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.