Production Manager

£55,000 - £65,000

Day Shift

Are you a forward-thinking leader with a passion for manufacturing excellence? We are recruiting for a Production Manager to oversee the operations of a state-of-the-art production facility. This is a unique opportunity to be part of a major industry transformation, leading a high-performing team through construction, commissioning, and full-scale production.

Why Join?
• Be a key player in an exciting industry shift - you’ll be instrumental in setting up and optimising a cutting-edge production operation.
• Lead a growing team - develop and inspire a workforce of 400+ people, shaping the future of the site.
• Work with the latest technology - from advanced machines to digital monitoring systems, you’ll be at the forefront of innovation.
• Excellent career growth opportunities - with significant investment in the site, this role offers long-term progression in a dynamic environment.

Your Responsibilities:

Health & Safety Leadership:
• Ensure strict compliance with health, safety, and environmental regulations, promoting a safety-first culture across the site.

Project Involvement:
• Play a crucial role in the construction and commissioning of the new machines, working closely with project teams and equipment manufacturers to ensure a smooth start-up.

Operational Excellence:
• Oversee the full production process, ensuring output targets, quality standards, and budgets are met.

Team Leadership & Development:
• Lead, coach, and develop a team of managers and production staff.
• Drive employee engagement and performance management initiatives.
• Implement training programmes to build technical expertise and leadership capability within the team.

Performance Optimisation:
• Work closely with OEM suppliers to optimise tissue machine performance and achieve world-class operational efficiency.
• Implement continuous improvement and lean manufacturing techniques to enhance productivity and reduce waste.

Budget & Cost Control:
• Manage budgets effectively, ensuring cost efficiency within the papermill operations.
• Align financial planning with wider company objectives.

Collaboration & Cross-Functional Working:
• Work alongside engineering, maintenance, finance, HR, and site leadership to drive operational success.
• Support reliability and maintenance strategies to ensure maximum uptime and efficiency.
• Utilise advanced digital reporting tools for data-driven decision-making.

What We’re Looking For:

To be successful in this role, you’ll need:
• A degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, or Paper-Making (essential).
• 5+ years’ senior leadership experience in tissue or paper manufacturing.
• Strong leadership skills - the ability to engage, inspire, and drive high performance.
• Experience working with tissue/papermaking machinery, including start-up and optimisation.
• Proven experience in continuous improvement, lean manufacturing, and cost control.
• A problem-solving mindset - able to work under pressure and make strategic decisions.
• IT proficiency, including experience with SAP and digital reporting tools.
• A hands-on, results-driven approach - someone who thrives in a fast-paced, evolving environment.

Working Conditions & Additional Information:
• Initially based onsite in a portacabin during the construction phase.
• Regular UK and overseas travel may be required to liaise with suppliers and partners.
• This is a day shift role, overseeing a large production team of 400+ people