Production Manager


Company:	Hays Specialist Recruitment
Salary:	£45,000 to £50,000 a year
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Birmingham, B18 7QX
Job type:	Permanent
Posting date:	20 Oct 2026
Closing date:	19 Nov 2026

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Summary

Production Manager

Birmingham

£45,000 - £50,000 + 10% Bonus

We're recruiting on behalf of a well-established manufacturing business with a long-standing reputation for quality, innovation and sustainability. Supplying specialist products into a diverse range of sectors, the business is looking to appoint a Production Manager to lead its manufacturing operation and play a key role in driving performance improvement across the site.This is an excellent opportunity for a hands-on leader who enjoys developing people, improving processes and creating structure within a growing manufacturing environment. The successful candidate will have genuine autonomy to influence operational performance, quality standards and future continuous improvement initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

Lead, motivate and develop a production team.

Take ownership of daily production activities, ensuring customer requirements are delivered safely, efficiently and on time.

Drive improvements in OEE, productivity, quality and overall operational performance.

Implement and maintain effective production planning and scheduling processes.

Develop and monitor KPIs, ensuring clear accountability across the production function.

Lead daily production meetings and maintain a visible presence on the shop floor.

Identify and implement Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives.

Reduce waste, downtime, rework and non-conformance within the operation.

Support and strengthen existing quality management processes and systems.

Work closely with senior leadership on operational improvement projects and future investment opportunities.

Ensure compliance with health & safety procedures and maintain high housekeeping standards.

Develop workforce capability through coaching, training and succession planning.

About You

Proven experience in a Production Manager, Manufacturing Manager or similar leadership role within manufacturing.

Strong people management experience with the ability to gain buy-in from established production teams.

Experience driving operational improvements through KPIs and performance management.

Strong understanding of production planning, scheduling and resource management.

Experience working with ERP, MRP or manufacturing execution systems.

Track record of improving productivity, quality and manufacturing efficiency.

Confident decision-maker who can balance strategic thinking with day-to-day operational leadership.

Strong communication skills and the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.

Hands-on leadership style with a visible presence within production.

Desirable

Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement or 5S experience.

Experience improving OEE and implementing performance improvement programmes.

Exposure to quality management systems and ISO accreditation processes.

The Opportunity

Join a well-established manufacturing business with a strong market reputation.

Take ownership of a key production function with genuine scope to make an impact.

Lead improvement initiatives across quality, planning, efficiency and productivity.

Work closely with senior leadership and influence future operational strategy.

Play a key role in developing people, processes and manufacturing capability.

Enjoy a varied role combining operational leadership with continuous improvement activity.

This is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious manufacturing leader looking to join a stable and growing business where they can make a visible difference and help shape the future performance of the operation.Applications are being reviewed immediately, with interviews taking place on an ongoing basis.For a confidential discussion or to apply, please submit an up-to-date CV.

Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at hays.co.uk

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