Production Operative

Production & Quality Operative (Footwear Industry)

Location: Northampton
Salary: £14.42 p/h (Equivalent to approx. £30k +)

Salary is negotiable depending on skills, knowledge and experience.

Hours: Monday to Thursday 07:30-16:30, Friday's 07:30-12:30

The Opportunity

We are recruiting for an experienced Production & Quality Operative to join a respected footwear manufacturing business with a long-standing reputation for craftsmanship and quality.

This role sits within the final inspection process and is responsible for ensuring finished footwear products meet the highest quality standards before reaching customers. The successful candidate will possess extensive knowledge of footwear construction, fault identification, product finishing, and quality rectification techniques.

This is a specialist position suited to someone who has built significant experience within the shoe industry and can confidently assess product quality, identify defects, and implement corrective actions where appropriate.

Unfortunately, only applicants with extensive experience within the shoe production industry will be considered.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct detailed final inspections of finished footwear products.
  
  
• Identify manufacturing, finishing, cosmetic, and construction faults.
  
  
• Carry out rectification and repair work where possible to restore products to the required standard.
  
  
• Determine likely root causes of quality issues and provide feedback to production teams.
  
  
• Escalate complex or recurring quality concerns to Team Leaders and Management.
  
  
• Ensure all products leaving the factory achieve agreed quality and presentation standards.
  
  
• Support continuous improvement activities by highlighting trends and recurring defects.
  
  
• Assist with maintaining quality records and reporting.
  
  
• Share technical knowledge and best practices across production departments.

Essential Experience

• Minimum of 5 years' experience within the footwear industry.
  
  
• Strong background in quality inspection, product rectification, repairs, or footwear manufacturing.
  
  
• Detailed understanding of footwear construction and finishing processes.
  
  
• Proven ability to identify faults and determine appropriate corrective actions.
  
  
• Experience working within a quality-focused manufacturing environment.

Desirable Experience

Candidates may come from a variety of footwear production backgrounds, including:

• Shoe Room operations.
  
  
• Footwear repairs and rectification.
  
  
• Final product inspection.
  
  
• Multi-skilled or General Utility roles with exposure to multiple production areas.
  
  
• Quality assurance or quality control within footwear manufacturing.
  
  

Skills & Attributes

• Exceptional attention to detail.
  
  
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making capabilities.
  
  
• Ability to work independently and take ownership of quality outcomes.
  
  
• Practical approach to fault diagnosis and correction.
  
  
• Confidence to escalate issues when necessary.
  
  
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.
  
  
• Commitment to maintaining high standards of craftsmanship and quality.

What We're Looking For

This is a rare opportunity for a highly experienced footwear professional who combines technical product knowledge with a passion for quality. We are seeking someone who can quickly assess finished products, identify and rectify issues, and help maintain the exceptional standards expected within a premium footwear manufacturing environment.

Salary

A competitive salary will be offered based on skills and experience. For candidates with the required level of technical expertise and industry knowledge, earnings are anticipated to be circa £30,000+.

Benefits

• Free on-site parking
  
  
• Access to staff canteen and break facilities
  
  
• Opportunity to secure a permanent position following a successful temporary period
  
  
• Early finish on Fridays
  
  
• Scheduled factory shutdowns, providing additional planned time off throughout the year
  
  
• Stable and supportive working environment within a well-established manufacturing business

Sounds like the role for you? Please apply with an up-to-date CV.