Head of Manufacturing Operations. LilyLifestyle

Seeking an experienced Head of Manufacturing to join our client, a well-established and growing bespoke manufacturing business based in North Devon, supplying a broad range of industrial and commercial sectors.

North Devon – Permanent – Full Time

Competitive Salary – Depends on Experience

As part of its continued growth and operational development, the business is seeking an experienced and hands‑on Head of Manufacturing to lead the production operation through its next phase of development, performance improvement and scalability. This is a senior operational leadership role with genuine influence across the business. Reporting directly to the Managing Director, the successful candidate will take ownership of manufacturing performance, accountability, operational structure and continuous improvement across a multi‑area production environment.

This is not an office‑based operations role. It is a visible, shop‑floor‑led leadership position suited to someone who thrives within a bespoke manufacturing environment and is confident leading people, improving standards and driving operational performance. The business has built a strong reputation within its sector and is investing in the next stage of operational growth and development. The Head of Manufacturing will lead the day‑to‑day manufacturing operation, ensuring output, efficiency, quality and OTIF performance are delivered consistently and sustainably.

This role is centred around people leadership, operational discipline and building a scalable manufacturing structure capable of supporting future growth. The successful candidate will work closely with Production Managers and the wider leadership team to improve communication, accountability, planning visibility and operational consistency across the business.

• Drive output, labour efficiency and on‑time delivery performance
• Identify and remove operational bottlenecks and inefficiencies
• Align production capacity with customer demand and operational priorities
• Maintain high standards of quality, discipline, safety and housekeeping
• Improve operational visibility and overall manufacturing performance

• Lead, support and develop Production Managers and supervisory teams
• Establish a clear culture of accountability, pace, communication and professionalism
• Run structured daily operational meetings and performance reviews
• Strengthen management capability and consistency across the factory
• Lead operational change positively whilst maintaining team engagement and stability

• Improve scheduling visibility, coordination and forward planning
• Embed KPI discipline and accurate operational reporting
  
  Support ERP/MRP system development and operational usage
• Ensure proactive problem solving and effective escalation management
• Improve coordination between production, planning and commercial functions

• Improve workflow, layout and productivity in a practical and measurable manner
• Reduce reliance on individuals through stronger systems and structure
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across the manufacturing operation
• Support long‑term operational planning and future business growth
• Help build a scalable and resilient manufacturing function capable of supporting continued expansion

The successful candidate will be an experienced manufacturing leader with a strong operational background and a visible, hands‑on leadership style.

You will demonstrate the following skills & experience:

• Proven senior leadership experience within a manufacturing or industrial environment
• Strong people leadership and team management capability
• A track record of driving accountability, operational performance and improvement
• Experience managing Production Managers and structured manufacturing teams
• Strong commercial awareness and confident decision‑making ability
• The ability to positively challenge existing practices and lead change effectively
• Excellent organisational, communication and…