Manufacturing Operations Manager
Mid Kent – drivers with own transport preferred due to location & start time
£60,000 - £65,000 + benefits + progression
7.30am-4pm Monday – Thursday, 7.30am – 1.30pm Friday
PLEASE NOTE, NO SPONSORSHIP IS POSSIBLE FOR THIS ROLE, SO PLEASE ONLY APPLY IF YOU HAVE THE PERMANENT RIGHT TO WORK IN THE UK WITHOUT SPONSORSHIP.
This is a brilliant opportunity for an experienced Manufacturing Operations Manager who enjoys making things better – better processes, better performance and, importantly, better teams.
We're working with an established manufacturing business going through an exciting period of investment and growth. They are looking for a strong operational leader to work closely with the General Manager and take ownership of the day-to-day manufacturing operation.
This isn't a role for someone who wants to manage from behind a desk. You'll be visible on the shop floor, close to your teams and genuinely influential in how the operation develops.
What you'll be doing
- Taking ownership of day-to-day manufacturing operations
- Leading, developing and getting the best from production teams
- Driving performance across quality, cost, delivery and productivity
- Identifying bottlenecks, inefficiencies and opportunities for improvement
- Improving processes, systems and ways of working as the business grows
- Driving continuous improvement and lean manufacturing initiatives
- Using KPIs and operational data to understand performance and drive action
- Developing capacity plans to support changing production requirements
- Ensuring consistently high standards of safety and quality
- Working closely with other departments to improve overall site performance
- Supporting the introduction of new products and processes
- Building greater accountability, structure and consistency across the operation
What we're looking for
- Strong experience leading operations within a manufacturing environment
- A proven people manager who can engage, coach and develop teams
- Good understanding of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement
- Experience managing operational KPIs including quality, cost, delivery and productivity
- Commercially aware with a strong understanding of what drives manufacturing performance
- Confident analysing data and turning it into practical improvements
- Experience working with ERP/MRP or production planning systems
- Strong problem-solving skills and a hands-on approach
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced industrial environment
- Able to challenge existing ways of working while bringing people with you
An engineering or manufacturing qualification would be useful, as would experience within a heavier industrial environment, but leadership ability, manufacturing knowledge and a track record of improving operations are more important.
Why would you want it?
- £60,000–£65,000 salary
- Senior, influential position working closely with the General Manager
- Growing business with continued investment
- Real scope to shape and improve the manufacturing operation
- Opportunity to make a visible impact rather than simply maintain what's already there
- Plenty of autonomy and ownership
- Genuine longer-term progression opportunities
- Close-knit business with a strong team culture
- Monday–Friday daytime hours
- 1:30pm finish every Friday
If you're a strong manufacturing leader who enjoys developing people, improving processes and driving operational performance, this could be a really exciting next step.
Pay: £60,000.00-£65,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Canteen
- Company events
- Company pension
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
- On-site parking
Application question(s):
- Do you have the Right to Work in the UK without sponsorship on a permanent basis?
- Do you have experience overseeing manufacturing operations?
Work Location: In person
