Manufacturing Manager

Manufacturing Manager

Location: Sirane, South Wales
Salary: Competitive (dependent on experience)
Contract: Full-time, Permanent

The Role

The Manufacturing Manager will be responsible for leading and optimising all manufacturing operations at the Sirane site, ensuring the safe, efficient, and cost-effective production of high-quality products.

Reporting to the Divisional General Manager, the role will deliver high-performing manufacturing operations by driving safety, quality, productivity, and continuous improvement through strong leadership and accountability.

Acting as a key operational leader, the successful candidate will champion Lean principles, develop high-performing teams, and contribute to the continued growth and success of the business.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

• Lead manufacturing operations to consistently achieve safety, quality, service, productivity, and cost targets.
• Deliver operational excellence through effective planning, resource management, and process control.
• Optimise manufacturing performance through improved OEE, labour utilisation, throughput, and capacity management.
• Ensure production schedules are achieved whilst maintaining product quality and customer service standards.

Continuous Improvement: Lead and embed Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies across the site, Deliver measurable reductions in waste, downtime, rework, and operational inefficiencies, Drive a culture of problem-solving and root cause analysis to improve performance and reliability, Identify and implement process, equipment, and capability improvements to enhance operational effectiveness.

People Leadership: Build, develop, and lead high-performing Production Managers, Shift Managers, Section Leads, and manufacturing teams through coaching, clear objectives, and accountability, Promote a positive culture of engagement, teamwork, and ownership across all production areas, Develop succession plans and training programmes to strengthen capability and operational resilience, Lead employee relations activities fairly and consistently, fostering constructive workplace relationships.

Safety, Quality & Compliance: Champion a zero-harm culture and ensure compliance with all health, safety, environmental, and quality standards, Ensure all manufacturing activities comply with customer, regulatory, and company requirements, Lead investigations, corrective actions, and risk reduction activities where required, Support and lead site audits, certifications, and compliance programmes.

Financial & Commercial Performance: Manage manufacturing costs to support budget achievement and profitability objectives, Deliver labour efficiency, waste reduction, and productivity improvements aligned with business targets, Support capital expenditure proposals and the implementation of operational improvements, Contribute to annual budgeting, forecasting, and operational planning processes.

Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with Planning, Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality, HR, and Commercial teams to achieve business objectives, Ensure customer requirements are translated into effective manufacturing execution, Support new product introductions, business growth projects, and operational development initiatives, Provide clear and accurate operational reporting to senior leadership.

Success Measures: Achievement of health and safety objectives, including sustained zero-harm performance and reduced incidents, Improved OEE, productivity, throughput, and overall manufacturing efficiency, Consistent achievement of quality standards, including reductions in waste, scrap, and customer complaints, Delivery of OTIF (On Time In Full) performance targets, Achievement of labour efficiency and manufacturing cost objectives, Improved employee engagement, capability, retention, and team performance, Successful delivery of continuous improvement projects with measurable operational and financial benefits.

Person Specification

Essential Experience

• Significant manufacturing leadership experience within FMCG, packaging, food, industrial, or process manufacturing environments.
• Proven track record of delivering operational improvements across safety, quality, cost, delivery, and productivity.
• Experience managing large manufacturing teams within a fast-paced operational environment.
• Experience leading performance management, employee engagement, and team development initiatives.
• Experience using manufacturing KPIs and operational reporting to drive continuous improvement.
• Strong understanding of ERP systems, production management systems, and operational data analysis.

Essential Skills & Knowledge

• Strong leadership, coaching, and people management capabilities.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and relationship-building skills.
• Commercial awareness with the ability to make data-driven operational decisions.
• Strong knowledge of Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Understanding of production planning, resource optimisation, and workforce planning.
• Comprehensive knowledge of health, safety, environmental, and quality compliance within manufacturing.
• Competent user of ERP systems and Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities within a demanding manufacturing environment.

Desirable Experience

• Experience within packaging, flexible packaging, food manufacturing, or related industries.
• Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Continuous Improvement, or equivalent qualifications.
• HNC, HND, or Degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, or a related discipline.
• Experience supporting capital investment projects and operational transformation programmes.

Company Values

The successful candidate will demonstrate behaviours aligned to Coppice Group's values:

• Integrity
• Accountability
• Continuous Improvement
• Collaboration
• Customer Focus
• Sustainability

Additional Information: Primarily based at the Sirane manufacturing site, Regular presence within manufacturing and production environments is required, Flexibility in working hours may be required to support operational demands and business priorities, Occasional travel to other Group locations may be required, Appropriate PPE must be worn in designated operational areas.

No agencies please.