Production Manager

It's fun to work in a company where people truly believe in what they are doing!

Neogen is seeking an experienced and driven Production Manager to lead Manufacturing Operations at our Heywood site. Reporting to the Manufacturing Site Director, you will translate site priorities, customer requirements and operational objectives into safe, compliant and effective production delivery. This is a key leadership role with responsibility for developing frontline leaders, strengthening manufacturing capability and delivering sustained improvement across people, safety, quality, delivery and cost.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead Manufacturing performance against the production plan, ensuring safe, reliable and compliant delivery while managing capacity, resources, constraints and recovery activity.
• Champion a strong health, safety, environmental and quality culture, ensuring adherence to approved procedures, risk assessments, quality systems and applicable requirements.
• Own the Manufacturing PSQDC operating rhythm, including Tier 3 reviews, visual performance management, KPI delivery and escalation of significant operational risks.
• Lead, coach and develop Production Supervisors and Team Leaders, building accountability, problem-solving capability, skills coverage and succession within the department.
• Drive continuous improvement through structured problem solving, Lean tools and data-led action to improve productivity, quality, flow, equipment effectiveness, waste reduction and cost control.
• Work closely with Planning, Quality, Engineering, Warehouse, Materials, Technical, HSE and HR teams to support operational priorities, new product introduction, process change and long-term manufacturing capability.

Job Requirements

• Significant experience in a manufacturing leadership role, with a proven record of managing and developing frontline leaders or managers.
• Strong understanding of production planning, resource deployment, capacity management and manufacturing performance measures.
• Demonstrable experience leading operational change, improving performance and applying structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Ability to interpret operational data, identify underlying issues and translate insight into practical, sustained improvement actions.
• Excellent communication, coaching and cross-functional collaboration skills, with the confidence to make sound decisions and escalate risks appropriately.
• Experience within a regulated or controlled manufacturing environment, along with Lean, Six Sigma, ERP/MRP or digital performance-management experience, is advantageous.

What We Offer

• A standard benefits package.
• The opportunity to lead a critical manufacturing function and make a measurable impact on site performance, operational capability and customer delivery.
• A role with broad cross-functional exposure, including involvement in continuous improvement, equipment capability, new product introduction and strategic resource planning.
• Ongoing opportunities to develop leadership capability and build a high-performing, accountable Manufacturing team.

If you are a proactive manufacturing leader who can balance day-to-day operational delivery with long-term capability development, we encourage you to apply. We welcome applications from suitably qualified candidates and are committed to an inclusive recruitment process. Successful applicants will be required to demonstrate their right to work in the United Kingdom before employment begins.

From inside the farm gate to our dinner plates, Neogen protects the world’s food supply. Through a variety of animal healthcare products, to food safety solutions for dangerous bacteria, allergens, toxins, drug residues and much more, Neogen is there — and you can be too.