Production Manager

About the role

The Production Manager at Treatt, US is responsible for the day-to-day management of production and blending activities, ensuring safe, compliant, and efficient delivery of business targets through World Class Manufacturing principles. The role provides leadership to Team Supervisors and operational teams, with clear accountability for production delivery, labor management, quality standards, KPI performance, and customer service.

The Production Manager will drive operational excellence by leading continuous improvement, structured problem-solving, process optimization, and data-led decision-making. They will work cross-functionally with Engineering, R&D, Quality, and Supply Chain to improve productivity, yield, waste reduction, labor efficiency, and Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE). The role also supports succession planning for future Plant Manager and senior operations leadership positions by fostering a culture of technical ownership and operational discipline.

Responsibilities

Strategy and Planning

• Operate the Company’s Environment, Health, Safety, Security, and Quality Standards.
• Report accurately on daily production progress, including delays and their causes, to the Plant Manager to minimize impacts on customer deliveries and production efficiency.
• Liaise with Production Planners to advise on manning levels, production scheduling, and issues impacting timelines.
• Partner with Research and Development to support scale-up projects within the department.

Operational Management

• Lead a ‘right first time’ policy to ensure orders are met on time and within specification.
• Maintain high standards of housekeeping and 5S across the department with sustainable solutions.
• Coordinate the safe start-up and shutdown of all plants and ancillary equipment.
• Ensure SOPs and process cleaning procedures are relevant, up to date, and followed; report major deviations.
• Ensure all operators are trained on Safety Critical Tasks and maintain up-to-date training records.
• Manage and update Skills Station to align with training plans, ensuring operators are cross-trained for a flexible workforce.
• Implement and maintain Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) across Blending, Distillation, and Extractions, monitoring plan adherence and operator/equipment utilization.
• Own and lead the department’s continuous improvement and operational excellence program using Lean, Six Sigma, Root Cause Analysis, and structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Lead manufacturing engineering and process optimization activities to improve safety, quality, productivity, yield, waste reduction, labor efficiency, and Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).
• Develop and maintain digital manufacturing capabilities, KPI dashboards, and data-led performance management routines.
• Lead cross-functional improvement projects with Engineering, R&D, Quality, and Supply Chain to embed operational improvements into standard practice.
• Maintain high standards of GMP and BRC compliance in all production aspects.
• Exhibit awareness of COSHH, risk assessment, HAZOP, and general process safety; communicate this to all staff.
• Promote an excellent safety culture, focusing on manual handling, vehicle/pedestrian safety, PPE, and accident/incident reporting.
• Ensure accurate data entry in JD Edwards to support good inventory practices.
• Prepare annual operating budgets with plant and division staff and execute plans within agreed constraints.

People

• Carry out direct report responsibilities for Team Supervisors, including holiday approval, sickness monitoring, and return-to-work interviews.
• Monitor team performance and work with HR to address poor performance, supported by the Plant Manager where required.
• Support the Plant Manager in implementing a training improvement program to achieve Level 2 training and cross-training for all operators.
• Maintain a Needs matrix to identify skills shortages and support succession planning.
• Promote positive employee behavior through coaching, mentoring, involvement, training, and recognition.
• Develop future operational leaders with the technical, analytical, and leadership skills required for Plant Manager and senior operations roles.

Health, Safety, and Environment

• Contribute to a safe conclusion in emergencies.
• Represent the department at the Health & Safety Committee.
• Ensure skills and training within the department are maintained across shifts.
• Contribute to Food Hygiene, HACCP, and Quality compliance.
• Promote an excellent safety culture, particularly in manual handling, vehicle/pedestrian safety, PPE, and accident/incident reporting.

Other

• Perform additional tasks consistent with the role’s general description, as required.
• Act in the best interest of USA Treatt and Treatt Plc at all times.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or relevant discipline, or equivalent experience.
• Proven experience as a Production Manager or in manufacturing operations leadership, ideally in a technically complex process environment.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver production plans while improving operational performance through structured improvement activities.
• Understanding of BRC and Customer Quality Standards.
• Knowledge of assembly processes and ability to identify acceptable levels of efficiency and workmanship.
• Strong working knowledge of Lean manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, Root Cause Analysis, and structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Experience using operational data, KPI dashboards, OEE, labor efficiency, yield, and waste metrics to drive performance improvements.
• Ability to coach, develop, and influence technically focused talent, including process engineers and future operational leaders.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to manage a varied workload effectively and meet deadlines.

Work Environment

• Exposure to hazardous chemicals.
• Open office and lab environment with typical spacious room and close desk arrangements.
• Shop floor exposure, including time inside and outside production or workshop environments.

Physical Factors

• Sitting, walking, stooping, crouching, crawling, and standing.