Production Manager

Job Purpose

The Production Manager is responsible for overseeing all production and operational activities to ensure efficiency, quality, safety, and cost targets are achieved. This role plays a critical leadership function in driving continuous improvement and operational excellence across the production environment. A key requirement of this role is to act as a change agent, leading transformation initiatives, embedding new ways of working, and supporting teams through change to improve overall performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage day-to-day production operations to meet output, quality, and delivery targets
• Ensure optimal use of resources (labour, equipment, materials)
• Monitor production performance and implement corrective actions as required
• Maintain compliance with health, safety, and quality standards
• Lead, coach, and develop production teams to drive high performance
• Manage workforce planning, scheduling, and performance management
• Foster a positive, collaborative, and accountable team culture
• Support employee engagement and continuous development
• Act as a change agent, driving and embedding continuous improvement initiatives (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma, process optimisation)
• Lead and support organisational and operational change programmes
• Champion a culture of innovation, adaptability, and accountability
• Identify inefficiencies and implement sustainable improvements across processes
• Engage and influence stakeholders at all levels to ensure the successful adoption of change initiatives
• Establish KPIs and monitor performance against targets
• Analyse production data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities
• Drive cost control and productivity improvements
• Ensure robust reporting and communication of operational performance
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, and HR
• Ensure alignment between production operations and wider business strategy
• Communicate effectively with senior management on performance, risks, and improvements

Education and Experience

• Proven experience in a production/manufacturing management role
• Strong leadership and people management skills
• Demonstrated ability to act as a change agent, successfully leading and implementing change initiatives
• Experience in continuous improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma, etc.)
• Strong problem-solving, analytical, and decision making skills
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• Third-level qualification in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, or related field
• Experience in a regulated environment (e.g., medical devices, pharma, food)