Head of Manufacturing

Reporting to the Operations Director the Head of Manufacturing is responsible for the entire production process for fibre. He/She plans, organises, and recommends strategies for ensuring that the product is produced successfully, in accordance with all quality specifications. The person has line management responsibility for all production and related employees and is ultimately responsible for safety, quality, and plant output.

The scope of the role includes assessing project and resource requirements, negotiating, and agreeing targets and timescales with senior management and for driving continuous improvement. The person is expected to spend a considerable portion of his/her time operating in the 5-year time horizon.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• In line with training and applicable procedures, conduct all duties in a way that promotes companies' values, & best practice standards relating to health, safety, environmental & quality performance
• Management of day-to-day activities within production ensuring customer requirements are met in a timely, compliant, safe, and cost-effective manner - fully accountable for safety, quality and output
• Responsible for investigating all production related customer complaints, for implementing root cause analysis and correction action programs to prevent recurrence
• Responsible for completing all production related report cards within the MD&A and for providing a 12-month rolling forecast together with underlying assumptions supporting the numbers
• Management of a team of Production Supervisors responsible for manufacturing product to targeted production plans in a safe and quality driven manner. Liaising with department managers on issues that directly affect production activities
• Ensuring all operational performance measures are reached including safety, first pass yield, uptime, productivity, efficiency, waste, and quality. Intervening when needed to bring performance back within expectations
• To support site business strategies, inclusive of succession planning and shift resource levels while ensuring personnel are organized appropriately so that optimum operational performance is achieved.
• To support & drive the wider organisational priorities of Operational Excellence in manufacturing - continually driving process improvements across production to achieve the performance targets.
• Work with Head of HR to develop flexibility in the organisation and to develop high potential talent within the production function for future higher-level responsibilities
• Drive a consistent team-based approach across production always ensuring open two-way communication. Drive team meetings, team problem solving, and continuous improvement initiatives across the production department.
• Develop and maintain safety programs with the HSEQ leader including appropriate training and communication sessions and ensuring the safety of all personnel in production and related functions
• Actively seek and evaluate opportunities for automation, to reduce repetitive tasks, or technology to improve process control
• Oversees Plant Security with third party provider.

The Person

This position requires a relevant third level qualification in a Science/Manufacturing/Engineering discipline with a minimum of 10 years' experience in an industrial manufacturing environment.

Excellent analytical, problem solving, and critical thinking skills are essential including judgement in decision making.

The individual must have proven leadership attributes, be able to demonstrate their ability to manage teams, provide coaching and feedback in order to champion change. He/She must have the ability to influence and build relationships at all levels.

Expert knowledge in all aspects of manufacturing is important coupled with strong business and commercial acumen.

The successful candidate must be a good communicator with strong verbal, written and computer skills enabling them to communicate effectively across all levels of the organisation and with external stakeholders.

The ability to work under one's own initiative together with good leadership, scheduling, budget, and resource management skills is essential.

This is an excellent opportunity for a dedicated, energetic, and versatile individual to join a highly successful Company.