Production Team Leader

About the role

Our client, a well‑known manufacturer on the outskirts of Leeds, is seeking an experienced Production Team Leader. This hands‑on role combines shop‑floor presence with leadership, ensuring safe, efficient and high‑quality production while meeting daily targets.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and supervise a production team to achieve daily, weekly and monthly output targets.
• Maintain a strong shop‑floor presence, providing coaching, support and direction throughout each shift.
• Monitor performance, identify improvement opportunities and drive efficiency, productivity and quality gains.
• Ensure strict adherence to standard operating procedures and health & safety policies.
• Plan labour resources, manage shift schedules, attendance and workload allocation.
• Conduct team briefings, performance discussions and regular one‑to‑one meetings.
• Support training, development and succession planning for team members.
• Collaborate with Quality, Engineering, Planning and Warehouse to resolve operational issues quickly.
• Investigate production problems, implement corrective actions and lead continuous‑improvement initiatives.
• Track waste, downtime and production losses, implementing measures to reduce inefficiencies.
• Complete accurate production documentation and maintain KPI reporting.

Required profile

• Previous experience as a Team Leader, Production Supervisor or Shift Leader in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of production processes and continuous‑improvement principles.
• Excellent communication, people‑management and problem‑solving abilities.
• Ability to motivate, coach and develop individuals to achieve high performance.
• Good organisational skills and flexibility to adapt to changing production priorities.
• Knowledge of health & safety and quality standards.

Required skills

• Lean Manufacturing
• Six Sigma
• IOSH (or equivalent health & safety certification)