About the Company
We are recruiting for a Production Team Leader (PTL) with the ambition, capability, and hunger to grow into the Business Unit Leader (BUL) role within 1–2 years. This is an excellent opportunity for a driven individual who wants to progress into senior management in a fast-paced, engineering-led manufacturing environment.
About the Role
The PTL will ensure that the team achieves daily customer requirements in Quality, Delivery, and Cost, while driving continuous improvement and maintaining a safe and efficient operation. This person will focus on sustaining and improving Lean manufacturing practices — particularly flow and pull systems — by coaching and supporting Cell Leaders and team members. The PTL will be a hands-on leader, fostering positive behaviors, addressing poor performance constructively, and developing a culture of problem-solving, creativity, and continuous improvement.
Responsibilities
* Leadership & People Development
* Coach and mentor Cell Leaders and team members to achieve consistent high performance.
* Foster a positive, accountable, and improvement-driven team culture.
* Address poor performance, absenteeism, and morale issues constructively and promptly.
* Lead daily QDC (Quality, Delivery, Cost) team huddles and maintain performance boards.
* Coordinate cross-training and ensure an up-to-date Training Matrix.
* Be a visible leader on the shop floor, motivating and guiding the team during Gemba walks.
* * Operational Excellence
* Uphold Lean principles, including standard work, one-piece flow, and visual management.
* Ensure real-time documentation (scrap sheets, FTT, production targets) is accurate and up to date.
* Drive continuous improvement (CI), Kaizen, and 5S initiatives.
* Maintain manufacturing systems and ensure all documentation and labelling align with current standards.
* Support the BUL in administering company policies and achieving performance targets.
* * Engineering & Process Improvement
* Strengthen our mechanical engineering and problem-solving capabilities, especially in:
* Sheet metal cutting and forming
* Tooling design and optimisation
* Turning and assembly processes
* * Lead Gemba walks to identify and act on opportunities for safety, quality, delivery, and productivity improvements.
* Support flow cell setup, kanban systems, TPM, SMED, and visual management across the unit.
* * Administration & Systems
* Ensure accurate and timely Sage/MRP transactions (back-flushing, scrap, rework).
* Manage shift handovers, start-ups, and staff allocations effectively.
* Collaborate with the BUL to maintain correct TAKT times, staffing levels, and standard work splits.
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Qualifications
* Strong mechanical engineering background with hands-on capability.
* Proven experience in manufacturing, fabrication, and production assembly.
* Sound knowledge of Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methods.
* Proficiency in MRP/ERP systems (Sage experience an advantage).
* Good working knowledge of Microsoft Excel and Word.
* Excellent leadership and communication skills — both verbal and written.
* Strong analytical, organisational, and problem-solving abilities.
* Demonstrated ability to motivate, support, and develop teams.
Required Skills
* Strong mechanical engineering background with hands-on capability.
* Proven experience in manufacturing, fabrication, and production assembly.
* Sound knowledge of Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methods.
* Proficiency in MRP/ERP systems (Sage experience an advantage).
* Good working knowledge of Microsoft Excel and Word.
* Excellent leadership and communication skills — both verbal and written.
* Strong analytical, organisational, and problem-solving abilities.
* Demonstrated ability to motivate, support, and develop teams.
Preferred Skills
* Experience in a fast-paced, engineering-led manufacturing environment.
* Knowledge of advanced Lean manufacturing techniques.
Pay range and compensation package
Starting Salary: Up to £50,000, with clear growth potential within the first and second years, tied to leadership development and business impact.
Equal Opportunity Statement
We expect all team members — and especially our leaders — to live our values daily:
* Customer First – Always prioritise the customer, both external and internal.
* Dependable – Do what you say you will; follow through with excellence.
* Courageous – Be brave, take initiative, and act decisively when needed.
* Positive – Bring energy and a can-do attitude to every challenge.
* Problem Solver – Strive to deliver better engineered solutions for our customers.
Summary
This is a strategic development role designed for a high-potential leader ready to step into senior management within a short timeframe. If you have strong mechanical engineering knowledge, a passion for Lean manufacturing, and the leadership energy to inspire teams and drive improvement — we want to hear from you.