Plant Operations Manager – Automotive Manufacturing (Greenfield Site)
Location: Basildon, Essex (On‑site)
Salary: Competitive + benefits
Overview
We are supporting an established European manufacturing business as they launch a new UK production facility in Basildon. This is a greenfield site, replicating a successful operation in Italy, focused on plastic injection moulding and associated finishing processes (including painting) for the automotive sector.
This is a key hire who will play a pivotal role in setting up, stabilising, and scaling the plant from the ground up.
The Role
As Plant Operations Manager, you will take ownership of the day‑to‑day operational set‑up and running of the facility, ensuring readiness for production and supporting long‑term growth.
You will work closely with international stakeholders (Italy HQ) and be instrumental in building the UK team and operational capability.
Key Responsibilities
Site Setup & Readiness
- Support final stages of site preparation and operational readiness
- Coordinate installation of production machinery (target June‑July)
- Ensure the plant is fully operational for production go‑live (target September)
Operations Management
- Oversee day‑to‑day plant operations, ensuring efficiency, quality, and safety
- Implement processes aligned with the existing Italian operation
- Drive continuous improvement across production, workflow, and output
Team Build & Leadership
- Lead initial hiring of ~10 staff, scaling to ~30+ over time
- Build and develop a high‑performing production team
- Establish a strong on‑site culture and operational discipline
Stakeholder Coordination
- Act as the key UK contact for the Italian HQ
- Ensure alignment on processes, standards, and timelines
- Support knowledge transfer between sites
Candidate Profile
Essential
- Proven experience in a Plant Manager / Operations Manager / Production Manager role
- Strong background in automotive manufacturing environments
- Experience in setting up or scaling manufacturing operations (greenfield or expansion highly desirable)
- Hands‑on, operational mindset – comfortable being on the shop floor
- Experience with team building and hiring
Desirable
- Experience with plastic injection moulding
- Exposure to painting or finishing processes
- Experience working with international teams or parent companies
Why Join?
- Opportunity to build a manufacturing site from scratch
- High level of autonomy and ownership
- Long‑term growth as the site scales over the coming years
- Work with an established international business entering the UK market
Timeline Context (for candidates)
- Site currently under construction
- Machinery installation: Summer 2026 (June‑July)
- Production go‑live: ~September 2026
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