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Job Description: Production Team Leader (PTL)

Opportunity Overview

We are recruiting for a Production Team Leader (PTL) with the ambition, capability, and hunger to grow into the Business Unit Leader (BUL) role within 1–2 years. This is an excellent opportunity for a driven individual who wants to progress into senior management in a fast-paced, engineering-led manufacturing environment.

About the Role

The PTL will ensure that the team achieves daily customer requirements in Quality, Delivery, and Cost, while driving continuous improvement and maintaining a safe and efficient operation.

This person will focus on sustaining and improving Lean manufacturing practices — particularly flow and pull systems — by coaching and supporting Cell Leaders and team members. The PTL will be a hands-on leader, fostering positive behaviours, addressing poor performance constructively, and developing a culture of problem-solving, creativity, and continuous improvement.

Key Growth Expectation

Career Progression Goal: Evolve into the Business Unit Leader (BUL) position within 1–2 years.

Starting Salary: Up to £50,000, with clear growth potential within the first and second years, tied to leadership development and business impact.

Core Responsibilities

Leadership & People Development

• Coach and mentor Cell Leaders and team members to achieve consistent high performance.

• Foster a positive, accountable, and improvement-driven team culture.

• Address poor performance, absenteeism, and morale issues constructively and promptly.

• Lead daily QDC (Quality, Delivery, Cost) team huddles and maintain performance boards.

• Coordinate cross-training and ensure an up-to-date Training Matrix.

• Be a visible leader on the shop floor, motivating and guiding the team during Gemba walks.

Operational Excellence

• Uphold Lean principles, including standard work, one-piece flow, and visual management.

• Ensure real-time documentation (scrap sheets, FTT, production targets) is accurate and up to date.

• Drive continuous improvement (CI), Kaizen, and 5S initiatives.

• Maintain manufacturing systems and ensure all documentation and labelling align with current standards.

• Support the BUL in administering company policies and achieving performance targets.

Engineering & Process Improvement

• Strengthen our mechanical engineering and problem-solving capabilities, especially in:

  - Sheet metal cutting and forming

  - Tooling design and optimisation

  - Turning and assembly processes

• Lead Gemba walks to identify and act on opportunities for safety, quality, delivery, and productivity improvements.

• Support flow cell setup, kanban systems, TPM, SMED, and visual management across the unit.

Administration & Systems

• Ensure accurate and timely Sage/MRP transactions (back-flushing, scrap, rework).

• Manage shift handovers, start-ups, and staff allocations effectively.

• Collaborate with the BUL to maintain correct TAKT times, staffing levels, and standard work splits.

Minimum Requirements / Qualifications

• Strong mechanical engineering background with hands-on capability.

• Proven experience in manufacturing, fabrication, and production assembly.

• Sound knowledge of Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methods.

• Proficiency in MRP/ERP systems (Sage experience an advantage).

• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Excel and Word.

• Excellent leadership and communication skills — both verbal and written.

• Strong analytical, organisational, and problem-solving abilities.

• Demonstrated ability to motivate, support, and develop teams.

Company Values

We expect all team members — and especially our leaders — to live our values daily:

• Customer First – Always prioritise the customer, both external and internal.

• Dependable – Do what you say you will; follow through with excellence.

• Courageous – Be brave, take initiative, and act decisively when needed.

• Positive – Bring energy and a can-do attitude to every challenge.

• Problem Solver – Strive to deliver better engineered solutions for our customers.

Summary

This is a strategic development role designed for a high-potential leader ready to step into senior management within a short timeframe. If you have strong mechanical engineering knowledge, a passion for Lean manufacturing, and the leadership energy to inspire teams and drive improvement — we want to hear from you