Manufacturing Manager

Bradley Professional is working with an established British manufacturer of specialized architectural access products that is expanding its operations into the United States and establishing a new manufacturing facility in North Carolina.

We are seeking an experienced Manufacturing Manager to play a key role in launching and developing the company's U.S. manufacturing operation.

This is an excellent opportunity for a hands-on manufacturing leader who enjoys building operations from the ground up. The Manufacturing Manager will help transfer established products and manufacturing processes from the company's UK operation to North Carolina, assist with the startup of the facility, recruit and develop the production team, and ultimately oversee day-to-day manufacturing.

Key Responsibilities

Manufacturing Startup & Product Transfer

• Work closely with UK engineering and production teams to transfer established product lines into U.S. manufacturing.
• Assist with planning production areas, machinery, tooling, storage and material flow.
• Support the installation and commissioning of manufacturing equipment.
• Implement established drawings, bills of materials, production methods, inspection procedures and quality standards.
• Manufacture prototypes and pre-production units.
• Transition approved products into reliable and repeatable commercial production.

Production Management

• Manage day-to-day manufacturing operations for assigned product lines.
• Plan labor, materials, machinery and production capacity.
• Recruit, train and supervise production employees as the operation grows.
• Allocate work and monitor production against established delivery schedules.
• Maintain appropriate inventory levels while minimizing excess stock.
• Identify and resolve production bottlenecks.
• Control labor, material, subcontracting and manufacturing costs.
• Establish and monitor KPIs related to safety, quality, productivity, waste and on-time delivery.

Engineering & Technical Coordination

• Work from established designs, technical documentation and company-developed intellectual property.
• Collaborate with UK engineering teams regarding drawings, manufacturing methods and product improvements.
• Ensure manufacturing remains consistent with tested and approved designs.
• Apply design-for-manufacturing principles when opportunities for improvement are identified, subject to engineering approval.
• Maintain accurate manufacturing records, bills of materials and revision controls.
• Assist with root-cause investigations and corrective actions.

Workforce Development

• Recruit production, welding, fabrication and assembly personnel.
• Develop practical training and competency programs.
• Establish clear expectations for responsibilities, performance and workmanship.
• Build a safe, organized and accountable manufacturing environment.
• Promote collaboration across teams within the U.S. operation.

Supply Chain Development

• Assist with identifying and qualifying U.S. suppliers of aluminum, steel, stainless steel, insulation, hardware and other components.
• Monitor supplier quality, pricing and delivery performance.
• Coordinate subcontracted manufacturing processes when appropriate.
• Support efforts to localize materials and components when technically and commercially viable.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will bring:

• Manufacturing management or production management experience.
• A strong engineering, manufacturing or technical background.
• Experience with fabricated metal products and sheet-metal fabrication involving aluminum and steel.
• Knowledge of welding, assembly and finishing processes.
• Experience supervising, training and developing production employees.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings and bills of materials.
• Experience managing quality, delivery, productivity and manufacturing costs.
• Strong problem-solving and organizational skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with senior leadership and engineering teams in both the United States and United Kingdom.
• A hands-on leadership style and willingness to spend significant time on the production floor.

Ideal Leadership Style

The successful candidate will be practical, organized, dependable and commercially aware. This individual should be comfortable working within a developing operation, building a team from the ground up and creating the processes and accountability necessary to support future growth.

A strong commitment to workplace safety, consistent product quality and operational excellence is essential.

Travel

This position will be based at the company's new North Carolina manufacturing facility.

The successful candidate must be willing to spend an initial period at the company's UK manufacturing facility to become familiar with its products, equipment, employees, quality standards and manufacturing processes.

Additional travel to the United Kingdom may be required during the U.S. startup and establishment period.

Compensation & Growth Opportunity

A competitive salary and benefits package will be offered based on experience and qualifications.