Production and Maintenance Manager

Production and Maintenance Manager Gateshead £50,000 - £60,000 depending on experience An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Production & Maintenance Manager to join a growing food packaging manufacturer in Gateshead. This Production & Maintenance Manager position will play a key role in developing and leading a new extrusion operation, driving performance, reliability and continuous improvement. The successful Production & Maintenance Manager will oversee daily production operations, maintenance activities and equipment performance within a 24/7 manufacturing environment. This Production & Maintenance Manager will be responsible for maximising OEE, reducing downtime, improving production efficiency and ensuring the highest standards of quality and safety. The ideal Production & Maintenance Manager will have a strong background in plastics extrusion, maintenance management and process optimisation, alongside proven experience leading manufacturing teams. Key Responsibilities: * Lead extrusion production and maintenance activities. * Drive OEE, throughput and efficiency improvements. * Implement preventative and predictive maintenance strategies. * Conduct root cause analysis to eliminate recurring issues. * Monitor KPIs including scrap, downtime and productivity. * Ensure GMP, food packaging and Health & Safety compliance. * Develop and support production teams within a continuous manufacturing operation. Requirements: * Previous experience as a Production & Maintenance Manager, Manufacturing Manager or similar. * Background in plastics extrusion, ideally APET or rPET. * Strong maintenance, fault-finding and continuous improvement experience. * Knowledge of food-grade manufacturing environments. * Excellent leadership and problem-solving skills. This Production & Maintenance Manager opportunity offers the chance to make a significant impact within a growing manufacturing business with ambitious plans for the future