Job Description:

Production Manager – Aerospace Manufacturing

Location: Portsmouth, Hampshire
Salary: Competitive, depending on experience
Job Type: Full-time, Permanent
Industry: Aerospace Manufacturing
Department: Manufacturing / Operations

About the Role

Our client is a global aerospace manufacturer providing mission-critical equipment and solutions across the commercial and defence aerospace sectors.

Based at their Portsmouth facility, the business manufactures safety-critical aerospace products, including aircraft fuel systems and emergency flotation equipment, within a highly regulated manufacturing environment.

They are now looking for an experienced Production Manager to lead manufacturing operations, develop high-performing teams and drive improvements across Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost and People (SQDCP).

The Role

This is a senior, hands-on operational leadership position where you will take responsibility for delivering production commitments while developing the systems, people and processes required to support future growth.

You will:

• Ensure production plans and customer commitments are achieved.
• Identify and address capacity constraints, material shortages and bottlenecks.
• Monitor production performance and implement recovery plans where required.
• Lead Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement initiatives.
• Improve manufacturing flow and reduce lead times and waste.
• Establish and maintain effective Daily Management Systems.
• Work closely with Engineering and Quality to improve processes and eliminate recurring issues.
• Improve Right First Time performance and reduce defects, rework and scrap.
• Provide visible leadership on Health, Safety and Environmental standards.
• Develop Production Leaders, Supervisors and Team Leaders.
• Build a culture of accountability, engagement and continuous improvement.
• Use operational data and SQDCP metrics to drive performance and decision-making.

About You

We are looking for an experienced manufacturing leader with a proven background in production operations and team management.

You will ideally have:

• Significant experience in a manufacturing leadership role.
• Experience managing production through Supervisors, Team Leaders or Production Leaders.
• A proven track record of improving Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost and People performance.
• Strong knowledge of production planning, capacity management and manufacturing flow.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement.
• Experience implementing Daily Management Systems and performance metrics.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing quality systems and root-cause problem solving.
• A hands-on leadership style with the confidence to engage with both shop-floor teams and senior management.

Aerospace & Regulatory Experience

Experience within aerospace, defence or another highly regulated manufacturing environment would be highly advantageous.

Knowledge or experience of the following would be particularly beneficial:

• AS9100
• CAA / EASA Part 21
• CAA / EASA Part 145

What We're Looking For

We are looking for a Production Manager who can combine strong operational leadership with a continuous improvement mindset.

You will be comfortable taking ownership of short-term production challenges while also implementing long-term improvements to processes, systems and people.

If you have experience building high-performing manufacturing teams and delivering measurable improvements in production performance, we would like to hear from you.

Apply Now