At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a high-performing team while ensuring quality production and repair.
- Company: Thales, a global tech leader in defence and digital security.
- Benefits: Private medical insurance, annual bonus, employee discounts, and more.
- Other info: Join a diverse workplace that values collaboration and innovation.
- Why this job: Combine hands-on work with leadership to inspire and support your team.
- Qualifications: 3+ years in manufacturing and strong communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 44000 £ per year.
Location: Glasgow, United Kingdom
Thales is a global technology leader with more than 83,000 employees on five continents. With over 7,500 people in the UK, operating across defence, space, aerospace, and digital security, we help build a future we can all trust. Thales supports the security and stability of our nation by providing extraordinary technology to our customers, as well as delivering social value to the UK with our products and services.
We're looking for a collaborative and proactive Team Leader to help guide our Production and Repair team. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who enjoys combining hands-on technical expertise with people-focused leadership, helping others succeed while ensuring the delivery of high-quality products and services.
In this role, you will work closely with the Activity Manager to coordinate daily priorities, support team performance, and foster a positive, inclusive, and continuous improvement culture. While this is not a line management position, you will play a key role in coaching, supporting, and influencing colleagues across the cell. The position combines approximately 80% hands-on production and repair work with 20% team leadership and coordination responsibilities.
What You'll Be Doing
- Champion a strong culture of Health, Safety and Environmental (HS&E) awareness and ensure appropriate PPE is available and used.
- Partner with the Activity Manager to coordinate workloads, support delivery plans, and maintain smooth workflow between assembly, test, inspection, and repair activities.
- Help the team overcome challenges, identify solutions, and escalate issues when required.
- Ensure processes, work instructions, routing, tooling, and material flow practices are consistently followed.
- Lead daily SIM meetings and contribute to performance reviews and improvement initiatives.
- Support the collection and analysis of operational performance metrics to drive continuous improvement.
- Promote compliance with quality and governance processes, including route cards, timesheets, and non-conformance reporting.
- Act as a key point of contact for process-related questions, providing guidance and support to colleagues.
- Maintain excellent workplace organisation through 5S principles.
- Encourage new ideas and empower team members to suggest and implement improvements.
- Take ownership of project and product deliveries, monitoring progress against planned routing times.
- Help maintain effective material flow and address any issues impacting productivity.
- Build strong relationships across manufacturing, engineering, planning, quality, and support teams.
- Contribute to estimating activities for new builds and repairs.
- Support the identification of training and development opportunities for team members.
- Assist with load and capacity planning to ensure resources are aligned with business needs.
- Execute TPM activities and ensure equipment and tooling remain available and calibrated.
- Foster a supportive, respectful, and high-performing team environment where everyone can thrive.
About You
We're interested in people who bring both technical capability and a collaborative approach to leadership. If you enjoy supporting others, solving problems, and driving improvement, we'd love to hear from you.
Skills & Attributes
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to build positive relationships at all levels.
- Comfortable using Microsoft Office and other business systems.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality.
- A positive and adaptable mindset with openness to change.
- A natural problem solver who takes initiative and seeks opportunities for improvement.
- Ability to work independently while supporting and motivating others.
- Experience leading by example in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
- At least 3 years' experience within a manufacturing setting.
Knowledge & Experience
- Strong understanding of MRP and PDM system principles.
- Broad knowledge of manufacturing methods, processes, and best practices.
- Experience supporting operational performance, process improvement, or team coordination activities would be beneficial.
Qualifications
- Good standard of numeracy and literacy.
- Relevant professional qualifications are desirable; however, equivalent practical experience is equally valued.
- Minimum of 3 years' relevant industry experience.
We Encourage You to Apply
If you're excited about this opportunity and believe you have the skills and experience to make a positive impact, we'd love to hear from you. Join us and help create an environment where quality, collaboration, and people can flourish.
At Thales, we ensure equal opportunities, pay and working conditions for all. The benefits we offer include private medical insurance, buying or selling annual leave, cycle to work schemes, employee discounts, paid volunteering day, stocks and shares, annual bonus and much more depending on the role.
We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued for who they are and the unique strengths they bring.
If this role isn’t quite right for you, we encourage you to join our talent community where your details will be shared with our recruitment teams for other potential opportunities.
Join Thales in the UK – Innovate with us and shape the future!
APRU Team Leader - Weekend employer: Thales
Thales is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Crawley where innovation meets social responsibility. With a strong commitment to employee development, you will have access to market-leading training and mentorship from industry experts, alongside competitive benefits such as private healthcare, a robust pension plan, and opportunities for career advancement within a diverse global organisation. Join us to contribute to cutting-edge projects in defence and aerospace while enjoying a supportive culture that values your growth and well-being.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land APRU Team Leader - Weekend
✨Join Local Manufacturing Groups
Getting involved in local manufacturing groups or associations can seriously boost your visibility. These groups often have insider info on job openings and networking events, plus they help you connect with like-minded folks in the industry. Check out what's happening in your area!
✨Show Off Your Skills in Practical Spaces
Consider participating in workshops or open days at manufacturing companies. It's a great way to show off your hands-on skills in a real-world environment and can sometimes lead to job offers right on the spot. Keep an eye on announcements from local manufacturers for these opportunities!
✨Leverage the Power of Internships
While you're looking for full-time positions, don't underestimate the power of internships! Even if you don't see a direct role, securing an internship at a company can open doors to future jobs. Many manufacturing firms prefer to hire from their intern pool, so it's definitely worth considering.
✨Apply Directly Through Company Websites
When you find a role at a company you love, like Thales, apply directly on their website. This way, you’re more likely to be noticed by the hiring team. Plus, showing that you took the time to seek out their application process highlights your genuine interest in the firm!
We think you need these skills to ace APRU Team Leader - Weekend
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Technical Skills:In the manufacturing-production sector, it's crucial to highlight your technical skills and experience. Make sure your CV features any relevant qualifications, such as certifications in machinery operation or production management, and don’t forget about any specific systems or software you’re familiar with. This can really set you apart!
Emphasise Teamwork and Communication:Working in manufacturing often means being part of a larger team. Highlight your experience in collaborative projects or environments where communication was key. Maybe you have experience with lean manufacturing principles? Talk about how you worked with your team to improve productivity and maintain quality.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Company:Don’t just recycle an old cover letter! Take the time to tailor your cover letter to Thales specifically. Mention what excites you about their production processes or products, and how your previous experiences can contribute to their goals. We want to see your enthusiasm for the role!
Use Concrete Examples of Your Achievements:When detailing your work experience, include measurable achievements that can demonstrate your impact. Whether it’s improving efficiency by a certain percentage or successfully leading a project, these specifics can make a huge difference. Numbers speak volumes in the manufacturing world!
How to prepare for a job interview at Thales
✨Know Your Manufacturing Processes
Before you walk into the interview with Thales, brush up on the specific manufacturing processes relevant to the role. Understanding lean manufacturing principles or quality control techniques could give you a solid edge to discuss how you’d fit into their operations.
✨Technical Questions Are Key
Be prepared for technical questions around machinery, production scheduling, or materials handling. Make sure you can confidently explain how you've dealt with these in past experiences or internships. Knowing industry-specific software could also be a big plus!
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Manufacturing environments often focus on continuous improvement. Be ready to discuss specific instances where you’ve solved a production issue or implemented a process improvement. It’s all about demonstrating your analytical thinking and hands-on approach.
✨Align Your Values with Quality and Safety
In a full-time role, companies like Thales value commitment to quality and safety. Be prepared to discuss how you prioritise these factors in your work. It’s about showing that you’re not just looking for a job, but that you genuinely care about contributing positively to their production environment.
