Head of Manufacturing

Head of Manufacturing Manufacturing & Production Leadership

Location: Bridgend, South Wales
Contract: Full-time, Permanent
Salary: £70K & Benefits

About the Opportunity

An established and growing UK manufacturer is seeking an experienced Head of Manufacturing to join its Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and take full ownership of the production and manufacturing functions across the business.

This is a key strategic and operational role responsible for ensuring manufacturing excellence, driving automation and efficiency, and delivering against ambitious business KPIs including a 98% OTIF target. You ll play a central part in shaping the company s operational strategy, building a high-performing production culture, and enabling long-term sustainable growth.

If you re a proven leader with a strong manufacturing background and a passion for operational improvement, this is an opportunity to make a real and lasting impact.

The Role

As Head of Manufacturing, you ll lead all aspects of the manufacturing and production functions, including repack operations, ensuring consistent delivery of high-quality products and outstanding operational performance.

You will:

• Develop and execute the operations strategy to support delivery of company KPIs, efficiency targets, and cost goals.
• Drive productivity, automation, and quality improvement initiatives, embedding continuous improvement across all teams.
• Oversee daily production and repack operations, ensuring optimal performance, safety, and quality.
• Implement effective processes, systems, and tools to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and mitigate risk.
• Manage resources and budgets, ensuring maximum output while maintaining cost control.
• Establish, monitor, and report on operations KPIs, using real-time metrics and data analysis to guide strategy and decision-making.
• Lead change management initiatives, driving innovation and embedding new systems and infrastructure.
• Build and lead a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement, encouraging innovation and learning at all levels.
• Ensure full HSE compliance and maintain a safe, well-organised working environment.
• Coach, mentor, and develop team members in line with the company s People Strategy, focusing on growth and capability building.
• Collaborate closely with Supply Chain, Commercial, Sales, HR, and Support functions to align operational delivery with business goals.

About You

You ll be a dynamic and results-oriented manufacturing leader who can balance hands-on operational management with strategic vision. You thrive in fast-paced environments and have a proven track record of improving performance, implementing automation, and developing strong, engaged teams.

Essential experience:

• At least 5 years senior leadership experience in a manufacturing or production operations environment.
• Proven success in developing and executing operational strategy with full budgetary accountability.
• Track record of automation and process improvements leading to higher quality, reduced lead times, and increased efficiency.
• Background in engineering, production machinery, or industrial operations.
• Experience of change management and implementing continuous improvement programmes.
• Strong analytical, data-driven approach to operational decision-making.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and team development skills.
• Customer-focused mindset with the ability to embed a customer-centric operations culture.

Desirable qualifications:

• Lean / Six Sigma (Green Belt) certification.
• IOSH or equivalent HSE qualification.
• Degree in Engineering or a related field.