Production/ Operations Manager
You're a confident production leader looking for a senior, hands-on role where you can take charge of day-to-day output, strengthen delivery performance, and develop a skilled CNC team within a growing precision engineering business. You'll be at your best in a regulated aerospace/defence environment-where quality, traceability and right-first-time standards are essential-and you'll bring the commercial focus needed to control productivity and overtime.
Role overview:
This role leads all production operations across a varied manufacturing mix, including volume own-product manufacture, high-specification subcontract work and new product introduction (NPI) handover into production. Working closely with Manufacturing Engineering and Quality, you'll ensure operational stability, maintain compliance standards and support scalable growth.
Key responsibilities:
Lead daily production activities, ensuring stable output and consistent delivery performance
Achieve On-Time-In-Full (OTIF) results across all workstreams
Manage capacity planning with the Planner, balancing resource, machine time and demand
Control overtime effectively, aligning decisions with delivery needs and margin protection
Deliver structured NPI handover from Technical into operations
Identify constraints and implement corrective actions to remove bottlenecks
Maintain aerospace/defence compliance (AS9100 or equivalent), including traceability, configuration control and FAIR discipline
Support internal and external audits and champion a zero-compromise quality culture
Develop, coach and retain the shopfloor team through clear standards, 1:1s and performance reviews
Drive improvements in labour efficiency, utilisation, scrap/rework and KPI performance using operational data
Experience & requirements:
5+ years' experience leading production teams in precision engineering
Background in aerospace and/or defence manufacturing environments
Strong knowledge of regulated quality systems (AS9100 or equivalent)
Technical credibility in CNC milling/turning and high-spec component manufacture
Confident with ERP/MRP systems and Excel-based reporting
Proven track record improving productivity and controlling overtime spend
Personal attributes:
Calm, balanced decision-maker; fair but firm leadership style
Structured, organised and commercially aware
Strong cross-functional communicator; able to scale operations as the business grows
This is a permanent job. You must have current UK right to work to be considered. HRGO are a recruitment agency supporting UK Manufacturing. We aim to respond to all applications.
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