An exciting opportunity has arisen (Maidstone, Kent) to shape the future of our Clients UK operations — and potentially step into the Head of Operations role
Our Client is seeking a Polymer / Plastics Technical Manager to join their leadership team and take charge of all plastics-related activities across our UK production sites. This is a hands-on, high-impact role at the heart of our operations — from driving new product launches and process improvements to strengthening supplier partnerships and championing operational excellence.
This position also offers a unique career progression opportunity: you’ll work closely with our Head of Operations, and with their upcoming retirement, there’s a clear and defined succession path for the right person to step into that leadership role in the near future.
Here is what you will be doing:
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Drive and Elevate Production: Take full ownership of our plastics manufacturing processes — from moulding and secondary operations like assembly to facility enhancements — and lead them to new levels of performance.
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Lead New Product Introductions: Collaborate closely with design, engineering, and operations teams to ensure new products are optimised for efficient, scalable production.
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Champion Process Excellence: Implement and embed modern manufacturing methodologies such as Kaizen, Poka-Yoke, FMEA, DFMEA, and other continuous improvement initiatives to push performance and quality forward.
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Collaborate Across the Value Chain: Work hand-in-hand with suppliers to source, validate, and integrate new capabilities — and engage directly with customers to deliver technical solutions and ongoing improvements.
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Lead, Develop, and Inspire: Share your expertise, mentor our teams, and play a key role in shaping the strategic direction and future success of our operations.
What We’re Looking For
We’re excited to hear from people who bring a mix of technical know-how, leadership skills, and a passion for improvement. Ideally, you’ll have:
* A degree in Polymer Engineering, Plastics Technology, Mechanical Engineering or a similar field.
* At least 5 years’ experience in plastics product manufacturing — ideally with injection moulding, extrusion, or other high-volume processes.
* Hands-on experience with new product introduction and process development.
* A track record of driving improvement using tools like Kaizen, Poka-Yoke, FMEA/DFMEA, Lean, or Six Sigma.
* Experience working with suppliers and customers on technical projects.
* Strong communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills — someone who enjoys bringing people together to deliver results