Production Team Leader

Our manufacturing client is seeking an experienced Production Team Leader.
Salary: Negotiable, confirmed on phone call, with discretionary annual bonus
Benefits: 25 days leave + BH, rising to 27 days after 5 years, free parking, OT when available, Monthly pay, pension etc
Location: Hoo, Rochester, Kent – having your own transport is essential
Hours: Rotating shifts 6am to 2pm / 2pm to 10pm
Possibility of night shift in the future
Are you an experienced production supervisor or team leader with a strong technical mindset? Do you excel at driving a culture of safety, quality, and continuous improvement?
The Production Section Leader will lead the day-to-day manufacturing operations. In this pivotal role, you will lead, coach, and develop an operational team to deliver production plans safely and efficiently within a highly regulated environment.
Production Section Leader key Responsibilities:
* Operations Management: Supervise day-to-day production operations to achieve shift targets, delivery schedules, and operational KPIs (OEE, yield, waste, and productivity).
* Safety & Compliance: Maintain a strong safety culture and ensure absolute compliance with industry-specific standards (e.g., GMP/FDA, HSE/COMAH, or ISO requirements) and company SOPs.
* People Leadership: Lead, coach, and onboard operators and technicians, managing shift resource planning, briefings, handovers, and performance management.
* Continuous Improvement: Drive lean manufacturing initiatives using structured problem-solving tools (5S, 3C’s, 7 Wastes) and develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) to maximize process reliability.
* Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, Supply Chain, and EHS teams to resolve process interruptions and optimize throughput.
Production Section Leader essential criteria:
* Proven supervisory or leadership experience managing teams within a manufacturing, pharmaceutical, chemical, automotive, or regulated production environment.
* Strongly engineering and technically minded, with the hands-on ability to set up and run plant equipment and automated systems.
* Practical knowledge of production KPIs, SOPs, safety procedures, and compliance requirements.
* Strong problem-solving, communication, and organizational capabilities.
Production Section Leader desirable Criteria:
* Experience working in GMP pharmaceutical, chemical process operations (COMAH), FMCG, or high-volume advanced manufacturing.
* Direct knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, CAPA, or deviation management.
* A Degree, HNC/HND, or apprenticeship in Engineering, Manufacturing, Chemical, Life Sciences, or a related discipline