Production Operations Manager

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Permanent

Ulverston, Cumbria - United Kingdom

Subsea

Reference no. 12191

Join a dynamic and growing engineering company, our client, based near the southern end of Lake Windermere, Cumbria. The role of Production Operations Manager is pivotal, ensuring the efficient, reliable, and high-standard delivery of our products. This position sits at the heart of the business, connecting planning, production, and supply chain activities.

The successful candidate will take ownership of the production floor and support supply chain activities, ensuring smooth day-to-day operations while developing the structure, accountability, and processes needed for continued growth. Leading through others, the Production Operations Manager will work closely with Team Leaders across production and directly manage the handover to the Supply Chain Management, ensuring clarity of priorities, strong communication, and consistent delivery performance.

Key Responsibilities

Overall responsibility for the smooth and efficient running of production floor operations
Line management of Production Team Leaders, supporting them in driving performance across their teams
Support the Supply Chain team (Kitting, Logistics, and Quality) in delivering finished products to customers
Ensure alignment between production activities and business priorities, including customer delivery commitments
Establish clear structure, ownership, and accountability across teams without direct line management responsibilities
Monitor and improve operational performance, including throughput, quality, and on-time delivery
Identify bottlenecks, risks, and inefficiencies, and implement practical solutions
Work closely with Production Planning to ensure schedules are realistic and achievable
Drive continuous improvement across processes, workflows, and team coordination
Foster a positive, disciplined, and high-performing culture across the operations team

Qualifications

Proven experience in a production, manufacturing, or operations management role
Strong leadership capability, particularly managing through team leaders or indirect structures
Ability to bring structure and clarity to complex, evolving environments
Excellent organisational and problem-solving skills
Confident communicator, able to coordinate across multiple functions and priorities
Practical, hands-on approach with a focus on delivery and results
Competence using standard office software (e.g. Microsoft 365)

Skills

Experience in engineering or low-to-medium volume manufacturing environments
Familiarity with ERP/MRP systems (e.g. Odoo or similar)
Understanding of supply chain, logistics, and quality processes
Experience improving or scaling operational processes in a growing business
Strong leadership and team management skills
Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines
Commitment to continuous improvement and operational excellence

Benefits Include

Competitive salary based on experience
33 days annual holiday allowance (inc. Bank Holidays)
Workplace Pension scheme
Private Medical Insurance
Cycle to Work scheme
Excellent work location and environment

Our client highly values individuals who take ownership and drive meaningful improvement. This role offers the chance to shape the evolution of our production and operational processes as we scale, with a direct impact on business performance and customer satisfaction.

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