Manufacturing Manager in Huyton

Who we are

Surface Transforms are world leading in the design, development and manufacture of carbon-ceramic brakes for high performance and luxury automotive sector. Here at Surface Transforms, our vision is mobility through braking innovation and our mission is to ‘Innovate and develop a sustainable, world leading, high performance braking system that redefine the limits of mobility. Investing in our people to drive excellence & create lasting value.

Our values:

• Leadership – United, decisive and recognising success
• Collaboration – Support others, listen with intent and challenge each other
• Communication – Ask why, be inclusive and adapt your methods
• Ambition – Be bold, believe and be irrepressible
• Excellence – Strive for brilliant, achieve high standards and continually improve
• Trust – Be real, trust yourself and support others

We are looking for a highly driven Manufacturing Manager to lead production operations and ensure On-Time-In-Full (OTIF) delivery to our customers. You will be accountable for safe, efficient, and continuously improving production performance while driving operational excellence across multiple shifts. This is a hands-on leadership role requiring excellent communication, strong cross-functional collaboration, and a relentless focus on process discipline, KPIs, and results.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead and manage daily production activities to achieve ≥98% OTIF as a non-negotiable standard.
• Own the 12-week production plan, ensuring capacity, labour, materials, tooling, and maintenance readiness.
• Drive adherence to schedules, freeze horizons, and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Lead Tier 1 and Tier 2 daily operational meetings, escalating risks early to protect delivery commitments.
• Work cross-functionally with Procurement, Quality, Engineering, and Planning to remove constraints before they impact schedules.
• Deliver strong operational KPIs, including OEE, first-pass yield, scrap/rework reduction, and safety compliance.
• Lead structured problem-solving initiatives (8D/A3) and drive continuous improvement projects such as SMED, 5S, and visual management.
• Manage, coach, and develop 3 Shift Supervisors, enforcing uncompromising process discipline and performance standards.
• Ensure full compliance with HSE, regulatory requirements, and Quality Management Systems.

What you’ll be doing:

• Delivering the production plan on time, in full, and to the right quality standards.
• Proactively identifying risks to OTIF and driving countermeasures immediately.
• Monitoring operational KPIs and implementing improvements where required.
• Leading shift readiness reviews to ensure materials, tooling, and approvals are in place before production starts.
• Collaborating with Planning, Procurement, and Logistics to secure supply and manage shortages before they impact schedules.
• Driving improvements in changeover time, scrap levels, and efficiency through lean manufacturing methods.
• Developing and maintaining a high-performance culture, coaching Shift Supervisors to achieve operational excellence.
• Escalating systemic issues quickly to senior leadership for resolution.

The skills, knowledge, and experience you’ll need:

• Proven experience as a Manufacturing Manager or similar leadership role in a high-volume or high-mix production environment.
• 7+ years’ experience in manufacturing with demonstrable success delivering OTIF, OEE, and FPY improvements.
• Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement tools (5S, SMED, A3, problem-solving, visual management).
• Experience managing multi-shift operations and leading teams across different rotations.
• Hands-on understanding of scheduling, capacity planning, and ERP/MRP systems.
• Working knowledge of Quality Management Systems (ISO 9001 / IATF 16949) and HSE standards.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence at all levels.

You’ll have these personal attributes:

• Relentless focus on achieving OTIF and operational performance targets.
• Data-driven mindset with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Decisive and proactive, escalating issues quickly when required.
• Natural leader who sets high standards and holds teams accountable.
• Collaborative and cross-functional approach, ensuring alignment across departments.
• Committed to continuous improvement and coaching others to succeed.

What we’ll give you in return:

• Competitive salary
• 25 days annual leave +