Production Manager

Job Title: Production Manager Location: Pickering, North Yorkshire Salary: Competitive The Company We are recruiting on behalf of an established manufacturing business in Pickering that is looking to appoint an experienced Production Manager to take ownership of day-to-day manufacturing performance. This is a key leadership position within the operation, responsible for creating a safe, efficient and high-performing production environment. You’ll lead from the shop floor, develop your management team and work closely with Quality, Engineering, Maintenance, HSE, HR, Finance and Materials Planning & Logistics to achieve wider plant objectives. If you’re a hands-on manufacturing leader who enjoys improving performance, developing people and driving continuous improvement, this is an excellent opportunity to make a genuine impact. Job Description As Production Manager, you will take responsibility for delivering the production plan safely, efficiently and to the required quality standards. You’ll provide visible leadership across the manufacturing operation, ensuring customer schedules are achieved while maintaining control of safety, quality, cost, delivery and people performance. Key responsibilities will include: * Leading day-to-day production activities and ensuring the production plan remains on track. * Promoting a strong zero-harm safety culture, leading safety conversations and ensuring safe systems of work are consistently followed. * Ensuring customer schedules and changing production priorities are effectively managed. * Driving improvements in Right First Time (RFT), scrap, rework and overall process discipline. * Improving Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), downtime, labour efficiency and productivity. * Coaching and developing Supervisors and Team Leaders, setting clear expectations and effectively managing performance. * Leading Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen and continuous improvement activity to eliminate waste and standardise best practice. * Leading Tier meetings, reviewing operational KPIs and ensuring issues are escalated and resolved quickly. * Managing labour requirements, overtime, agency usage, material utilisation and departmental costs. * Working cross-functionally with Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, HSE and other departments to overcome operational challenges. * Taking ownership of key manufacturing KPIs including safety, RFT, scrap, yield, OEE, labour efficiency, schedule adherence, downtime, productivity and cost per unit. Skills Required We are looking for an experienced production/manufacturing leader who can combine strong people management with a clear focus on operational performance. You will ideally demonstrate: * Proven experience in a Production Manager, Manufacturing Manager or similar operational leadership role within a manufacturing environment. * Strong leadership skills with experience managing and developing Supervisors, Team Leaders and production teams. * A visible, hands-on approach to leadership and a strong commitment to health and safety. * Experience delivering against production plans and customer requirements in a demanding manufacturing environment. * Good understanding of manufacturing KPIs including OEE, RFT, scrap, yield, downtime, labour efficiency and productivity. * Experience implementing Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement principles. * A track record of reducing waste, improving efficiency and delivering measurable operational improvements. Why Join? This is an opportunity to take on a highly influential production leadership role where you can have a direct impact on people, processes and overall manufacturing performance. You’ll have the opportunity to: * Take ownership of a key manufacturing operation and its performance. * Lead and develop teams while building a strong culture of accountability and continuous improvement. * Drive tangible improvements across safety, quality, delivery, cost and productivity. * Work collaboratively with senior stakeholders and multiple functions across the business. * Lead Lean and continuous improvement initiatives with measurable results. * Join an established manufacturing environment where strong operational leadership can make a real difference