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Interim Production Manager

Wakefield Temporary £45,000 - £60,000 per year View Job Description
The Interim Production Manager role is a challenging position which will involve taking responsibility for all aspects of production including managing, motivating and developing a team of up to 50 staff involved in the manufacturing process from raw materials to finished product. Focusing on Safety, Quality cost and delivery.
  • Great new role as interim Production Manager for an established Yorkshire brand
  • 6 month contract initially, immediate start

About Our Client

The employer is a well-established Yorkshire based organisation within the industrial/manufacturing sector, recognised for its commitment to producing high-quality products and maintaining operational excellence.

Job Description

The interim Production Manager will be responsible for/to:

  • Take full accountability for day‑to‑day production operations, ensuring output, quality, cost, and delivery targets are consistently achieved
  • Lead, motivate, and develop production teams (c50, 4 direct reports), including supervisors and operators, to create a positive, performance‑driven culture
  • Plan and manage production schedules to meet customer demand while maximising efficiency and utilisation of labour and equipment
  • Ensure strict compliance with health, safety, and environmental requirements, embedding a strong safety culture across all shifts
  • Monitor and analyse production KPIs, identifying issues, trends, and improvement opportunities, and implementing effective corrective actions
  • Work closely with engineering and maintenance teams to maximise equipment reliability, minimise downtime, and support preventative maintenance programmes
  • Collaborate with planning, supply chain, and procurement teams to ensure materials availability and smooth production flow
  • Own production quality standards, working with quality teams to resolve non‑conformances and prevent repeat issues
  • Drive continuous improvement initiatives, including lean manufacturing, waste reduction, process optimisation, and cost‑saving projects
  • Manage staffing levels, shift patterns, training, and skills development to meet current and future business requirements
  • Support new product introductions, trials, and process changes, ensuring a smooth transition from development into production
  • Prepare and present clear production reports, performance updates, and improvement plans to senior management

The Successful Applicant

A successful Interim Production Manager should have:

  • Results orientated with a real desire to improve performance through a proactive and positive approach to management.
  • Ambitious with a competitive edge and the capacity to bring the team along through a natural ability to inspire.
  • Degree Qualified in Engineering / Operations / Business
  • Proven experience of managing teams, ideally in a world class manufacturing environment.
  • Experience of implementing continuous improvement and lean manufacturing practices is essential.
  • Experience of utilising six sigma techniques
  • Track record of seeking and finding efficiency and cost improvements.
  • Experience of using OEE for measurement and the basis of improvement.
  • Bottom-line focus and the ability to communicate the importance of cost to the team is an important aspect of this role.
  • Plan and allocate resources effectively including staffing contingency planning, succession management and training
  • Conduct annual appraisals
  • Excellent professional communication skills both written and verbal
  • Manage waste, downtime, and performance data, ensuring accurate reporting across OEE, efficiency, product weights, and labour usage to support better decisions and performance insights.
  • Available to start a new role immediately or on short notice

What's on Offer

  • Competitive salary between £45,000 and £60,000 depending on experience
  • Opportunity to contribute to a well-respected company in the industrial/manufacturing industry.
  • Fixed-term contract for six months initially with an immediate start
  • Potential for professional growth in the engineering and manufacturing department.



If you are an experienced Interim Production Manager looking for an exciting opportunity, we encourage you to apply today.

Contact
Melanie Parkes
Quote job ref
JN-052026-7010101
Phone number
+44 113 388 9025

Job summary

Job function
Engineering & Manufacturing
Subsector
Production, Manufacturing
Sector
Industrial / Manufacturing
Location
Wakefield
Contract type
Temporary
Consultant name
Melanie Parkes
Consultant phone
+44 113 388 9025
Job reference
JN-052026-7010101