Role: Production Manager
Location: Greater Stoke-on-Trent
Salary: Up to £80,000 per annum
This is a key role responsible for leading the safe, compliant and efficient operation of a UK fine chemicals manufacturing facility, ensuring production is delivered to plan, within agreed quality, cost and service targets, and in accordance with the highest QHSE and process safety standards expected of an Upper Tier COMAH site.
Role overview
The purpose of the Production Manager role is to provide visible leadership to the production organisation, developing people, capability and operational discipline while embedding Manufacturing Excellence, continuous improvement and a zero-harm culture.
The role works cross-functionally with QHSE, Engineering, Maintenance, Supply Chain, Logistics, QC and NPD/CIP to maximise plant availability, OEE and reliable delivery to customers.
You will be responsible for:
HSE / COMAH & Process Safety
- Leading production activities in full compliance with site QHSE systems and Upper Tier COMAH requirements.
- Demonstrating visible process-safety leadership and ensuring safe systems of work for routine, non-routine and maintenance-related operations.
- Ensuring effective application of Permit to Work, Management of Change, risk assessment, operating procedures and emergency-response requirements.
- Participating in and acting on process hazard reviews such as HAZOP/LOPA and ensuring production actions from audits, incidents and near misses are closed effectively.
- Leading or supporting investigations using structured Root Cause/Problem Analysis and ensuring learning is embedded across production.
- Maintaining operator competence for safety-critical activities and supporting COMAH demonstrations, inspections and regulatory interactions relevant to operations.
Production to Plan / Operational Delivery
- Owning day-to-day and medium-term production delivery against the agreed ATP/production plan.
- Ensuring appropriate people, plant, materials and operational readiness are available to deliver safe and reliable production.
- Coordinating closely with Supply Chain, Maintenance, Engineering, QC and Logistics to minimise downtime and production constraints.
- Monitoring and reporting operational KPIs including production to plan, OEE, NRFT, yield/kg per kg, waste, quality and cost performance.
- Ensuring manufacturing facilities are operated within approved operating envelopes and maintained in a condition that supports high availability and compliance.
- Managing operational priorities, deviations and escalation to protect customer service and business performance.
Manufacturing Excellence & Continuous Improvement
- Driving productivity and reliability improvements using OEE, LEAN, TPM and structured problem solving.
- Identifying loss drivers, establishing improvement plans and delivering sustainable gains in throughput, yield, cycle time, waste and cost.
- Supporting process optimisation, debottlenecking, plant modifications and introduction of new products in partnership with Engineering and NPD/CIP.
- Maintaining high standards of housekeeping, waste minimisation and operational discipline.
People Leadership
- Leading, coaching and developing the production leadership team and wider production organisation, setting clear objectives and standards.
- Ensuring sufficient competent resources are available for safe 24/7 operation and succession/development plans are maintained.
- Ensuring PDPs, competency assessments, training and performance management are completed to target.
- Managing attendance, conduct and performance matters in accordance with company policy, working with HR as required.
- Building a collaborative culture based on accountability, openness, trust and continuous improvement.
Governance & Cross-functional Leadership
- Contributing to site budgets, capacity planning and manufacturing strategy, establishing challenging but achievable operating targets.
- Providing accurate daily, weekly and monthly production performance reporting and clear escalation of material risks.
- Representing Production in site leadership, process safety, Responsible Care and improvement forums as required.
- Ensuring production documentation and records comply with document-control and Integrated Management System requirements.
About you
You will bring safety-first, visible and accountable leadership, alongside the commitment, persistence and initiative required within a complex chemical manufacturing environment.
You will have strong relationship-building, communication and influencing skills at all levels, coupled with sound judgement, structured problem-solving ability and the confidence to make timely decisions.
You will consider the impact of your actions across the wider operation, demonstrating a global mindset and humility. You will have strong planning, prioritisation and time-management skills, alongside the ability to coach, lead and develop others while remaining resilient and calm under operational pressure.
What you’ll bring:
Mandatory
- Degree in Chemical Engineering (BEng/BSc/MEng or equivalent).
- Strong understanding of chemical manufacturing operations and process safety.
- 8–10 years’ relevant experience in chemical/specialty chemical manufacturing, including significant production leadership responsibility.
- Practical experience working on a COMAH-regulated site, with Upper Tier COMAH experience strongly preferred.
- Demonstrable knowledge of process safety management, including MOC, PTW, risk assessment, incident investigation and safe operating procedures.
- Experience leading production teams in continuous/batch chemical operations, ideally including 24/7 shift operations.
- Proven delivery of production plans, OEE/plant availability, yield, quality, waste and cost improvement targets.
- Strong cross-functional working with Engineering, Maintenance, QHSE, Supply Chain, Logistics and Quality.
- Strong IT proficiency including Outlook, Excel and Word, with confidence using manufacturing KPI/reporting systems.
Desirable
- Chartered Engineer (CEng) or working towards chartership.
- NEBOSH or equivalent recognised HSE qualification.
- Formal LEAN/Six Sigma/Manufacturing Excellence training.
- Experience in aroma chemicals, fragrance and/or flavours manufacturing.
- Experience with HAZOP, LOPA, SIL/SIS awareness, DSEAR/ATEX controls and process hazard management.
- Experience of LEAN, TPM, OEE and structured continuous-improvement programmes.
- Experience supporting new product introduction, process optimisation, debottlenecking and capital projects.
- Experience engaging with regulators/competent authorities during COMAH-related inspections or assurance activities.
Don’t meet every single requirement? At Realise, we are dedicated to helping our clients build diverse, inclusive and authentic workplaces, so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every requirement, we would encourage you to apply anyway! You might be just the candidate we're looking for!
Realise HR Ltd is operating as an employment agency on behalf of its clients. We may keep your CV on file for the purposes of providing recruitment services and in accordance with our privacy policy, which can be found on our website, www.realisehr.co.uk.