Production Manager

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About Us:

Smiths is always looking for curious minds. For new colleagues who want responsibility and relish a challenge. Those who would like to use their talents to help make the world safer, healthier, more efficient, and more connected.

We are proud of our 160-year history of innovation, propelling the human world forward by looking at things differently, adapting, and never standing still. Today, we are an aligned global business of five divisions and around 22,000 colleagues, impacting millions of lives annually across five vibrant global markets.

Smiths Detection, a global authority on detection and screening technology, delivers solutions to protect society from threats and illegal activities, including explosives, weapons, contraband, toxic chemicals, and narcotics. Our mission is to use technology to develop innovative solutions and services to uphold the free flow of trade and make the world a safer place.

Whether you are an experienced professional or just starting your career, our global scale and focus on growth offer great career opportunities. There has never been a better time to join Smiths and help create the future.

Life at Smiths:

• Global leader : We impact critical systems every day with sites in 17 countries and six centres of research excellence. From pioneering to powering life-changing innovation, we're delivering threat detection and screening solutions to safeguard the world from threat.
• Digital growth : A key part of our capability is the integration of digital technology across our business and our operations in more than 55 countries, will be critical to our continued success .
• Exciting opportunities : Our growth is creating exciting opportunities to work with experts in physics, chemistry, electronics, mechanics, production, computer science, and AIML .
• International environment : With some projects, work requires global collaboration and the potential to travel and grow with the business.

About the role:

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Production Manager to lead our manufacturing operations team onsite at Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire.

Successful applicants will have a strong production background, preferably in aerospace, though we welcome talent from the medical and food industries.

A proven track record in continuous improvement and Lean Six Sigma practices is essential to succeed in this role.

Due to the sensitive nature of the projects we work on, we can only consider British Citizens, or EU Settled status that have lived in the UK for over 5 years as we would need to put you through SC level clearance.

Role Overview:

As Production Manager, you will be responsible for managing a team to ensure safe, efficient, and cost-effective production aligned with our financial targets. This role requires excellent leadership and communication skills, along with a solid foundation in problem-solving.

You will support the development and execution of production plans, oversee capacity and resource planning, and ensure products are delivered on time, meeting quality standards.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the production team to achieve site goals and objectives, focusing on continuous improvement and lean methodologies.
• Drive operational KPIs using visual management, problem-solving tools, and other lean techniques to enhance daily efficiency.
• Cultivate a proactive approach to Health, Safety, and Environmental standards, fostering a world-class manufacturing environment.
• Develop an agile and skilled workforce, maintaining high competency levels and reducing critical skill gaps.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Supply Chain, Quality, Engineering, Technology, Sales, and Facilities) to meet or exceed operations targets.
• Ensure the smooth transition of new products from design to manufacturing.
• Resolve production challenges in real-time, implementing corrective actions to drive improvements.
• Support the Integrated Business Planning (IBP) process with accurate and actionable data.

Qualifications and Skills:

• HND in Management Studies or a related qualification.
• Management experience in a manufacturing environment, with proficiency in SAP, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and other business applications.
• Strong communication skills and a commitment to personal and team development.
• Demonstrated knowledge and application of lean manufacturing principles
• Effective and results-driven decision-making in complex, global environments.
• Leadership skills to inspire, guide, and support team performance and growth.
• Commercial awareness to align actions with business success.
• Strong collaboration and relationship-building skills across internal and external networks.
• A proactive mindset toward change and continuous improvement initiatives.

Diversity & Inclusion:

We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support, and embrace diversity. We have several employee-led Employee Resources Groups (women@work, Black Employees Network, Veterans, Pride Network) providing support, enhancing career development, and contributing to personal development in the work environment and beyond.

At no time during the hiring process will Smiths Detection, Smiths Group, nor any of our recruitment partners ever request payment to enable participation - including, but not limited to, interviews or testing. Avoid fraudulent requests by applying jobs directly through our career's website ( www.smithsdetection.com/careers )or LinkedIn.