Production Manager
Location: Chatteris, Cambridgeshire
Package: Basic annual salary £45,000, plus company benefits
Hours 40.5 per week (8am-5pm Monday to Thursday & 8am–3pm on Fridays)
Sector: Manufactured Packaging Solutions
 
 
About Us
Suttons Performance Packaging (A E Sutton Ltd), now part of Macfarlane Group—the UK’s largest packaging distributor—has been a market leader in bespoke protective packaging for over 60 years. We are currently seeking to hire an experienced Production Manager to take full ownership of our production facilities and team on site at our Chatteris operation.
  
The Production Manager Opportunity
As our Production Manager, you will be responsible for managing the full production team at Suttons Chatteris site consisting of approximately thirty-five individuals. You will also oversee all planning and management of our production facilities to ensure that goods are produced efficiently, on time and to the customer’s specification. You shall be accountable for completing the plan, chairing the daily production meeting, and managing the team’s performance.
 
There are also exciting challenges and projects to tackle during the first 12-18 months of joining us. These will include:- 

• Culture Change – This role will be integral in supporting the smooth transition from a reputable family-owned business into becoming part of a group PLC organisation. To include improvements to reporting & controls.
• Planning – Development of improved planning processes to fully understand equipment utilisation, resource requirements and ensure that customer requirements are met.
• Shop Floor Data – Implementation of a process to manage shop floor data capture to improve understanding of timeframes & product margins.
• Training – Continue an ongoing process to formalise training processes for all staff
• Operational Strategy – Work with senior management to develop the operational strategy to support business growth over next five years

Production Manager -  Key Responsibilities

• Lead and motivate a team of manufacturing operatives working on short batch production of bespoke parts on short lead times. The Production Manager must be flexible and adaptable to respond to changes in customer demands.
• Managing the Production team (across Corrugate, Foam, Weld, Assembly); setting targets & objectives, managing performance and HR related issues, providing opportunities for development, and ensuring training is provided to team as required
• Supporting the development of the business operational strategy.
• Effective resource and capacity planning, ensuring work is prioritised and scheduled.
• Monitoring all production costs, reviewing operations, and making cost-savings.
• Maintaining and communicating KPIs to report on production performance.
• Closely liaising with the design department to ensure work instructions are concise and that any queries are dealt with in a timely manner so as not to affect customer deliveries.
• Ensuring goods are manufactured on time to the correct specification.
• Build a continuous improvement culture within the production area.
• Work in partnership with the sales and warehouse teams to ensure customer delivery dates/times are achieved.

What we need from you
We are welcoming applications from any proven Production Managers with experience of managing a similar sized team of production staff and scale of operation. Prior experience in relation to any of the projects mentioned would also be beneficial.
 
The key skills/experience we are ideally seeking are:- 

• Strong leadership and experience of change management.
• Proven man-management (including handling disciplinaries/absences)
• Accustomed to managing an operation that focusses on short batch production of bespoke parts on short lead times
• Highly health & safety focused with best practice approach & NEBOSH/IOSH accreditation preferable
• Formal management qualification (ILM, CMI etc.) preferrable
• Experience/knowledge of MRP systems
• Experience of having worked within an SME size Manufacturing business
• Strong and well-rounded commercial awareness
• Strong commercial awareness with budgeting experience is desirable
• Residing within a commutable distance of our manufacturing site in Chatteris, Cambridgeshire (ideally within 45 minutes) 

Please note that whilst prior experience of working within the packaging manufacturing sector is not essential, it will be highly advantageous.
 
What you get
We offer a competitive salary with bonus and benefits, including: 

• 25 days annual leave (rising to 27 days with service) plus public holidays
• Contributory pension scheme
• Extensive training, development, and progression opportunities

Macfarlane Group is committed to fostering an inclusive environment, welcoming applications from all backgrounds. If you require support or adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact our recruitment team.
 
How to Apply
This is an urgent appointment, and we aim to identify and review the best candidates swiftly.
 
To apply, click ‘apply’ and ensure your CV is up to date. We acknowledge all applications, with shortlisted candidates typically hearing from us within a week or two. If you do not hear from us within 2-3 weeks, please assume your application has been unsuccessful.
 
 
 
NO RECRUITMENT AGENCIES PLEASE