Production Operations Manager

Production Operations Manager
Malvern
£Competitive Salary DOE
Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5pm

Are you a driven manufacturing leader ready to shape the future of a growing production operation? This is an exciting opportunity to take ownership of a manufacturing site, leading daily operations while driving long-term improvements that enhance efficiency, quality and team performance.

In this influential role, you'll guide and develop a dedicated production team, ensuring products are delivered to the right specification, on time and within budget, all while maintaining the highest standards in safety, health and environmental compliance.

The Opportunity

As Production Operations Manager, you will:

• Lead, mentor and inspire production teams, building a culture of collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement.
• Develop and execute production strategies that ensure seamless supply, even through peak seasonal demand.
• Champion Lean, 5S, Six Sigma, Kaizen and other improvement methodologies to increase efficiency and reduce waste.
• Maintain robust quality standards, using data and audits to reduce complaints and resolve issues at root cause.
• Work closely with engineering, supply chain, quality and other departments to align production with wider business goals.
• Provide clear performance updates and production insights to senior management.
• Oversee machinery performance, maintenance, and plant upgrades, ensuring equipment is safe, reliable and fit for purpose.
• Support and lead CAPEX projects, managing suppliers and contractors to deliver on time and within budget.
• Manage key service contracts, including distribution, waste management and maintenance.
• Contribute to product development by advising on production feasibility and operational impacts.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory and environmental requirements, including packaging schemes (EPR) and REACH.
• Lead site safety, health and environmental systems, fostering a safe and compliant workplace.

About You

You'll be well suited to this role if you have:

• A degree (ideally in engineering or a science-based discipline).
• Proven experience in food or similar manufacturing; SME experience is advantageous.
• Strong knowledge of continuous improvement tools and methodologies.
• The ability to analyse production data, spot trends and support strategic decision-making.
• Excellent leadership and team-development skills.
• Confident communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability.
• Experience with ERP systems and production software.
• Solid understanding of manufacturing regulations and compliance frameworks.

If you're ready to take on a high-impact leadership role where you can shape operations, empower teams and drive meaningful change, this opportunity could be your next step.