Factory Operations Manager

WHAT IS IN IT FOR YOU?
  

• Permanent role from day one
• Newcastle Upon Tyne location
• Salary circa £50K per annum
• Company car or car allowance
• Working hours Monday to Friday 8am-5pm (1 hour for lunch)
• 28 days holiday including statutory
• Discretionary annual bonus (subject to company and individual performance)
• Potential opportunity to develop into a Director role
• Senior leadership role reporting directly to the Managing Director
• Significant autonomy and responsibility
• Opportunity to genuinely influence the future direction of the business
• Established and respected UK manufacturer
• Opportunity to lead operational improvement and business growth initiatives
• Hands-on leadership role within a highly engaged manufacturing environment

  
THE BUSINESS
  
Our client serves a high-volume manufacturing environment from their Newcastle location. They have a diverse range of products under their portfolio. With national recognition for quality at competitive pricing, they have gained a strong reputation to supply major blue-chip companies, stocking many household brand within their customer base. They have an excellent reputation supplying customers across healthcare, household, food and industrial sectors.

The organisation has a £10M turnover and employs circa 55 people.

Due to a pending retirement of a longstanding employee, the organisation is currently recruiting a Factory Operations Manager to ensure the achievement of day to day production plans and also longer-term strategic objectives. The successful post holder will have responsibility for the full factory, reporting into the MD and will hold direct responsibility for reports within Quality & Compliance, Production Management, Technical & Engineering, Warehouse & Logistics and Office Management, who then feed into their own teams.
This is an excellent opportunity to join the business and make the role your own. We are seeking someone from fast paced, deadline driven industry who has been instrumental in leading people and shaping organisational culture.  

This is a senior leadership role within a successful SME manufacturing business where visibility, communication and engagement remain fundamental to how they operate.

Whilst they continue to invest in modern manufacturing systems, operational data and continuous improvement initiatives, they remain a practical, hands-on manufacturing business. The management team spend the majority of their time within the manufacturing and warehouse environment, rather than behind desks.  Daily operational meetings, shift handovers and regular engagement throughout the factory are central to how they communicate, solve problems and maintain standards. They are looking for a leader who is comfortable operating within this environment and who understands the importance of being present within the operation.
  
THE ROLE
  

• We are not looking for an experienced Factory Operations Manager who prefers to lead from behind a desk. We are looking for a visible and engaged manufacturing leader who enjoys being part of the operation, understands what is happening on the factory floor and warehouse at all times and naturally builds strong relationships with people throughout the business.
• You will use KPI reporting, operational data and management information to identify trends and support decision-making, whilst recognising that effective management also requires direct observation, communication and involvement within the operation.
• You will lead through presence, communication and accountability.
• You will be comfortable holding managers and employees accountable, whilst also providing support, direction and leadership when required.

  
Key Responsibilities
  

• Leading the day-to-day operation of the manufacturing facility.
• Developing, supporting and holding accountable the site management team.
• Ensuring the highest standards of health, safety and environmental compliance.
• Ensuring customer quality, compliance and product requirements are consistently achieved.
• Delivering agreed operational KPIs and business objectives.
• Driving productivity, efficiency and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Optimising labour, equipment and material utilisation.
• Supporting and developing departmental managers and future leaders.
• Ensuring effective communication throughout the business.
• Maintaining high standards of housekeeping, GMP and workplace organisation.
• Supporting investment, automation and operational development projects.
• Ensuring operational expenditure is managed within agreed budgets.

  
  
THE PERSON
  

• Senior manufacturing leadership experience.
• Experienced working with a high volume, product led, deadline driven manufacturing settings
• Experience managing managers and departmental leaders.
• Strong health and safety leadership experience.
• Experience operating within KPI-driven manufacturing environments.
• Strong people management and communication skills.
• Proven track record of delivering operational improvements.
• Able to manage people at all levels and able to operate using principles of “fairness”
• A strategic thinker and someone who is able to effectively plan and work with ever conflicting priorities
• Able to effectively empower others
• Strong organisational skills
• Effective people manager – can bring out the best in people
• Able to support, question, mentor and challenge

  
Desirable:

• Packaging manufacturing experience.
• Plastic industry experience.
• BRCGS experience.
• ISO 9001 experience.
• Lean Manufacturing or Continuous Improvement experience.

  
  
TO APPLY

Please send your updated CV to Tony Hutchinson or apply direct by calling Westray Recruitment Group

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