Machining Cell Leader

Machining Cell Leader 
Location: Hailsham, East Sussex
Reports to: Production Manager
  
The Opportunity
  
Recruitment South East is delighted to be recruiting on behalf of our client for an experienced Machining Cell Leader. This is an excellent opportunity for a hands-on manufacturing professional with strong machining experience and proven leadership skills to join a successful engineering business.
  
The successful candidate will lead the day-to-day operation of the machining cell, ensuring customer requirements are met in terms of Quality, Delivery and Cost while driving continuous improvement across the department. You will oversee machining and finishing operations from raw material through to completed components, while developing and motivating the production team to achieve business objectives.
  
Working closely with Planning, Purchasing and other departments, you will help ensure production schedules are met, support new product introduction and contribute to ongoing process improvements.
  
Key Responsibilities
  
Team Leadership
  

• Lead and support the machining team to maintain efficient workflow.
• Train, motivate and develop team members.
• Act as the first point of contact for team queries and issues.
• Manage individual and team performance, attendance and productivity.
• Coordinate cross-training activities, maintain the training matrix and identify skills gaps.

• Lead all day-to-day machining operations, ensuring production targets are achieved.
• Ensure full identification and traceability of materials and machined components throughout production.
• Liaise regularly with Planning to understand priorities and communicate production requirements through daily meetings.
• Assess workloads from a technical perspective and recommend manufacturing efficiencies, including batching opportunities and work centre utilisation.
• Provide regular production updates and feedback to the Planning team.
• Monitor daily production activities and resolve manufacturing issues to ensure components are produced right first time.
• Ensure accurate job booking procedures are followed and production data is reported appropriately.
• Plan ahead to ensure scheduled work is fully prepared with the correct materials, tooling, programs and setup documentation.
• Attend daily operational meetings and contribute to achieving business objectives.
• Foster a positive, proactive culture within the department.
• Work closely with shop floor personnel to resolve manufacturing challenges.
• Identify and recommend opportunities for process improvements using supporting data.
• Assist in setting departmental KPIs for Quality, Delivery and Cost.
• Implement and maintain visual management throughout the machining area.
• Support the Production Manager in implementing company policies and procedures.

• Ensure compliance with the Quality Management System and documented manufacturing procedures.
• Promote and maintain high housekeeping standards through 5S and TPM activities.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives, including Kaizen, problem solving, engineering changes and lean manufacturing activities.
• Support Root Cause Analysis for non-conforming products and coordinate corrective actions where required.
• Maintain manufacturing documentation, visual management systems, training records and operational standards.

• Strong knowledge of manufacturing, machining and production processes within an engineering or high-technology environment.
• Experience managing a machining department or machine shop.
• Proven leadership, coaching and people management experience.

• Experience working within a low-volume, high-precision manufacturing environment.
• Good understanding of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement techniques.
• Previous experience leading production teams.
• Strong problem-solving and continuous improvement skills.

• HNC/HND in Mechanical Engineering.
• Engineering apprenticeship.
• ILM Level 3 (or above) in Leadership or equivalent.

• Hands-on leadership style with excellent communication skills.
• Able to motivate and develop teams to achieve high performance.
• Organised with strong planning skills and attention to detail.
• Comfortable working to deadlines in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Proactive, self-motivated and solution focused.
• Numerate and IT literate.
• Committed to continuous improvement and business success.