Head of Manufacturing
Cooper Golding
Head of Manufacturing
North Devon | Permanent | Full Time
Competitive Salary DOE
Head of Manufacturing Role Overview:
As part of its continued growth and operational development, the business is seeking an experienced and hands-on Head of Manufacturing to lead the production operation through its next phase of development, performance improvement and scalability.
This is a senior operational leadership role with genuine influence across the business. Reporting directly to the Managing Director, the successful candidate will take ownership of manufacturing performance, accountability, operational structure and continuous improvement across a multi-area production environment.
This is not an office-based operations role. It is a visible, shop-floor-led leadership position suited to someone who thrives within a bespoke manufacturing environment and is confident leading people, improving standards and driving operational performance. The business has built a strong reputation within its sector and is investing in the next stage of operational growth and development.
The Head of Manufacturing will lead the day-to-day manufacturing operation, ensuring output, efficiency, quality and OTIF performance are delivered consistently and sustainably. This role is centred around people leadership, operational discipline and building a scalable manufacturing structure capable of supporting future growth. The successful candidate will work closely with Production Managers and the wider leadership team to improve communication, accountability, planning visibility and operational consistency across the business.
Key Responsibilities for the Head of Manufacturing:
Production Performance
- Drive output, labour efficiency and on-time delivery performance
- Identify and remove operational bottlenecks and inefficiencies
- Align production capacity with customer demand and operational priorities
- Maintain high standards of quality, discipline, safety and housekeeping
- Improve operational visibility and overall manufacturing performance
- Lead, support and develop Production Managers and supervisory teams
- Establish a clear culture of accountability, pace, communication and professionalism
- Run structured daily operational meetings and performance reviews
- Strengthen management capability and consistency across the factory
- Lead operational change positively whilst maintaining team engagement and stability
- Improve scheduling visibility, coordination and forward planning
- Embed KPI discipline and accurate operational reporting
- Support ERP/MRP system development and operational usage
- Ensure proactive problem solving and effective escalation management
- Improve coordination between production, planning and commercial functions
- Improve workflow, layout and productivity in a practical and measurable manner
- Reduce reliance on individuals through stronger systems and structure
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives across the manufacturing operation
- Support long-term operational planning and future business growth
- Help build a scalable and resilient manufacturing function capable of supporting continued expansion
The successful candidate will be an experienced manufacturing leader with a strong operational background and a visible, hands-on leadership style.
You will demonstrate the following skills & experience:
- Proven senior leadership experience within a manufacturing or industrial environment
- Strong people leadership and team management capability
- A track record of driving accountability, operational performance and improvement
- Experience managing Production Managers and structured manufacturing teams
- Strong commercial awareness and confident decision-making ability
- The ability to positively challenge existing practices and lead change effectively
- Excellent organisational, communication and operational planning skills
- A practical, solutions-focused approach combined with strategic operational thinking
- Experience within bespoke manufacturing, industrial production or engineered manufacturing environments would be advantageous, although not essential.
- Calm, decisive and solutions-focused
- Organised and structured
- Resilient and performance-driven
- Commercially aware
- Approachable but authoritative
- Naturally proactive and improvement-focused
- Comfortable operating within a fast-paced manufacturing environment
- Able to build credibility and trust quickly across all levels of the business
- Competitive salary dependent on experience
- Performance-related bonus potential
- Senior leadership role with genuine operational influence
- Long-term opportunity within a growing manufacturing business
- Opportunity to play a key role in shaping and strengthening the future manufacturing operation
Cooper Golding is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.
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