Head of Manufacturing

Head of Manufacturing Location: Blackburn with travel to other locations Salary: up to £90k DOE

Are you an experienced manufacturing leader passionate about operational excellence, quality, and continuous improvement? General All-Purpose Plastics Ltd is looking for a Head of Manufacturing to lead our production operations and play a key role in driving business growth and performance.

This is an exciting opportunity to provide strategic and hands on leadership across our manufacturing function. Working closely with senior management, production teams, engineering, quality, logistics, and commercial colleagues, you will ensure we deliver high quality products safely, efficiently, and consistently while developing a strong culture of accountability and innovation.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the manufacturing function, ensuring production targets, quality standards, and customer requirements are consistently achieved.

• Develop and implement manufacturing strategies aligned with wider business objectives.

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across production, processes, systems, and workflows.

• Monitor manufacturing performance through key performance indicators, identifying trends and implementing corrective actions where required.

• Ensure all production activities comply with health and safety, environmental, quality, and regulatory requirements.

• Lead, coach, and develop production managers, supervisors, and wider manufacturing teams.

• Promote a positive culture focused on safety, quality, customer service, efficiency, and employee engagement.

• Work collaboratively with engineering and maintenance teams to improve equipment reliability and minimise downtime.

• Manage production planning, capacity, resource allocation, and operational efficiency.

• Support the introduction of new products, equipment, technologies, and manufacturing processes.

• Manage manufacturing budgets and identify opportunities to improve productivity and control costs.

• Prepare regular operational reports and present manufacturing performance to senior leadership.

What We Are Looking For

• Proven experience in a senior manufacturing, production, or operations leadership role.

• Experience managing manufacturing teams and delivering production performance in a fast-paced environment.

• A strong understanding of manufacturing processes, production planning, lean principles, and continuous improvement methodologies.

• Knowledge of health and safety, quality assurance, environmental, and regulatory requirements within a manufacturing environment.

• Strong analytical, commercial, organisational, and problem solving skills.

• Excellent communication, leadership, and interpersonal abilities.

• Experience managing budgets, performance metrics, operational costs, and improvement programmes.

• The ability to build effective relationships across all levels of an organisation.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and manufacturing or enterprise resource planning systems.

• A practical, collaborative, and results focused approach to leadership.

What We Offer

• An influential leadership position within a growing business.

• The opportunity to shape and develop our manufacturing strategy and operational capability.

• A collaborative working environment focused on People, Customer Service, Quality, and Innovation.

• Opportunities for professional development and career progression.

• A Monday to Friday working schedule.

Our people are our most important asset and we would love to hear from you if you embody our values of People, Customer Service, Quality, and Innovation.

What Our People Say:

"I am really loving my time here at GAP! The business has grown over the past few years and I am looking forward to seeing where we will be in the next few years. I enjoy everything about my job, the work culture is amazing and there is always somebody there if you ever need anything. I would recommend GAP to anybody in a heartbeat."

"Since starting at GAP the business has continuously grown which meant the staff have progressed and grown with the company. The owners are great and kept it a family run place to work - no one is just a number."

"GAP is a fun and inspiring place to work. The business has grown fast over the years so there is a real buzz around the place. Personally, I think if you work hard you will be rewarded; they have always supported me through hard times, it's like a family, not just a workplace!"

We are an equal opportunity employer

Diversity and inclusion are essential to us and we encourage a culture where everyone can be themselves at work. We value and actively seek out a richly diverse range of talent. Our policies ensure that every job applicant and employee is treated fairly and with equal opportunity to succeed.

Our recruitment process is fair and equitable to ensure that all candidates are duly considered and supported. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please email our Recruitment Team via