Manufacturing Manager

Manufacturing Manager

Location: Sirane, South Wales
Salary: Competitive (dependent on experience)
Contract: Full-time, Permanent

The Role

The Manufacturing Manager will be responsible for leading and optimising all manufacturing operations at the Sirane site, ensuring the safe, efficient, and cost-effective production of high-quality products.

Reporting to the Divisional General Manager, the role will deliver high-performing manufacturing operations by driving safety, quality, productivity, and continuous improvement through strong leadership and accountability.

Acting as a key operational leader, the successful candidate will champion Lean principles, develop high-performing teams, and contribute to the continued growth and success of the business.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

• Lead manufacturing operations to consistently achieve safety, quality, service, productivity, and cost targets.
• Deliver operational excellence through effective planning, resource management, and process control.
• Optimise manufacturing performance through improved OEE, labour utilisation, throughput, and capacity management.
• Ensure production schedules are achieved whilst maintaining product quality and customer service standards.

Continuous Improvement

• Lead and embed Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies across the site.
• Deliver measurable reductions in waste, downtime, rework, and operational inefficiencies.
• Drive a culture of problem-solving and root cause analysis to improve performance and reliability.
• Identify and implement process, equipment, and capability improvements to enhance operational effectiveness.

People Leadership

• Build, develop, and lead high-performing Production Managers, Shift Managers, Section Leads, and manufacturing teams through coaching, clear objectives, and accountability.
• Promote a positive culture of engagement, teamwork, and ownership across all production areas.
• Develop succession plans and training programmes to strengthen capability and operational resilience.
• Lead employee relations activities fairly and consistently, fostering constructive workplace relationships.

Safety, Quality & Compliance

• Champion a zero-harm culture and ensure compliance with all health, safety, environmental, and quality standards.
• Ensure all manufacturing activities comply with customer, regulatory, and company requirements.
• Lead investigations, corrective actions, and risk reduction activities where required.
• Support and lead site audits, certifications, and compliance programmes.

Financial & Commercial Performance

• Manage manufacturing costs to support budget achievement and profitability objectives.
• Deliver labour efficiency, waste reduction, and productivity improvements aligned with business targets.
• Support capital expenditure proposals and the implementation of operational improvements.
• Contribute to annual budgeting, forecasting, and operational planning processes.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Planning, Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality, HR, and Commercial teams to achieve business objectives.
• Ensure customer requirements are translated into effective manufacturing execution.
• Support new product introductions, business growth projects, and operational development initiatives.
• Provide clear and accurate operational reporting to senior leadership.

Success Measures

• Achievement of health and safety objectives, including sustained zero-harm performance and reduced incidents.
• Improved OEE, productivity, throughput, and overall manufacturing efficiency.
• Consistent achievement of quality standards, including reductions in waste, scrap, and customer complaints.
• Delivery of OTIF (On Time In Full) performance targets.
• Achievement of labour efficiency and manufacturing cost objectives.
• Improved employee engagement, capability, retention, and team performance.
• Successful delivery of continuous improvement projects with measurable operational and financial benefits.

Person Specification

Essential Experience

• Significant manufacturing leadership experience within FMCG, packaging, food, industrial, or process manufacturing environments.
• Proven track record of delivering operational improvements across safety, quality, cost, delivery, and productivity.
• Experience managing large manufacturing teams within a fast-paced operational environment.
• Experience leading performance management, employee engagement, and team development initiatives.
• Experience using manufacturing KPIs and operational reporting to drive continuous improvement.
• Strong understanding of ERP systems, production management systems, and operational data analysis.

Essential Skills & Knowledge

• Strong leadership, coaching, and people management capabilities.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and relationship-building skills.
• Commercial awareness with the ability to make data-driven operational decisions.
• Strong knowledge of Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Understanding of production planning, resource optimisation, and workforce planning.
• Comprehensive knowledge of health, safety, environmental, and quality compliance within manufacturing.
• Competent user of ERP systems and Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities within a demanding manufacturing environment.

Desirable Experience

• Experience within packaging, flexible packaging, food manufacturing, or related industries.
• Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Continuous Improvement, or equivalent qualifications.
• HNC, HND, or Degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, or a related discipline.
• Experience supporting capital investment projects and operational transformation programmes.

Company Values

The successful candidate will demonstrate behaviours aligned to Coppice Group's values:

• Integrity
• Accountability
• Continuous Improvement
• Collaboration
• Customer Focus
• Sustainability

Additional Information

• Primarily based at the Sirane manufacturing site.
• Regular presence within manufacturing and production environments is required.
• Flexibility in working hours may be required to support operational demands and business priorities.
• Occasional travel to other Group locations may be required.
• Appropriate PPE must be worn in designated operational areas.

No agencies please.