Location: Washington Salary: Competitive Shifts: Day shift (early finish on a Friday) The Company Theo James Recruitment is supporting a growing, ambitious manufacturing business in Washington as it searches for a Production Manager. Operating in laser cutting, CNC, and press brake manufacturing, the business is looking for a practical leader to strengthen production processes, drive quality, and support continued growth. This is an opportunity to make a visible impact within an SME, with the autonomy to put your ideas into practice. The Role As Production Manager, you will lead day-to-day production, ensuring work is delivered safely, efficiently and to the quality standards customers expect. Combining hands-on manufacturing knowledge with strong leadership, you will develop the team, improve working practices and build a culture of accountability and continuous improvement. Key responsibilities will include: Plan and coordinate production activities to meet customer requirements and delivery deadlines. Lead, support and develop the production team, setting clear expectations for safety, quality and performance. Oversee activities across laser cutting, CNC and press brake operations. Develop and embed standard operating procedures to promote consistent working practices. Drive Lean Manufacturing and 5S implementation to improve organisation, productivity and efficiency. Identify production bottlenecks, resolve operational problems and reduce waste and rework. Maintain a strong customer quality focus, addressing issues at their root cause. Work closely with management and colleagues to align production priorities with business demands. Skills Required Strong practical experience within laser cutting, CNC and press brake manufacturing environments. Experience managing or supervising production teams. A track record of implementing and developing SOPs, Lean Manufacturing and 5S. A strong commitment to product quality and customer satisfaction. Practical problem-solving skills and a hands-on approach to improvement. Strong planning, communication and organisational skills. The ability to take ownership, make decisions and adapt within a growing SME. Why Join? * Be part of a growing and ambitious business. * Make a direct, visible contribution to the performance of an SME. * Have the autonomy to make decisions and implement improvements. * Work with a supportive and ambitious management team