Production Manager at Jenks & Cattell Engineering

Jenks & Cattell is seeking an experienced and driven Production Manager to lead and coordinate the manufacturing operations of its laser press, machining, and welding departments.

In this pivotal role, the successful candidate will oversee the day-to-day running of all production areas, ensuring quality output and efficient workflow while managing approximately 50 team members.

Success in this position requires strong expertise in manufacturing operations, with a relentless focus on safety, quality, and customer satisfaction. Excellent communication skills are essential to minimise disruptions, avoid line stops, and support the company’s reputation for 100% delivery performance and zero-defect production.

The Production Manager will work closely with the Production Planning team to ensure that the shop floor is fully resourced with the right materials, labour, and machine availability to meet customer demands and production schedules.

Jenks & Cattell is looking for a hands-on leader with a proven background in lean manufacturing, process flow optimisation, and continuous improvement methodologies. The ideal candidate will be confident in leading teams, solving problems, and making informed decisions that drive operational excellence.

This is a fantastic opportunity to take on a leadership role within a forward-thinking, customer-focused engineering business. Candidates with a passion for manufacturing who thrive in a fast-paced environment are encouraged to apply.

Qualifications & Experience

Education

• Leadership and Production training and/or qualifications are preferable.

Experience

• Minimum of five years’ experience in Production, Manufacturing Management, or Operations within a metal fabricating company.

• Working knowledge of IATF standards is desirable.

• Proven experience in medium to large team leadership.

Skills

• Deep knowledge of Production Management and procedures.

• Strong understanding of quality standards and health & safety regulations.

• Familiarity with performance evaluation and budgeting concepts.

• Experience in reporting key production metrics.

• Proficiency in MS Office, with experience in NAV Dynamics and ERP systems considered advantageous.

• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills.

• Excellent organisational and leadership abilities.

• Exceptional attention to detail.

• Strong decision-making skills and a results-driven approach.

All team members, including the Production Manager, are expected to demonstrate the following behaviours and skills: competence, initiative, effective communication, a positive attitude, understanding of documentation, focus on customer satisfaction, commitment to safety, and reliable timekeeping and attendance.

Primary duties include, but are not limited to:

• Enforcing health and safety precautions and ensuring team compliance with safety regulations.

• Consulting with other managers and team leaders to formulate production objectives and understand requirements.

• Monitoring ongoing production and resolving issues proactively.

• Supervising and evaluating performance of production personnel, including quality inspectors, operators, and warehouse staff.

• Determining resource needs such as workforce and raw materials.

• Ensuring output meets strict quality standards.

• Collaborating on production schedules that align with all customer requirements.

• Prioritising manufacturing workflows, customer demands, and machine capacity effectively.

• Communicating and collaborating cross-functionally to ensure on-time delivery and excellent customer service.

• Proactively identifying bottlenecks and working with team leaders to generate solutions.

• Delivering high-quality output in line with KPI targets.

• Motivating and managing the team to achieve peak performance.

• Driving continuous improvement initiatives and implementing lean processes alongside the wider engineering and CI teams.

• Taking a proactive, analytical approach to decision-making and problem-solving.