Site Lead – Manufacturing

Artemis Human Capital are recruiting for a Site Lead on behalf of a growing manufacturing firm based just outside the North West. This is a key senior leadership role with full responsibility for a compact, high-impact manufacturing site of approximately 30 employees, overseeing end-to-end operations including coating, kitting, assembly, and despatch.

As Site Lead, you will take full ownership of site performance, driving operational excellence across all functions while leading a close-knit, multi-skilled team. You will be accountable for delivering against safety, quality, delivery, and cost targets, while embedding a culture of continuous improvement and high performance.

Key Responsibilities

Site Leadership & Accountability

• Take full ownership of a compact manufacturing site (~30 employees), ensuring strong operational control and performance
• Lead all day-to-day operations across coating, kitting, assembly, and despatch
• Act as the most senior on-site leader, setting standards, driving accountability, and leading by example
• Develop and implement site-level operational plans aligned to wider business objectives
• Ensure effective resource planning and workload management across a close-knit, multi-skilled team

Operational Excellence & Performance

• Deliver consistent performance across safety, quality, delivery, and cost (SQDC) metrics
• Oversee production activities to ensure efficiency, right-first-time output, and reliable customer delivery
• Work closely with planning and support functions to optimise workflow and throughput
• Maintain high standards of quality, compliance, and operational control across all processes
• Ensure clear visibility of performance through accurate reporting and daily management routines

Continuous Improvement & Lean Culture

• Lead Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement activity across the site
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and streamline processes within a compact operational environment
• Drive root cause analysis and implement practical, sustainable improvements
• Embed standardised working practices and a culture of accountability and ownership

People Leadership & Culture

• Lead, develop, and motivate a team of approximately 30 employees in a hands-on environment
• Build a strong, engaged, and collaborative site culture
• Support training, development, and multi-skilling across the workforce
• Manage performance, attendance, and employee relations in line with company policy
• Foster a visible leadership style with strong presence on the shop floor

Health, Safety & Compliance

• Champion a strong health and safety culture across the site
• Ensure full compliance with statutory, regulatory, and internal standards
• Lead incident investigations and ensure effective corrective and preventative actions
• Promote safe working behaviours and proactive risk awareness across all employees

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

• Act as the main operational point of contact for the site within the wider business
• Communicate priorities, performance, and issues clearly and consistently across the team
• Escalate and resolve operational challenges quickly and effectively
• Work collaboratively with wider functions to support business performance

Skills & Experience Required

• Proven experience in a senior manufacturing leadership role (Site Lead, Production Manager, Operations Manager or similar)
• Experience managing a compact, hands-on manufacturing site or team (circa 20–50 employees)
• Strong background in fast-paced manufacturing or engineering environments
• Demonstrable success in improving SQDC performance
• Experience leading multi-disciplinary teams in a hands-on environment
• Strong understanding of Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement principles
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems and operational reporting
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills
• Practical, visible leadership style with strong presence on the shop floor
• High accountability, resilience, and commitment to operational standards

Contact

Nicky Strutt