Production Manager
Listed on 2026-09-30
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Manufacturing / Production
Production Manager, Operations Management, Lean Manufacturing / Six Sigma, Manufacturing & Industrial Operations
Neuchâtel, Switzerland | Full-time | Industrial Manufacturing
Akkar has partnered with an established industrial manufacturing company in the Neuchâtel region that is looking for a Production Manager to take ownership of its wider production organisation.
This is a senior production leadership position reporting directly to the CEO, combining strategic responsibility with hands‑on operational management.
You’ll lead an organisation of around 60 people, covering machining, metalworking, assembly, painting, methods & industrialisation, maintenance and apprentices.
This isn’t a role where you’ll simply be managing today’s production plan. You’ll have a genuine say in how the production organisation develops, where investment is needed and how processes can be improved, while remaining close enough to the shop floor to understand and solve operational issues.
What you’ll be doing :- Lead and develop a production organisation of ~60 people
- Own day-to-day production performance, planning, quality and delivery
- Define and implement the production strategy
- Identify and lead continuous improvement initiatives across the operation
- Review and improve production processes, methods and KPIs
- Work across machining, metalworking, assembly, painting, maintenance and industrialisation
- Identify production investments and make recommendations to the management team
- Manage production costs and improve operational efficiency
- Work closely with engineering, quality and project management
- Develop relationships with critical suppliers
- Support collaboration with production sites internationally
- Help develop and implement the wider product and manufacturing strategy
- Lead and develop a mixed‑generation workforce, including apprentices
- Ensure a safe, efficient and well‑organised production environment
We’re looking for an experienced production leader who can operate comfortably at both strategic and operational levels.
You’ll ideally bring:
- Proven experience leading a manufacturing or production organisation
- Experience managing manufacturing teams of 50+, ideally across multiple production lines
- Strong experience in machining, metalworking or metal components
- Background in small‑series or low‑volume manufacturing
- Experience working with relatively large/heavy components
- A hands‑on and approachable leadership style
- Fluent French and comfortable working in English
- German would be an advantage
This is a role with real ownership.
Reporting directly to the CEO, you’ll be part of the management team and have the opportunity to influence both the immediate performance of production and its longer‑term direction.
The right person will be comfortable moving from production strategy and investment decisions to the workshop floor, understanding what needs to change and then working with the team to make it happen.
The business is looking for someone who can drive change without losing the trust of the people responsible for delivering production every day.
Production organisation: ~60 people
Environment: Small‑series industrial manufacturing
Please note we can only consider candidates with a current and active work visa for Switzerland, or EU citizenship.
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