Reports to: Group Project Manager + Group Head of Manufacturing
Salary: Very Competitive
Lead the Cynwyd site — where 18 different IWT trailer product lines are assembled, and all internally manufactured components are processed through an in-house galvanising plant. One of the most operationally varied site leadership roles you will find in UK manufacturing.
About the role
As Production Manager you have full accountability for the leadership, performance and continuous improvement of a multi-line trailer manufacturing site and galvanising plant. You will own safety, quality, cost and delivery across every part of site operations — trailer assembly across 18 product lines, the galvanising plant and the printing operation — making sure the site consistently hits its targets and ships product that meets and exceeds customer expectations.
You will lead an experienced group of Team Leaders and production operatives, partner closely with engineering, materials and quality, and drive an On Time and Right First Time culture that does not pass faults forward to the next process or to the customer. The site operates Monday to Friday with a Saturday morning shift.
What you will be responsible for
- Site-wide leadership of trailer assembly, galvanising plant and print operations — hitting safety, quality, cost and delivery targets every day.
- Production schedules On Time aligned to customer demand and business targets, across 18 product lines.
- A strong Health & Safety culture — a workplace free of hazards, with employees working in a way that protects themselves and their colleagues.
- A Right First Time culture, embedded across the site — faults are caught and corrected, not passed forward.
- Product quality that meets and exceeds customer expectations, working with the quality team to reduce defects, rework and customer complaints.
- Continuous improvement initiatives that deliver measurable and sustained gains in productivity, quality and cost.
- Operational cost control through efficient use of materials, people and capital.
- Site resource allocation and stock accuracy.
- A high-performing manufacturing leadership team — the right people, with the right skills, in the right places.
What we are looking for
- Senior production or site leadership experience in trailer, vehicle, or comparable multi-line assembly manufacturing — ideally with adjacent process operations such as galvanising, paint, plating or finishing.
- Demonstrable Continuous Improvement methodology, applied at scale, with measurable and sustained results.
- A track record on the SQCDP fundamentals — safety, quality, cost, delivery and people — with the ability to drive performance and continuous improvement.
- Operational ownership and cost control — confidence with both the numbers and the operational levers behind them.
- Health & Safety leadership in a manufacturing setting, including experience of process-plant operations.
- A genuine record of developing Team Leaders and building a strong shop-floor culture and achieving excellence within Manufacturing.
The behaviours that matter most
- Accountability and ownership. You own the output, the quality, the safety and the people performance. When things go wrong, you act fast, decide on data, and fix at root cause.
- Direct people leadership. You hold the team to a high standard. You address underperformance promptly and constructively, and you invest seriously in developing the next generation of manufacturing leaders.
- Calm under pressure. Manufacturing operations will be challenging, but you will remain calm and decisive — you isolate the problem, make data driven decisions that are communicated clearly and with authority.
- Customer mindset. You see what leaves the site through the customer’s eyes — and that drives standards across every production line and within the galvanising plant and print room.
- Open, honest, and willing to escape. You raise risks and concerns without delay or hesitation, and you welcome the same from your team.
Why IWT
A family-owned business with the heritage and stability of a family firm and the scale and complexity to genuinely test a senior site leader. Founded in 1958, with five advanced manufacturing sites across North Wales, and with customers across the UK, Europe and beyond.
The role offers real breadth — multi-line assembly, process-plant operations, finishing, people development and operational performance — all under one site leader. North Wales is an outstanding place to live and work, with the coast and Eryri (Snowdonia) on the doorstep and Liverpool and Manchester just over an hour away.
Benefits
We offer a competitive senior-leadership salary (details on application), pension, genuine investment in continuing professional development, and a leadership role with real authority and the resources to deliver against it.
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