Head of Production

About the Role:

We are seeking an experienced Head of Production to lead, manage, and optimise all manufacturing operations across our production facilities in a true make to order environment where customer service is critical to success. This is a pivotal leadership role with full accountability for ensuring products are manufactured safely, efficiently, on time, and to specification, while consistently meeting quality, cost, service, volume, objectives.

Reporting into the Group Manufacturing & EHS Director, the Head of Production will be responsible for the end-to-end production process across the site, including extrusion, sealed unit manufacturing, fabrication, assembly, glazing, finishing, and dispatch handover .

Key Responsibilities:

Production & Operational Leadership Lead and oversee all production activities to achieve agreed targets for Safety, People, Quality, Volume and Cost Develop and deliver production plans aligned to sales forecasts, installation schedules, and business priorities. Ensure manufacturing processes are robust, repeatable, and capable of consistently meeting customer and regulatory requirements. Partner with the Continuous Improvement team to:
Drive lean manufacturing initiatives, waste reduction, and process optimisation. Support the introduction of new products, materials, equipment, and technologies. Support development of and ensure adherence to Standard Work Quality, Safety & Compliance Champion a strong health, safety, and environmental culture, ensuring full compliance with legal requirements, company policies, and best practice. Ensure all products are manufactured to specification, quality standards, and relevant industry accreditations.

Work closely with Quality teams to reduce defects, rework, and customer complaints. People Leadership Lead, coach, and develop production management teams to build capability, accountability, and engagement. Drive effective performance management, succession planning, and skills development across the production workforce. Drive adherence to standard work in support of our Lean Manufacturing approach & goals Foster a positive, inclusive, and high-performance culture aligned to company values.

Cross-Functional Collaboration Collaborate closely with Lean, Supply Chain, Planning, Logistics, Engineering, Maintenance, and HR to ensure seamless end-to-end delivery. Support business change initiatives, growth projects, and operational transformation programmes. Build and maintain effective working relationships with Union representatives. Reporting & Governance Monitor and report on key production KPIs, including output, efficiency, scrap, downtime, safety, and labour performance. Ensure accurate reporting, documentation, and adherence to internal governance requirements.

Performance Measures & Accountability Achievement of production output, efficiency, and cost targets Health & Safety performance and compliance Product quality and right-first-time manufacture Labour productivity and employee engagement Delivery against production plans and lead times

What We're Looking For:

A relevant manufacturing or engineering qualification, or equivalent operational experience within a complex manufacturing environment. Strong knowledge of manufacturing operations, ideally within windows, doors, or building products Proven experience in production planning, labour optimisation, and capacity management Confident use of production KPIs, reporting tools, and ERP/MRP Strong IT skills, including Excel and production reporting systems Senior production leadership experience within a manufacturing environment Experience managing large, shift-based work forces who thrives on the Gemba and in developing people Demonstrated success in driving operational improvement and cultural change Experience working in unionised environments Based at manufacturing site(s), with regular onsite presence required Flexibility to support shift patterns and operational requirements Willingness to travel occasionally between sites or to suppliers Strong negotiation skills and a results-driven mindset Desirable:
Degree or professional qualification in Manufacturing,…