Drying Team Leader

Great manufacturing businesses don’t simply achieve production targets – they build environments where safety, quality, teamwork, and continuous improvement shape every shift, every process, and every product. By creating a culture where people are empowered, standards are consistently upheld, and operations run efficiently, they deliver exceptional products while developing high‑performing teams.

As our Leather Drying Team Leader, you’ll play a pivotal role at the heart of our manufacturing operation, leading the day‑to‑day performance of the Drying area to ensure hides move safely, efficiently, and to the highest quality standards. Combining strong operational leadership, technical knowledge, and a passion for developing people, you’ll create an environment where your team can perform at their best while delivering outstanding results for our customers.

In this role you will:

• Provide visible leadership across the Drying area, creating a safe, organised, and high‑performing environment where standards are consistently achieved.
• Champion a culture of health and safety, ensuring safe machine operation, pre‑shift safety checks, hazard reporting, and workplace organisation are fully embedded within the team.
• Schedule and coordinate material flow through the drying lines, working closely with the Dye House to maintain efficient production and on‑time delivery performance.
• Monitor quality throughout the drying process, ensuring product specifications are consistently achieved, responding to non‑conformances, and maintaining accurate production and WIP records.
• Organise, motivate, coach, and develop your team to deliver daily production targets while identifying training needs and building capability.
• Coordinate routine and operator‑led maintenance activities, working closely with Engineering to maximise equipment reliability and performance.
• Support audits, implement corrective actions, and drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance safety, quality, productivity, and operational performance.
• Build strong relationships across Operations and support functions, encouraging collaboration, accountability, and a culture where people take pride in delivering operational excellence.

You are someone who understands that exceptional manufacturing performance comes from creating the right environment for people to succeed. You lead with integrity, communicate openly, and know that safety, quality, and teamwork are the foundations of operational excellence.

You will have experience in a manufacturing or industrial leadership role, ideally within leather, textiles, automotive, or other process‑driven production environments. You demonstrate a strong understanding of production operations, material flow, quality standards, and workplace organisation. You have experience leading, motivating, and developing teams to achieve operational targets while maintaining high standards of safety and quality. You possess excellent communication and coaching skills, with the ability to build strong relationships across production, maintenance, quality, and support teams. You are confident making operational decisions, responding effectively to changing priorities, and maintaining performance under pressure. You bring strong organisational and planning skills, balancing production schedules, resources, and team priorities effectively. You have a proactive approach to problem solving, identifying root causes and driving practical, sustainable improvements. You are numerate, detail‑focused, IT competent, and passionate about delivering operational excellence through continuous improvement.

The impact you will have:

You will be instrumental in ensuring the Drying operation consistently delivers safe, efficient, and high‑quality production. By leading from the front, you'll create a culture where safety is instinctive, quality is never compromised, and every member of the team understands the important role they play in delivering outstanding products. Working closely with the Process Lead, Dye House, Maintenance, and wider Operations teams, you'll help optimise material flow, minimise downtime, improve productivity, and strengthen operational performance across the manufacturing process. Your leadership will also help develop a highly engaged and capable team, creating an environment where people feel supported, accountable, and motivated to achieve their best. Through your contribution, you'll help build a manufacturing operation where operational excellence isn’t simply measured by output—it's reflected in the way people work together, solve problems, embrace continuous improvement, and take pride in every hide that leaves the Drying area.

What’s in it for you:

You’ll benefit from a comprehensive rewards package designed to support your wellbeing, financial security, and career development. This includes a company pension, life assurance, company sick pay, enhanced annual leave that increases with service, and access to a health and well‑being programme alongside an Employee Assistance Programme with private GP services. You’ll also have opportunities to grow through coaching, training, and development support, plus practical perks such as cycle to work and electric vehicle schemes, free on‑site parking, and access to a range of retail discounts.

We believe our strength comes from our people. We value diversity, encourage development, and create an environment where everyone can thrive.

Ready to be part of the story? If you're an experienced manufacturing leader who thrives in a fast‑paced environment, enjoys developing people, and is passionate about delivering safe, efficient, and high‑quality operations, we'd love to hear from you.