Production Manager

UAP | Urban Art Projects believes incredible things don't just happen; they're created, nurtured, believed in. Spanning art, architecture, design, environments, and everything in between – UAP works with artists and creatives to make incredible things all over the world.

UAP collaborates with emerging and renowned artists, architects, developers, and designers; to deliver creative outcomes for the public realm. We engage in all aspects of the delivery process from curatorial services and design development, through to fabrication and installation.

The Production Manager holds full responsibility for the operational and commercial performance of a large‑scale, highly specialized metal foundry. This role ensures that the factory operates at maximum efficiency, delivers exceptional quality, meets demanding client expectations, and maintains a safe and motivated workforce.

The Production Manager is also a key leadership role interfacing with managers and business leaders, and plays a critical part in shaping the strategic direction of production operations.

Operational Leadership

• Oversee all aspects of day‑to‑day production across multiple departments and craft disciplines.
• Maximize production output through effective scheduling, workforce coordination, and resource allocation.
• Lead and manage a large, diverse team of approximately 125 skilled craftspeople.
• Ensure production targets, delivery timelines, and quality standards are consistently met.

Production Planning and Decision‑Making

• Direct and oversee detailed production planning, making decisions on priorities, sequencing, and capacity utilization.
• Resolve bottlenecks, competing resource demands, and complex production challenges.
• Manage coordination of activities and milestones between production, engineering, technical design, project planning, and quality control.
• Implement project reviews, and lessons learned across all departments.

Commercial and Financial Management

• Take ownership of commercial outcomes associated with production operations.
• Oversee and report on key business KPIs, including:
• Project profitability;
• Production output
• Quality performance;
• Capacity optimization.
• Collaborate with finance, sales and project teams to ensure budgets, costs and margins are understood and achieved.

Stakeholder Communication

• Conduct difficult or sensitive discussions with professionalism and commercial awareness.
  
  Work collaboratively with stakeholders across the business.
• Provide regular communication and performance updates to business shareholders.

Innovation, Technology and Continuous Improvement

• Support and implement structured initiatives for continuous improvement across production processes.
• Foster innovation in a traditionally artisan‑driven environment while preserving craft excellence.

Safety, Culture and Workforce Development

• Build and maintain a safe, compliant and environmentally responsible workplace.
• Promote a culture of collaboration, respect, accountability, and craftsmanship.
• Support workforce development, training, succession planning, and performance management.
• Champion employee engagement across a diverse team.

• Minimum of 10 years of professional management experience in production, manufacturing, or industrial environment.
• Proven ability to lead large and diverse teams and coordinate multi‑disciplinary workflows.
• Strong commercial acumen, able to balance complex client demands and business requirements.
• Demonstrated experience in budget management, reporting and KPI‑driven performance oversight.
• Advanced computer and digital management system skills.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to manage high‑value and sometimes high demanding clients.

Preferred (Not Essential)

• Experience in metal production, fabrication, or similar craft‑based manufacturing environments.
• Exposure to artistic, sculptural, or bespoke production processes.
• Background in commercial trades or industrial engineering.

• Ability to stand, walk, and move throughout a manufacturing facility for extended periods of time during the workday.
• Ability to climb stairs, ladders, or elevated platforms as required to access production…