Head of Manufacturing & Operations - FMCG Homewares

Ready to be empowered and have a voice on the business strategy and direction of travel of one of the most trusted & celebrated household brands in the UK?

We may be over 80 years old but we have a clear vision for the business and we want your energy, passion and ambition to be part of our future journey.

It gets better. For the right candidate, your quality and leadership will be rewarded with a fast-track path to Director of Manufacturing and Operations.

A working and / or academic Engineering background would be highly desirable. As would a background in volume produced engineering products.

Sounds like where you want to be in 2025 & beyond? Read on…

—-

A rare opportunity for an enthusiastic and ambitious Manufacturing and Operations Leader to make their mark at one of the nation's favourite household products brands. Candidates with an FMCG Manufacturing (ideally multi-material) background are invited to apply for a confidential discussion.

If you have experience in managing and improving manufacturing operations and are looking for a challenging and exciting new opportunity, filled with variety and career progression, we’d love to hear from you. We believe this role would.

Role Info:

Manufacturing & Operations Lead (Director Potential)
Close to Manchester Based (Onsite majority of the week) Plus Occasional Overseas Travel
Highly Competitive Salary Package
Plus Complete Benefits Package + Great Progression Opportunities

Products: FMCG Household Products Brand Steel, Plastic and Textile

Ideal Candidate: Experienced in Managing and Improving Manufacturing Processes affordably. Excellent Communication. Commercially Minded. Modern approach. Most Likely to be a qualified Engineer

About Us:

We are a profitable long-established family-owned branded producer of quality non-food consumer goods, supplying leading multiple retailers and also direct to consumer via our fast-growing eCommerce activity.

The leading brands in our portfolio are household names, with our products used in nearly every home in the UK. We now have an ambitious plan to significantly expand through the introduction of exciting new products and also by growing substantially our overseas markets.

Manufacturing with circa 250 employees and head-quartered near Manchester, our unique business designs and manufactures products in several North West factories yet also operates international bases in Europe, USA & China. It is unusual in that it manufactures products from textile, metal, foam and also injection moulded plastics. It is already extremely well invested utilising some of the most modern technologies available including significant robotics installations.

Automation is at the heart of all our production processes and there is ongoing support for further investment as can be identified to improve even further.

A recent investment in the full SAP suite and WMS systems has also been helpful in improving operational performance and efficiency.

The Manufacturing & Operations Lead role:

This role would suit someone with experience working as a Senior Manager in a significant manufacturing business. You will ideally have some experience of supplying to challenging customer bases such as supermarkets, automotive, aerospace.

As Manufacturing & Operations Lead your remit will include:
• Taking charge of the complete manufacturing, engineering, quality processes with responsibility for logistics and operations personnel and infrastructure
• Leading further improvements in technologies, people and processes
• Ensuring that the warehousing and logistics function fully supports the business and customers needs
• Participating actively in the board level discussions in respect of the strategic running and evolution of the business in all its aspects
• Quality including Quality Assurance
• Overseeing Purchasing Specification and integrity of the Supply Chain
• Functioning of the warehousing inbound and outbound and transport logistics
• Factory efficiencies and performance to time and standard
• New Product implementations
• Buildings and Estates Management and Strategy

About You:
• Minimum 5 years’ experience of managing manufacturing operations of significant scale business ideally with some experience of supply to challenging customer base such as supermarkets, automotive, aerospace
• Proven track record in consumer goods industry operations and manufacturing
• Manufacturing / Operations / Business degree or relevant equivalent qualification
• Have a strong intellect and possibly be a graduate or similar level academically, most likely within an engineering discipline
• Practical with a real world understanding of how factories, machinery people and warehousing work
• A proven track record of success in growing the profitability and operational performance of an organisation
• Have a strong understanding of how to motivate and obtain the best from the various levels and abilities within your team
• High integrity and openness combined with commitment to good governance
• High energy, highly motivated, with an enquiring mind and passion for excellence
• Enthusiastic and passionate about business and goals
• Committed to sensible automation to find or develop bespoke solutions
• Prepared to travel to support the role where necessary including occasionally to the Far East and other long-haul destinations
• Engineering Knowledge would always be helpful

What’s on Offer:
• Sick pay
• Employee discount
• Life insurance
• Company events
• Wellness programme
• On-site parking

Sounds like a good fit? If the above sounds like you then we would love to hear from you.

Your Experience / Background / Previous Roles May Include:
FMCG Manufacturing, Manufacturing Manager, Senior Manufacturing and Operations Manager, Manufacturing Ops, Homewares, Housewares, Engineering, Product Manufacturing. Homes & Garden Product Manufacturing, Engineering.

Application notice. We take your privacy seriously. When you apply, we shall process your details and pass your application to our client for review for this vacancy only. As you might expect you may be contacted by email, text or telephone. Your data is processed on the basis of our legitimate interests in fulfilling the recruitment process. Please refer to our Data Privacy Policy & Notice on our website for further details.

If you have any pre-application questions please contact us first quoting the job title & ref. Good luck, Team RR