Plant Manager

A well-established engineering manufacturer in Greater Manchester is looking for a high-potential operational leader ready to step into a broader Plant Manager role with real long-term progression opportunity.

This is not just about running production.

It’s about building commercial understanding, operational ownership and leadership capability within a globally backed engineering business that is investing heavily in its future.

The business already has:

• Strong technical capability
• Secure customer programmes
• A healthy order book
• A respected market position

What they now need is a visible operational leader who can bring pace, accountability, structure and commercial thinking across the site.

This role would suit someone who is already operating at Operations Manager / Senior Production leadership level and is ready for a bigger platform.

You’ll take ownership of day-to-day plant performance across production, planning, quality, engineering support and people leadership, whilst developing the broader commercial and strategic exposure needed for future senior progression within the group.

You’ll work closely with programme, planning and commercial teams to ensure customer delivery commitments are achieved, whilst balancing operational efficiency, cost, quality and performance.

This is a role where you’ll genuinely develop:

• P&L exposure
• Commercial decision-making
• Leadership maturity
• Cross-functional influence
• Group-level visibility

• Leading the day-to-day manufacturing operation
• Driving OTIF, productivity, quality and operational performance
• Improving accountability and leadership capability across teams
• Aligning production plans with customer demand and programme schedules
• Supporting operational improvement, workflow optimisation and efficiency initiatives
• Developing a stronger performance culture across the plant
• Supporting future growth, programme readiness and operational scalability
• Acting as the senior operational presence on site

• Strong operational leadership experience within engineering or manufacturing
• A technically credible and people-focused leader
• Someone commercially aware who wants broader business exposure
• Experience working within complex manufacturing or engineered product environments
• Natural leadership presence with the ability to build trust and challenge standards
• Ambition, energy and potential to grow into larger operational leadership roles over time

This is an opportunity to join a stable, globally supported engineering manufacturer whilst still being part of a site where you can genuinely influence culture, performance and direction.

The business is looking for someone with the capability to grow, not simply maintain.

Confidential discussions welcome.

Carl Walker
Elevation Recruitment Group