Job Details

First Line Manager

Location: Carlisle
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience
Job Type: Full Time
Contract Type: Permanent

Overview
NXT Recruitment is working in partnership with a well-established manufacturing business to recruit a Composite First Line Manager.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Team Leader, Supervisor, or First Line Manager to join a successful and continuously improving manufacturing operation. The successful candidate will be responsible for leading a production team, ensuring operational excellence across safety, quality, productivity, and people management while driving continuous improvement initiatives.

This role would suit a motivated manufacturing leader who enjoys developing teams, improving processes, and delivering operational performance in a fast-paced production environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate, and develop a team of production operatives to achieve departmental objectives
• Promote a strong health and safety culture, ensuring compliance with company policies and procedures
• Manage daily production activities to meet customer requirements and production targets
• Monitor and improve key performance indicators, including efficiency, quality, waste, and output
• Conduct regular shop floor reviews and performance meetings
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives and implement corrective actions where required
• Carry out root cause analysis to identify and resolve recurring operational issues
• Work collaboratively with Engineering, Quality, Planning, and HR teams to support business objectives
• Ensure effective utilisation of labour, equipment, and resources
• Monitor departmental costs and contribute to operational efficiencies
• Maintain high standards of quality and ensure compliance with operational procedures
• Support the development, coaching, and performance management of team members

Requirements

• Previous experience as a Team Leader, Supervisor, or First Line Manager within a manufacturing environment
• Strong leadership and people management skills
• Proven ability to drive performance and achieve operational targets
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong organisational and problem-solving abilities
• Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office applications
• Ability to work effectively under pressure within a fast-paced manufacturing environment
• Commitment to health and safety, quality, and continuous improvement

Desirable Skills

• Experience within a continuous manufacturing or production environment
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles and Continuous Improvement techniques
• Understanding of Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) and production performance metrics
• Experience using ERP systems such as SAP