Plant Manager - Production & Packing
Derbyshire | Competitive Salary + Bonus
We are recruiting for an experienced Plant Manager / Production Manager / Operations Manager to take ownership of a critical production and packing operation within a large, established manufacturing environment.
This is a senior operational position where you will lead a team of supervisors and operational personnel, ensuring safe, efficient and reliable production while driving continuous improvement, operational performance and cost control.
The role would suit an experienced leader from a heavy manufacturing, process manufacturing, minerals, aggregates, quarrying or other continuous/high-volume production environment.
The Role
Reporting into the Production Manager, you will take responsibility for the day-to-day operation of production, storage, packing and dispatch activities.
You will work closely with Maintenance, Quality, Supply Chain, Logistics and Commercial teams to ensure production targets and customer requirements are consistently achieved.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the safe and efficient operation of production, packing, storage and dispatch activities.
- Manage and develop a team of supervisors and operational personnel.
- Establish a strong safety-first culture across the operation.
- Drive plant reliability, efficiency, productivity and continuous improvement.
- Work closely with Engineering and Maintenance teams to plan maintenance activities and shutdowns.
- Monitor operational KPIs and deliver agreed performance targets.
- Manage departmental budgets, expenditure and cost control.
- Ensure raw materials, packaging and other resources are available to support production.
- Coordinate with Quality, Logistics, Supply Chain and Commercial teams.
- Support site improvement projects and the introduction of new products/processes.
- Manage contractors and support project delivery.
- Develop people through coaching, training and succession planning.
- Build effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Lead operational change and continuous improvement initiatives.
About You
We are looking for an experienced operational leader with a strong background in a large-scale manufacturing or process environment.
You should ideally have:
- Significant experience within a heavy/process manufacturing environment.
- Previous experience managing production or plant operations.
- Strong people leadership experience, including supervisors and operational teams.
- Experience working closely with Engineering/Maintenance functions.
- Experience managing contractors, projects and shutdown activities.
- A strong understanding of health & safety within an industrial environment.
- Proven experience delivering operational KPIs and performance improvements.
- Experience with budgets, cost control and commercial decision making.
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Good analytical and problem-solving ability.
- IT proficiency, including Microsoft Office and preferably SAP or a similar ERP system.
Experience within cement, minerals, aggregates, quarrying, lime, chemicals or another continuous/heavy manufacturing environment would be particularly relevant.
What You'll Bring
We're looking for someone who is:
- A confident and visible operational leader.
- Safety-focused and committed to high standards.
- Comfortable leading through change.
- Commercially aware and results driven.
- Passionate about continuous improvement.
- Able to engage effectively with both shop-floor teams and senior stakeholders.
- Organised and capable of managing competing operational priorities.
- Committed to developing people and building a high-performing team.
What's on Offer?
- Competitive salary.
- Bonus opportunity.
- Enhanced holiday entitlement.
- Contributory pension scheme.
- Employee benefits and discount platform.
- Employee assistance support.
- Training and development opportunities.
- Long-term career development within a major manufacturing operation.
If you're an experienced Plant Manager, Production Manager or Operations Manager looking for a senior opportunity where you can genuinely influence safety, performance, people and operational improvement, we'd be keen to hear from you.