bigger picture!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates!
How to prepare for a job interview at SATRA Technology
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your technical knowledge, especially around mechanical and electrical engineering. 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 goals, challenges, and culture. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if it's the right fit for you.
