ROLE: Production Manager
Location: Rugby (Onsite Position – No Hybrid Option)
Market: Packaging Manufacturing
About Us:
At Austin Frye, we are global leaders in executive search for the packaging, machinery, and chemicals sectors. Our mission is to help drive the circular economy, supporting clients in navigating the evolving world of sustainable manufacturing. As a carbon-neutral company funded by private equity, we are at the forefront of innovation in recruitment. We pride ourselves on matching exceptional talent with game-changing roles, and we work with some of the most respected manufacturers and private equity firms in the world.
About the hiring company
Holding a rightful place as one of the most sustainable and employee focused companies in packaging worldwide, our client’s primary goal is to ensure their employees go home happy. This is evident physically in their sites and you can actually feel it in the culture. This is the UK’s largest site in this sphere of the packaging industry and it is slick and clean with processes are visible through both highly available data and through diligent maintenance and continuous improvement of the lines. This is echoed across the world which makes them a highly sought after target company to work for amongst skilled and respected operations leaders like you. They truly empower their people to push boundaries, grow their careers, and make a meaningful impact in a sustainable way.
Position Insights & Objectives
As Production Manager at the Rugby plant, you will be a pivotal part of the senior leadership team, helping to drive operational excellence in a fast-paced, high-performance environment. Your leadership will directly impact the quality and efficiency of this packaging production facility, ensuring they exceed customer expectations and contribute to the success of the business.
Key Responsibilities:
Leadership & Delivery
* Inspire & Lead: Provide dynamic leadership to production teams, guiding them to meet high-volume, high-quality production targets while maintaining a focus on excellence and continuous improvement.
* Drive Performance: Foster a high-performance culture that encourages collaboration and accountability to meet production goals.
* Maximize Resources: Use your resource management expertise to maintain production flexibility, adapt to customer requirements, and minimize downtime.
* Continuous Improvement: Constantly seek opportunities to enhance processes, improve efficiency, and implement sustainable solutions that exceed KPIs and drive long-term success.
Safety & Compliance
* Champion Safety: Take ownership of the plant’s Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) standards, ensuring the highest level of safety across all operations.
* Improve Standards: Lead the drive for outstanding housekeeping and hygiene standards, embedding safety and cleanliness into the plant culture.
* Compliance Leadership: Uphold strict adherence to safety protocols and continuously seek innovative ways to enhance the safety of your teams.
Quality Excellence
* Quality Ownership: Ensure the delivery of products that meet both company and customer specifications, with a relentless focus on quality and operational efficiency.
* Data-Driven Decisions: Use SPC data to identify trends and implement decisions that improve product quality, minimizing waste and non-compliance.
* Root Cause Analysis: Lead efforts to identify the root causes of non-compliance and implement long-term preventive actions.
People & Team Development
* Inspirational Leadership: Serve as a role model for company values, inspiring and motivating your team to perform at their best.
* Coaching for Growth: Develop your team through coaching and clear performance expectations, enabling them to take ownership and contribute to the plant’s success.
* Talent Development: Foster a continuous learning environment, ensuring your team members are equipped with the skills and knowledge they need to grow and succeed.
* Mentorship: Guide your team’s career development, ensuring that all team members have a clear path for personal and professional growth.
* Collaboration: Foster a culture of trust, teamwork, and open communication, ensuring all team members understand their role in achieving overall business success.
Cost Control & Operational Efficiency
* Manage Costs Effectively: Take charge of controlling production costs, ensuring efficient use of resources while maintaining product quality.
* Optimize Budgets: Collaborate with your team to manage and track production costs, ensuring tight controls without compromising on quality or safety.
Preferred Professional Experience
* Leadership Experience: At least 5+ years in senior management within a fast-paced, high-volume manufacturing environment. You’ve honed your leadership style and are adept at delegating effectively while maintaining oversight and accountability.
* Industry Expertise: You’ve managed complex, continuous production lines in industries like FMCG or automotive and are comfortable in dynamic, high-pressure environments.
* Engineering & Improvement: You hold engineering qualifications (BEng, MEng, or equivalent) and bring expertise in Lean, SMED, Greenbelt, or other continuous improvement methodologies.
* Change Management: You’ve successfully led large-scale change initiatives, driving efficiency and continuous improvement across your teams.
Personal Attributes
* Inspirational Leader: You motivate and lead by example, creating a culture of high performance, accountability, and innovation.
* Problem Solver: You possess strong technical expertise and are driven to find sustainable solutions to production challenges.
* Continuous Improvement Advocate: You are always looking for ways to improve processes and systems, ensuring the plant operates at peak efficiency.
* Customer-Focused: You keep the customer at the forefront of every decision, ensuring that quality and service levels exceed expectations.
* Effective Communicator: You communicate clearly and effectively, engaging with teams at all levels and influencing senior leadership.
* Adaptable: You’re flexible and adaptable, willing to go the extra mile to ensure the success of the team and the plant.
* Results-Driven: You are focused on delivering measurable outcomes and hold yourself and your team accountable for achieving success.
Education, Compensation & Location
Qualifications:
* BEng or MEng in Engineering, or a time-served apprenticeship with vocational training.
* Lean Belt training or similar continuous improvement qualifications.
Compensation:
Salary: Negotiable, plus car and excellent benefits package.
Location:
Rugby, Warwickshire – Join them onsite to make an immediate impact!