Head of Manufacturing

Elevation Recruitment Group is working with a well established manufacturing business in Leeds to appoint a Head of Manufacturing. The business has strong heritage, a clear growth plan, and is investing in the people and systems to support it.

Reporting to the Operations Director, you will take strategic ownership of the manufacturing function, covering production, upholstery and the wider operational teams. This is a role for someone who wants to shape the direction of a manufacturing operation, not just run it day to day.

What you'll be doing:

• Set the manufacturing strategy and lead its delivery across the site
• Lead, mentor and develop the senior management team, driving succession planning and building a leadership pipeline across the operation
• Drive Lean deployment and continuous improvement, embedding a high-performance culture
• Own capacity and investment planning, including new technology and automation
• Lead a zero-harm safety culture, with proactive risk management across all manufacturing areas
• Work closely with Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, HR and NPD to deliver the wider business plan

What we're looking for:

• A track record leading large, multi-disciplinary manufacturing operations at a senior level
• Strong Lean and operational excellence credentials (a Lean Six Sigma Green or Black Belt would be advantageous)
• Experience building leadership pipelines and succession plans, not just managing output
• Commercial confidence, with experience owning significant operational budgets and cost improvement programmes
• The ability to engage credibly at board level and translate strategy into practical, measurable operational plans

You'll be driven, commercially minded and comfortable operating at board level, with the humility to build success through your team rather than around them.

For a confidential discussion about this Head of Manufacturing role in Leeds, contact Elevation Recruitment Group.