Production Operations Manager Location: St Helens, Merseyside Salary: £55,000 £60,000 per annum Recruiter: White Raven Resourcing Ltd (representing our client, Cheshire Mouldings) About the Role White Raven Resourcing Ltd is proud to be recruiting on behalf of our valued client, Cheshire Mouldings, a market-leading UK manufacturer of premium timber moulded products. With a strong reputation for craftsmanship, innovation, and consistent quality, Cheshire Mouldings is seeking an experienced Production Operations Manager to lead and optimise their manufacturing and warehousing operations at their St Helens site. This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for driving operational excellence, fostering a high-performance culture, and delivering results across safety, quality, cost, and efficiency. Key Responsibilities Operational Leadership Lead and inspire production and warehouse teams to meet and exceed operational KPIs. Oversee manufacturing processes from raw material intake to finished goods dispatch. Set and uphold quality standards, ensuring full compliance with industry regulations and company procedures. Manage stock levels for raw materials and finished products to meet production requirements while controlling costs. Allocate resources effectively, including workforce, machinery, and materials, to maximise output and efficiency. Health, Safety & Quality Champion a positive health, safety, and welfare culture throughout the operation. Ensure strict compliance with health, safety, environmental, and quality standards. Conduct inspections, audits, and risk assessments, implementing corrective and preventive actions as required. Maintain accountability for safety, quality, cost, delivery, and cultural KPIs. Continuous Improvement Drive lean manufacturing initiatives such as Kaizen, 5S, and waste-reduction strategies. Monitor Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) and use operational data to identify areas for improvement. Implement process changes to reduce downtime, improve throughput, and increase efficiency. Team Development Foster a high-performance, change-oriented culture across the production and warehouse teams. Coach, mentor, and develop team members to build capability and prepare for future leadership needs. Lead recruitment, onboarding, and performance management processes. Cross-Functional Collaboration Work closely with planning, engineering, procurement, and commercial teams to align production schedules with customer requirements. Maintain strong working relationships with suppliers and other stakeholders to ensure operational continuity. Requirements Skills & Experience Proven experience in a senior production or operations management role within manufacturing and warehousing. Strong, hands-on leadership style with excellent mentoring abilities. Solid background in lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methods. In-depth understanding of health & safety legislation and quality management systems. Analytical thinker with a data-driven approach to problem-solving. Strong communication and interpersonal skills, able to engage and influence at all levels. Benefits Whats on Offer Salary: £55,000 £60,000 per annum. The chance to join a respected, growing manufacturer in a key leadership role. Opportunity to make a significant impact on operational performance and team culture. If you are a results-driven leader with a passion for operational excellence, team development, and continuous improvement, we would like to hear from you.