Forging Manager

An established and highly respected engineering manufacturer is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to lead a critical forging operation within a fast-paced, heavy engineering environment. This is a senior leadership opportunity where you'll take full ownership of performance across safety, quality, delivery, and cost. Driving a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence. 🚀 The Opportunity You'll be responsible for the day-to-day leadership of a complex forging operation, ensuring production targets are met while continuously improving processes, performance, and team capability. Working closely with senior leadership, you'll play a key role in shaping strategy, improving efficiencies, and delivering world-class manufacturing performance. 🔑 Key Responsibilities Lead and embed a proactive Health & Safety culture, driving compliance and accountability Deliver against production plans, KPIs, and customer delivery targets Manage resource planning and scheduling to meet operational demands Drive quality improvements, ensuring right-first-time performance Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions across operational issues Control and improve cost performance, including waste and scrap reduction Champion continuous improvement (Lean, 6S, OEE, TPM) Develop, coach, and lead high-performing teams Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure smooth operational delivery Work closely with maintenance to minimise downtime and improve asset performance 👥 Leadership & Culture Build and lead a culture of ownership, accountability, and teamwork Engage, motivate, and develop teams to achieve operational excellence Deliver clear and consistent communication across all levels Drive performance through strong leadership and structured development 🧠 About You Proven experience as an Operations Manager / Production Manager within heavy engineering or manufacturing Strong leadership skills with a track record of developing high-performing teams Experience with continuous improvement tools and methodologies Strong understanding of KPI management, cost control, and process optimisation Ability to interpret technical drawings and engineering data A proactive, hands-on leader with strong problem-solving ability Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills Engineering qualification preferred (or equivalent experience) ⏰ Working Hours Monday - Thursday: 8:00am - 4:15pm Friday: 8:00am - 3:00pm 🌟 Why Apply? Join a well-established and forward-thinking engineering business Take ownership of a key operational area with real influence Drive continuous improvement and make a tangible impact Enjoy a strong work-life balance with early Friday finishes Competitive salary and long-term career potential If you're an experienced operations leader ready to take ownership of a high-impact manufacturing environment, we'd love to hear from you