Production Team Leader in Oxford

YASA is looking for a Production Team Leader to join our team in Yarnton and achieve all required customer deliveries on time by leading teams of production associates working in a variety of linked manufacturing and assembly cells. You will be meeting productivity, quality, and delivery targets and liaise with all support functions to support continuous improvement activities throughout the production line. This role will involve a standard early shift operation 6.00am - 14.30pm; however, may need to sporadically support late shift with reasonable notice.

About YASA: YASA, a Mercedes Benz group company, is leading the way in EV Motor Revolution with our patented and unique Axial Flux Technology. Our motor is more powerful, lighter, and smaller than our competitors. Our spirit of innovation drives us to continually explore and test new technologies, a mindset that exists from early-stage R&D projects through to manufacturing optimisation.

What You'll Do:

• Lead and coordinate activities across the cell to meet daily production goals and maintain alignment with company priorities through effective prioritisation, escalation, and decision-making.
• Act as the central point of escalation for resolving major production, quality, or personnel issues affecting cell performance.
• Have the authority to stop production to correct quality problems.
• Facilitate effective communication between shifts, ensuring all relevant information is clearly passed along and understood by the team leader and operators.
• Manage labour resources effectively to cover planned and unplanned absences of team leaders.
• Ensure that all team members comply with HSE regulations and policies.
• Promote a safety-first culture through leadership, communication, and proactive interventions.
• Conduct safety inspections and investigations to identify root causes and implement robust countermeasures.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and support to operators, ensuring high levels of engagement and accountability.
• Conduct performance reviews, provide constructive feedback, and manage attendance, performance, and disciplinary matters in line with company procedures.
• Identify training needs and support the development of team members to enhance skills and overall cell performance.
• Monitor production schedules to ensure on-time delivery of products, addressing any issues that could impact deadlines.
• Ensure that production standards, quality checks, calibration schedules, and work instructions are consistently followed.
• Monitor and maintain lineside inventory by ensuring robust processes are in place and adhered to, such as control of SIPS, NCP, and production booking.
• Ensure Trial Builds are controlled both physically and systematically.
• Collaborate with Engineers and Operators to identify areas of improvement and implement solutions to enhance productivity and efficiency.
• Participate in improvement projects, contributing to lean manufacturing and waste reduction initiatives.
• Act as the 5S champion to ensure a standard is in place for all working areas and is maintained and improved by performing frequent audits and driving improvement actions.

To Succeed In This Role, We Believe You'll Need:

• Considerable experience in leading a team in a production or manufacturing environment, ideally in tier 1 automotive.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, at all levels.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to run and monitor the production process.
• The ability to work under pressure and motivate others to meet deadlines.
• A good understanding of Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel.
• The ability to apply modern manufacturing techniques such as LEAN, Just-In-Time, PDCA, Total Productive Maintenance, 5S, OEE.
• Strong troubleshooting skills with the ability to make quick, informed decisions in high-pressure situations.
• A flexible approach to work.
• IOSH certified, desirable.
• Six Sigma Yellow Belt or equivalent, desirable.

Our mission is to lead the design and delivery of the best electric motor technology available. We believe that diversity of thought and experience is a key driver of innovation. Research shows that while men apply to jobs if they meet ~60% of criteria, women and those in traditionally underrepresented groups tend to only apply if they check all boxes. So if you think you have what it takes but don’t meet every single point, please still get in touch. We’d love to have an initial chat and see if you could add value.

Strictly no recruitment agencies / Apply now for immediate consideration.