Manufacturing & Operations Manager

We are looking for ahands-on, ambitious Manufacturing & Operations Manager to take ownership of our growing manufacturing and warehouse operation in Middlewich, Cheshire.

This is a genuine opportunity tobuild and develop an operation rather than simply manage an established factory.

We are the UK manufacturing partner ofInnuScience, a biotechnology company developing innovative, high-performance cleaning solutions designed to provide effective alternatives to conventional chemical products.

Our Middlewich operation incorporates:

• Plastic blow moulding
• Liquid filling and capping
• Screen printing and product decoration
• Warehousing
• Stock management
• Distribution and logistics

The successful candidate will take ownership of the day-to-day operation, improve how we work, develop our people and processes, and help us build the manufacturing capability required to support the growth of the UK business.

This role will suit someone who wants more than a conventional management position.

You will have the opportunity tomake a real difference from day one, working directly with the management team to improve productivity, efficiency, quality, safety and cost control.

As the business grows, so will your responsibilities.

For the right individual, there is the potential to progress into asenior leadership role and, over time, potentially participate in the ownership of the business through anequity arrangement.

We are therefore looking for someone who wants tobuild a career with the business, rather than simply take a job.

You will take overall responsibility for the day-to-day manufacturing and warehouse operation, with a significant amount of your time spent on the factory floor.

You will need to understand how our equipment and processes work, identify problems, find practical solutions and continuously improve the way we manufacture and distribute our products.

• Take ownership of the day-to-day manufacturing and warehouse operation.
• Plan and manage production to meet customer demand and delivery requirements.
• Oversee blow moulding, liquid filling/capping and screen-printing operations.
• Develop, document and continuously improve manufacturing processes and SOPs.
• Improve productivity, quality, efficiency and manufacturing costs.
• Monitor production output, downtime, waste, rejects and key operational KPIs.
• Troubleshoot machinery and production issues.
• Coordinate preventative maintenance and external engineering support.
• Manage raw materials, packaging, finished goods and warehouse inventory.
• Develop effective stock-control and warehouse-management systems.
• Recruit, manage and develop production and warehouse personnel as the operation grows.
• Maintain high standards of health & safety, quality and operational compliance.
• Manage relationships with relevant suppliers and service providers.
• Support production costing and capacity planning.
• Identify future equipment and manufacturing capacity requirements.
• Work closely with management and InnuScience UK to develop and scale the UK manufacturing operation.

We are looking for someone who ispractical, reliable, technically capable, hardworking and ambitious.

You will ideally be someone who:

• Takes ownership and does not need constant direction.
• Is comfortable getting involved personally and leading from the front.
• Has a strong work ethic and takes pride in doing things properly.
• Enjoys solving problems and finding better ways of doing things.
• Can combine technical, operational and commercial thinking.
• Is comfortable working in a small, entrepreneurial business.
• Understands that in a growing business, everyone gets involved.
• Wants to develop personally and professionally as the company grows.
• Has the ambition to take on increasing responsibility over time.

You will ideally have:

• Proven experience in manufacturing, production or process engineering.
• Experience managing production and/or warehouse operations.
• A strong practical understanding of manufacturing machinery and processes.
• Experience with blow moulding, plastics processing, filling/capping, packaging or printing/decoration would be highly advantageous.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and the ability to troubleshoot production equipment.
• Experience implementing process improvements and improving manufacturing efficiency.
• Good knowledge of inventory, production planning and warehouse management.
• Strong organisational and problem-solving skills.
• Good people-management and communication skills.

An engineering qualification would be advantageous, butpractical manufacturing experience, technical ability and the right attitude are more important than formal qualifications.

This is an opportunity to join a growing manufacturing business at an exciting stage of its development.

You will have:

• Genuine ownership of the manufacturing and operations function.
• The opportunity to build and develop the operation from an early stage.
• Direct involvement in improving processes, equipment and systems.
• The opportunity to work with innovative biotechnology-based cleaning products.
• Significant scope for career progression as the business grows.
• Increasing responsibility and influence within the business.
• Potential future opportunity forequity participation/ownership for the right individual.
• A hands-on, entrepreneurial environment where your contribution will have a direct impact on the success of the business.

You are currently an experienced Production Manager, Manufacturing Manager, Operations Manager, Production Engineer or technically capable manufacturing professional who feels ready totake greater ownership and responsibility.

You want to be close to the operation, solve problems, build systems, develop people and see the direct results of your work.

Most importantly, you want the opportunity tohelp build something and share in its future success.

If that sounds like you, we’d like to hear from you.