106 Best class 1 Jobs in Exeter (August 2026)

Production Manager

1 day ago

Exeter

Experienced Production Manager required for large manufacturing company based in Plymouth. The successful candidate will lead and manage all Manufacturing & Production activities across site, ensuring that the factory runs at optimum efficiency, with engaged employees producing consistently high quality, right-first-time products to meet customer demand on-time, in-full and in-budget. Reporting to the Senior Manager Manufacturing the Production Manager is accountable for all aspects of the operational performance and management of on site Production, leading a group of production Team Leaders across 3 shifts to achieve key business indicators based around productivity, profitability and cost, quality and employee engagement, working in line with company core values of Safety, Quality and Profitability. You will be responsible for developing the capability of the Production Team leaders and the engagement of the Production Teams with business and departmental goals, and harnessing employee engagement to achieve sustained improvements are key to success in this role. You will be responsible for achieving daily/weekly/monthly production targets, achieving quality and delivery expectations, minimising costs, maximising efficiency and productivity and ensuring that best working practices are maintained. This is an excellent opportunity to work for a world class manufacturer who puts quality and innovation at the fore front of their ethos. Key Responsibilities: • Lead the deployment and implementation of Business Strategy in the department, ensuring team leaders and operators are aligned with and working towards defined company objectives. Responsible and accountable for agreed Key Performance Indicators that are aligned to achievement of the business goals and cascaded effectively within the operational team., • As a member of the extended leadership team, take part in Strategy meetings and manage strategies aligned to the Business's Strategy, targeting improvements in the department. The Production Manager has the ability to plan and achieve medium to long-term goals whilst still consistently ensuring that the team achieves short-term goals and deadlines., • Plan and organise resources (people, process, materials and equipment) to achieve production targets and production plans, on time and in full. Ensure production targets and production plans are shared with team leaders. Identify variances to production targets, for example: quality issues, breakdowns, people performance and take appropriate action, escalate as necessary., • Manage in accordance with the Company values, in respect of safety, health and environmental standards, quality standards and all associated procedures, and ensure consistency of processes, standards, effectiveness etc across all shifts., • Encourage and instil a continuous improvement mindset, applying lean manufacturing techniques, problem-solving methodology and data-driven improvement approach in team leaders and operators., • Collaborate effectively across functions to drive achieve required results and improvements, such as reducing downtime and achieving operational improvements. For example, working closely with Engineering teams to improve machine up-time and effectiveness, or collaborating with Supply Chain and Planning to ensure materials and component availability and optimise production., • Responsible for Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) and the component parts of OEE., • Analyse, identify and implement opportunities to reduce set up, changeover, processing and cycle times using SMED techniques to achieve continuous improvements in productivity, including routine operator maintenance, planned preventative maintenance and appropriate reactive maintenance, particularly of constraint points, in conjunction with Production Engineering Manager., • Lead on communication within the department, encouraging an open culture of two-way communication and feedback including daily Roadblock meeting, weekly tool-box meeting, regular 1:1s with Team Leaders, communicating the Team Brief., • Lead to achieve high performance., • Clearly define expectations and accountabilities with Team Leaders and define standard work., • Agree relevant individual and team objectives and review performance regularly. Address any concerns, development needs or areas of under-performance promptly and implement support, training or development as required. Ensure that team leaders implement a similar approach with their direct reports., • Review shift and team performance and work with Team Leaders to support them in developing action plans for their teams improving operator engagement, identifying training needs, enhancing cross-skilling, progression, talent identification, addressing areas of poor performance etc as required., • Implement a coaching approach to performance improvement, recognise successes and celebrate wins within the team and wider business as appropriate., • Active participation in various meetings including but not limited to: Health & Safety committee, Sales & Operational Planning, and various other leadership and operational meetings as required. Participate in customer and supplier visits, audits, outreach activities etc that are appropriate to this role., • Lead relevant projects effectively including strategy implementation, capital investment projects, or such ad-hoc projects that may be required from time to time. Essential Experience / Qualifications and Attributes Required: • Proven, recent experience gained from within a precision engineering / manufacturing environment., • Leadership or management experience including efficiency improvement, achieving business goals, project management, people management., • Proven skills and track record in leading, developing and coaching diverse teams to achieve high quality results., • Significant practical and theoretical experience in successfully applying lean manufacturing techniques, processes, and demonstrable problem-solving skills, such as 5S, 6Sigma., • Strong interpersonal, communication, team building and collaborative skills., • Self-motivated, results-oriented and driven, with a high level of emotional intelligence, flexibility and resilience., • Ability to gather, analyse, interpret and act on data and metrics to guide improvement actions. Desirable Experience, Qualifications and Knowledge: • Educated to degree level within either Engineering, Business Studies or Management or similar related discipline., • ILM or CMI Level 5 or equivalent., • Lean manufacturing qualification e.g. six sigma., • Experience of working to ISO9001, ISO14001 and AS9100 standards., • Excellent knowledge of data analysis and system skills (ERP, Excel, Access etc.) Package on Offer: • Private health cover for the successful candidate, partner and any children up to the age of 24., • 25 days holiday rising to 30 days after 12 months, • Company Pension scheme: Basic: employee = 3.6% and Employer 4.5% = 8.1% / Advanced: employee = 6% and Employer 7.5% = 13.5%, • Life assurance cover x2 salary on joining / x4 on joining the pension scheme (Basic) / x6 if maximum contribution (advanced) to the pension scheme., • Free access to personal development training., • Free onsite parking. The successful candidate will work core hours of: Monday to Thursday 08:15am to 16:45pm & Fridays 08:15am to 13:30pm. Due to the senior nature of this position there will be occasions where the successful candidate will be required to work outside of these core working hours. The successful candidate will also be required to travel on occasion, possibly oversees, to visit suppliers, customers, attend training courses and / or exhibitions. If you have the relevant experience as detailed, please submit an up to date CV by using the apply button. By applying for this position, you confirm that you consent to the processing of your personal data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for the purposes of recruitment, employment and working finding service. JBRP1_UKTJ

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