Production Manager

Role Scope and Accountabilities

• Accountable for the operational performance of one plant/building within ThermoKey’s three-plant manufacturing organisation.
• Lead an organisation of approximately 60 employees across three shifts; exact headcount and structure may vary by plant.
• Directly manage and develop Shift Leaders / Department Supervisors and ensure clear ownership throughout the shift structure.
• Balance output, labour and capacity while maintaining safety, quality and delivery requirements.
• Use this master profile for STS, ST1 and ST2; plant-specific product mix, processes, team size and equipment should be confirmed before posting.

Key Responsibilities

• Translate the production plan into daily and weekly priorities, staffing plans and shift-level execution.
• Ensure compliance with EHS requirements, quality standards, work instructions and applicable operating procedures.
• Manage people, materials, equipment and workflow to achieve required output, schedule adherence and customer delivery.
• Review Safety, Quality, Delivery and Cost performance through structured daily management and take timely corrective action.
• Monitor and improve KPIs including safety, first-pass yield, scrap, rework, on-time delivery, productivity, labour efficiency, downtime and OEE where applicable.
• Build the capability and accountability of Shift Leaders and employees through coaching, performance feedback, skills development and succession planning.
• Coordinate priorities and escalations with Planning, Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, Industrial Engineering, Lean and HR.
• Identify constraints, bottlenecks and capacity risks; sponsor practical countermeasures and capital or process-improvement proposals.
• Drive Lean daily management, standard work, 5S, visual management and structured problem solving.
• Ensure effective shift handovers and consistent application of standards across all shifts.
• Support new-product introduction, industrialisation and manufacturing changes, ensuring readiness of people, process, equipment and documentation.
• Promote employee engagement, constructive labour relations and a culture of ownership, urgency and continuous improvement.

Decision-Making and Influence

• Set day-to-day production priorities within the approved plan and allocate labour and resources across the plant.
• Stop or escalate work where safety, quality or compliance is at risk.
• Approve operational countermeasures within delegated authority and recommend investment, organisation or capacity changes.
• Influence cross-functional priorities required to restore delivery or improve sustained performance.

Key Relationships

• COO / Operations leadership and peer Production Managers.
• Planning, Supply Chain, Procurement and Logistics.
• Quality, Maintenance, Industrial Engineering, Lean and R&D/Engineering.
• HR and EHS.
• Shift Leaders, supervisors and all plant employees.

Qualifications and Experience

• Degree in Engineering, Operations, Manufacturing or a related field is preferred; equivalent technical education and substantial relevant experience may be considered.
• Significant production-management experience in an industrial manufacturing environment, including responsibility for people and operational results.
• Demonstrated experience leading multi-shift operations and front-line leaders.
• Experience with Lean manufacturing, KPI management, structured problem solving and capacity/productivity improvement.
• Experience in mechanical, metalworking, heat-exchanger, HVAC/refrigeration or comparable engineered-product manufacturing is advantageous.
• Working English and effective communication in the local plant environment.

Technical Competencies

• Production planning and execution in a multi-shift environment.
• Safety, quality, delivery and cost performance management.
• Lean daily management, standard work, 5S and problem solving.
• OEE, downtime, labour efficiency, scrap/rework and capacity analysis.
• People leadership, performance management and workforce development.
• Change management and cross-functional operational coordination.

Behavioural Competencies

• Visible leadership and strong shop-floor presence.
• Ownership and accountability for end-to-end plant results.
• Urgency with disciplined prioritisation and escalation.
• Clear communication, coaching and constructive challenge.
• Data-based decision making and continuous improvement.
• Ability to align teams and execute through ambiguity and change.