Head of Production – Manufacturing & Engineering
Salary: £65,000 – £75,000 + benefits & bonus
Location: Thetford
Hours: 8:00am – 4:30pm, Monday to Friday
Are you an experienced senior production leader looking for the chance to make a real impact in a high-growth, people-focused business? This is a unique opportunity to step into a newly created Head of Production role, for our client, leading a large-scale manufacturing operation supplying into the UK construction sector and expanding rapidly.
The Opportunity
This is more than a day-to-day operations role – it’s a strategic leadership position at the heart of a company that has quadrupled their turnover in just a few years, with further expansion plans already underway.
This role will sit as part of the Senior Leadership Team, reporting directly into the MD. You’ll lead a team of around 120 production staff, supported by strong management and supervisory teams. The role is about scaling operations, driving efficiency, building capability, and embedding continuous improvement – all while nurturing a culture where people genuinely come first.
Key areas of responsibility include:
Production planning & scheduling to deliver £multi-million projects as well as high-volume product lines OTIF.
Operational leadership across multiple sites, with a shift system being introduced.
Quality and compliance, including supporting the implementation of ISO9001.
Cost and efficiency management to support sustainable growth.
Developing and mentoring supervisors/managers, building future leaders.
Driving continuous improvement through Lean practices and strategic planning.
Cross-functional collaboration with Design, Procurement, Commercial, and Projects.
What We’re Looking For
We’re seeking a proven senior production or operations leader with experience in engineering, industrial manufacturing or similar environments. You’ll be:
Strategic yet hands-on, able to plan for growth while delivering today’s results.
A people-focused leader who can engage a multicultural workforce, balancing empathy with authority.
Experienced in continuous improvement / Lean methodologies and ideally familiar with ISO standards.
Commercially aware with a strong grasp of cost, efficiency, and scalability challenges.
Passionate about developing teams, identifying skills gaps, and building future capability.
This would suit someone coming from a large corporate environment who now wants to make a tangible difference in a growing, family-run style organisation.
What’s On Offer
Salary: £65,000 – £75,000 (dependent on level and years of experience)
Annual business performance bonus (non-contractual)
33 days holiday (including bank holidays)
Private pension (after 1 year)
Private medical insurance (after 1 year)
Laptop and phone provided
Option of company car
Death in service x4
Genuine career progression as the business continues to scale
Next Steps
If you’re ready to step into a role where you can shape the future of production operations, drive continuous improvement, and make a real impact in a fast-growing business, Please APPLY NOW or contact Helen Pitcher at Select Recruitment for a confidential discussion