Production Manager

Ready to take ownership of a key production function within a leading engineering environment?

Vickerstock are working in partnership with a leading engineering and manufacturing organisation to appoint an experienced Production Manager – Material Preparation
.

Reporting to the Production Site Manager
, you will lead the day-to-day operation of the Material Preparation Department, overseeing material flow, production planning, team performance and productivity
, while ensuring components are delivered efficiently to the wider fabrication operation.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Production Manager, Material Preparation Manager or Senior Production professional with a heavy engineering or fabrication background to take ownership of a critical function within a growing manufacturing business.

In your new role:

• Produce and maintain steel nesting layouts to support material procurement and production, maximising material utilisation and minimising waste
• Plan, organise and prioritise the daily workload of the Material Preparation team in line with production priorities and delivery requirements
• Determine the most efficient routing of materials through internal processing equipment and approved subcontractors
• Manage subcontracted material processing activities, ensuring components are delivered on time and to the required quality standards
• Oversee steel inventory management, including incoming materials, stock location control and material traceability
• Ensure the correct steel is allocated and consumed against the correct job, minimising stock discrepancies and misallocation
• Coordinate the preparation, staging and supply of materials and components to support fabrication activities
• Maintain accurate production schedules and material tracking systems to provide clear visibility of stock and job progress
• Ensure material preparation equipment is maintained in safe and operational condition, coordinating maintenance, inspections and repairs where required
• Identify material shortages, capacity constraints and operational risks, escalating issues where necessary
• Ensure nesting data, stock records, batch documentation and preparation paperwork are completed accurately
• Take responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the Material Preparation department
• Ensure activities are completed in line with drawings, specifications and company procedures
• Supervise, motivate and support the team to achieve production targets
• Allocate work based on skills, qualifications and workload capacity
• Support performance management, coaching and development of team members
• Assist with onboarding and training of new employees
• Ensure products meet required quality standards and customer specifications
• Support investigations into quality issues and implement corrective actions
• Promote high standards of Health & Safety, PPE usage and safe systems of work
• Ensure machinery, cranes and lifting equipment are operated by trained and authorised personnel
• Maintain strong housekeeping and environmental standards across the department

What you will need to succeed:

• Minimum 5 years' experience in material handling within a heavy-duty or heavy engineering environment
• At least 2 years' experience supervising or leading a material handling team
• Solid understanding of quality standards and inspection processes
• Experience with production planning and workflow management
• Proven track record of meeting production targets and deadlines
• Experience working within a fast-paced production or manufacturing environment
• Strong understanding of engineering processes
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and specifications
• Strong leadership, organisational and problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to work effectively across production and operational teams