Production Manager

Production capacity monitoring and performance identification of bottlenecks. Ensure products meet customer specifications and required quality standards. Support ISO and industry-specific quality requirements. Drive Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement initiatives. Implement and maintain tools including 5S, Visual Management, Standard Work and Kaizen. Monitor machine utilisation and downtime. Lead root cause analysis and implement corrective actions. Manage material allocation and stock requirements. Ensure production documentation and traceability records are accurately maintained. Monitor and report key production KPIs. Lead daily production meetings. Support succession planning and employee training. Identify cost-saving and efficiency improvement opportunities. Promote teamwork, accountability and continuous improvement throughout production.

What we are looking for:

• Previous experience in a Production Manager, Manufacturing Manager, Operations Manager or similar production leadership role.
• Strong experience managing and developing production teams.
• Good understanding of production planning and scheduling.
• Experience managing labour, machinery and manufacturing capacity.
• Strong technical and problem-solving skills.
• Experience working with production KPIs and performance measures.
• Good understanding of Health & Safety within an industrial environment.
• Strong focus on quality, productivity and customer delivery.
• Excellent organisation and time-management skills.
• Ability to remain calm and make decisions under pressure.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Good Microsoft Office and general IT skills.
• Full, clean UK driving licence.

Desirable but not essential:

• Experience within an industrial or manufacturing environment.
• Lean Manufacturing / Continuous Improvement experience.
• Knowledge of OEE, 5S, Kaizen and structured root cause analysis.
• Health & Safety qualification or willingness to undertake further training.
• Bachelors degree or relevant technical qualification.

Specific:

An established specialist manufacturing business based in Cheltenham is seeking an experienced Production Manager to take responsibility for day-to-day production operations. This is a hands-on leadership role focused on production planning, team management, quality, continuous improvement, resource utilisation and ensuring customer orders are delivered safely, efficiently and on time. Working closely with the Managing Director and wider operational team, you will lead production activity, improve productivity, reduce waste and support the continued growth of the business.

The role:

You will take overall responsibility for production performance, ensuring manufacturing schedules are achieved while maintaining high standards of quality, health & safety and customer service.

Key responsibilities:

• Manage daily and weekly production schedules to achieve On Time In Full (OTIF) delivery.
• Lead, coach and develop production team leaders and operators.
• Manage labour, machinery, materials and packaging.

Industry experience is not required. More important is your ability to lead people, improve production performance, solve problems and consistently deliver high-quality results.

What's on offer:

• Competitive salary, dependent on experience.
• Permanent position.
• Opportunity to take ownership of production performance.
• Ongoing training and development.
• The opportunity to join an established specialist manufacturing business and contribute directly to its continued growth.