Production Manager in Solihull, West Midlands (County)

Senior Production Manager

Location: Birmingham Airport (Onsite)

Pay Rate: £67.50 – £75.00 / hour

Assignment Duration: Contract through August 2027

Working Pattern: Monday to Thursday (10 hours per day)

Security Clearances Required: BPSS and SC clearance required prior to start

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Senior Production Manager to lead day-to-day aircraft assembly, major modifications, and supplier integration at our Birmingham Airport facility.

A core requirement for this role is extensive hands-on expertise in aircraft maintenance, repair, overhaul (MRO), and complex technical modifications. You will serve as the technical lead overseeing full end-to-end operational activities—from initial component installation through to final maintenance checks, troubleshooting, systems testing, and formal release to flight.

The ideal candidate will combine deep aircraft maintenance leadership with strong project management capabilities and a proven track record of managing multidisciplinary teams and external suppliers in high-spec aerospace environments.

Key Responsibilities

• MRO & Maintenance Oversight: Oversee final component installation, systems operation, functional testing, maintenance, troubleshooting, repair, pre-flight and post-flight checks, airworthiness certification, and release to flight.

• Production & Assembly Leadership: Lead the delivery of the fixed-wing assembly statement of work, ensuring robust performance across safety, quality, and project schedules.

• Supplier & Technical Integration: Integrate external suppliers into daily operations, providing technical direction, conducting process audits, and ensuring the delivery of fully conforming parts, data, and sub-assemblies.

• Resource & Schedule Allocation: Secure and deploy personnel, specialized tooling, and materials in alignment with overall production priorities.

• Daily Operations & Engineering Coordination: Partner with supplier leadership and Industrial Engineering to review, approve, and execute daily work plans and major modification sequences.

• Governance & Standards Compliance: Maintain strict compliance with established Ground Operating Procedures, safety standards, airworthiness regulations, and procedural requirements.

• Stakeholder Management: Serve as a primary technical interface, providing progress reports, risk assessments, and mitigation strategies to senior leaders, programme teams, and executive stakeholders.

• Continuous Improvement: Drive operational efficiency using Lean and Six Sigma methodologies to minimize waste, optimize productivity, and maintain high delivery quality.

Key Skills & Requirements

• Hands-on Aircraft Maintenance & Repair Expertise: Extensive background in aircraft maintenance, overhaul, systems troubleshooting, and airworthiness release.

• MRO Technical Certification / Management: 5+ years of experience in an MRO technical certifying or management role on fixed-wing aircraft, specifically involving major structural or systems modifications.

• Strong Leadership: Proven capability to lead multidisciplinary technical teams, coach shop-floor personnel, and maintain cross-functional accountability.

• Project & Operations Management: Demonstrated track record in planning, resource management, schedule execution, and supplier integration on major aerospace programmes.

• Regulatory Knowledge: Deep understanding of airworthiness certification, production planning, shop-floor control, and technical auditing.

• Clearance Eligibility: Must hold, or be capable of obtaining and maintaining, BPSS and SC security clearances prior to commencing work.

Desirable Qualifications

• Higher degree in Aerospace Engineering or equivalent technical/maintenance engineering qualification.

• Knowledge of EASA Part-66 or equivalent military/civil maintenance engineering frameworks.

• Recognized Programme/Project Management Certification (e.g., PRINCE2, PMP).

• Prior technical leadership experience working with large transport, commercial derivative, or complex airborne platform modifications.