Production Support Manager
Blunham
12 Months FTC
We are looking for a Production Operations Manager (12-month FTC) to support our existing Production Manager during a significant period of change and transformation across the site.
Reporting to the Site General Manager, this is a highly visible leadership role within our modern, purpose-built manufacturing facility. Working in close partnership with the current Production Manager, you will provide additional leadership capacity and operational focus as we embed new ways of working, strengthen performance standards and drive cultural change.
This is not a BAU cover role. It is a hands-on, high-impact position designed to accelerate improvement and provide stability and leadership through change.
You will help lead, develop and energise a dedicated, highly skilled and diverse manufacturing team — improving performance, challenging existing practices, empowering frontline leaders and embedding a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
Working closely with the Site General Manager and wider leadership team, you will play a key role in delivering site strategy, achieving KPIs and supporting sustainability objectives, while ensuring operational performance remains strong throughout this period of transition.
Role Responsibilities:
- Ensuring the effective running of the Production function on a day-to-day basis and the development of the team and department to deliver the site’s Production Plan in line with Divisional/Group initiatives to achieve service excellence.
- Responsible for driving HSER standards through the use of all Leadership in action tools
- Responsible for driving productivity through effective monitoring of process performance to ensure the production plan can be delivered
- Build strong working relationships with internal stakeholders, sharing internal and external information, and acting as the main liaison for other areas of the business to provide a united service to customers.
- Direct line management of senior production team members including performance management, absence management and reporting.
- Ensure adequate cover within the team at all times to support and relieve pressure whist delivering on internal and external requirements.
- Works closely with the Engineering manager to ensure asset reliability is delivered through adherence to planned maintenance
What we would like to see:
- Strong Production background, related degree desirable
- Must have experience of managing teams in a manufacturing environment
- Strong understanding of lean process and experience in lean manufacturing environments
- Strong / proven leadership skill and experience. Is able to lead and inspire teams
- Has specific knowledge and experience of Operational Management
What we can offer you:
- Competitive salary
- Qualifying Sick Pay scheme
- Pension scheme & Life insurance
- Income Protection
- 25 days holiday plus Bank Holidays
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Virtual GP, Occupational Health & free Flu vaccine
- Cycle to Work and shopping discounts
We are DS Smith, together with International Paper, we are a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions and other fibre-based products. We believe a better, more sustainable tomorrow is possible with the right people, who challenge and support one another to enact positive change. We employ more than 65,000 colleagues in North America and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), who are experts in innovation, manufacturing, design, sales, sustainability, supply chain, and much more. Together with our customers, we make the world safer and more productive, one sustainable packaging solution at a time. Become part of a world-leading organisation and do your best work with us!
Our people come from diverse backgrounds, bring different perspectives, ideas and experiences to generate unique solutions focused on present and future sustainability challenges. We welcome all candidates to apply, even those not meeting all criteria.”
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