Production Manager - Permanent Role
Location: Essex
Salary: £45,000-£55,000 (DOE)
Hours: 37.5 per week
Holiday: 24 days + bank holidays
Are you an experienced production leader looking to take ownership of a busy manufacturing operation? Our client, a respected manufacturer within coating sector, is seeking a Production Manager to oversee all on‑site production activities at their facility. This is an excellent opportunity to step into a high‑impact role where you'll lead a team, drive production efficiency, improve processes, and ensure a safe, compliant and high‑quality manufacturing environment. If you're confident managing people, solving operational problems, and continuously improving production performance, this could be the ideal next step in your career.
Job responsibilities
- Taking full responsibility for day‑to‑day production operations, ensuring manufacturing runs smoothly, safely, and to the expected quality standards.
- Identifying issues on the plant and working with teams to remove bottlenecks, prevent downtime, and keep production on schedule.
- Reviewing production data and KPIs to highlight opportunities to raise output, improve processes, and enhance overall efficiency.
- Leading the production team by setting clear expectations, supporting development, and managing training.
- Ensuring all colleagues follow site procedures, HR policies, and workplace standards, promoting a fair and positive working environment.
- Working collaboratively with other functions such as Quality, Maintenance and Planning to meet wider operational targets.
- Taking an active role in quality and compliance by supporting internal audits and maintaining alignment with ISO and other regulatory requirements.
- Organising and delivering training to ensure staff have the skills needed to support production demands.
- Setting high standards for safety and housekeeping and ensuring all activities comply with company EHS expectations.
Required qualifications
- Experience in a production or manufacturing leadership role, ideally within inks, chemicals, coatings, or another process‑based industry.
- A confident people manager who can build trust, motivate teams, and foster a positive working culture.
- Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities, with a practical mindset for improving processes and resolving operational issues.
- Comfortable working with production metrics and using data to guide decision‑making and performance improvements.
- Familiarity with ISO standards, quality systems or similar frameworks.
- Clear communication skills and the ability to manage training, development, and performance within a team environment.
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