Manufacturing Team Lead - Job Specification
Role Purpose
The Manufacturing Team Lead is responsible for leading and coordinating day-to-day manufacturing activities to ensure production targets, quality standards, safety requirements and delivery commitments are consistently achieved.
The role provides hands-on leadership to the manufacturing team, ensuring that employees are appropriately trained, supported and working in accordance with company procedures, quality systems and health & safety requirements.
The Manufacturing Team Lead will work closely with Operations, Quality, Engineering, Maintenance, Warehouse and other support functions to ensure manufacturing operations run safely, efficiently and effectively.
Key Responsibilities
Production & Operations
- Lead and coordinate the manufacturing team to achieve daily production plans, targets and customer delivery requirements.
- Ensure manufacturing activities are carried out safely, efficiently and in accordance with approved procedures and work instructions.
- Monitor production performance, identify issues and take appropriate action to minimise downtime, delays and waste.
- Ensure production records, documentation and relevant manufacturing paperwork are completed accurately and on time.
- Maintain oversight of day-to-day manufacturing activities and ensure standard work is followed.
- Escalate safety, quality, equipment, material, process or staffing issues to the appropriate management team.
- Work closely with Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, Materials/Warehouse and other support functions to resolve operational issues.
Team Leadership
- Provide day-to-day leadership, direction and support to manufacturing operators.
- Allocate tasks and responsibilities to team members in line with production requirements.
- Monitor team performance and provide feedback to support employee development.
- Support the training, onboarding and ongoing development of manufacturing personnel.
- Ensure team members are competent and appropriately trained for the tasks they perform.
- Promote a positive, accountable and collaborative team culture.
- Lead regular team communications, toolbox talks and production updates.
Health, Safety & Compliance
- Lead by example in relation to Environmental, Health & Safety policies and procedures.
- Ensure all team members understand and follow relevant health & safety requirements.
- Promote a strong safety culture and actively identify and address potential hazards.
- Ensure manufacturing activities comply with applicable quality systems, GMP/GDP requirements and company procedures.
- Maintain high standards of housekeeping, hygiene and workplace organisation.
- Ensure all required documentation and records are completed accurately and in accordance with regulatory and company requirements. The original specification places significant emphasis on EHS, GMP/cGDP, documentation and maintaining appropriate manufacturing standards.
Quality
- Ensure products are manufactured and handled in accordance with approved procedures and quality requirements.
- Promote a right-first-time approach across the manufacturing team.
- Support investigations into quality, process and production issues.
- Ensure deviations, incidents and quality concerns are reported and escalated appropriately.
- Work with Quality and Operations teams to maintain and improve manufacturing standards.
- Support preparation for internal and external audits and regulatory inspections.
Performance & Continuous Improvement
- Monitor production metrics and communicate performance to the Operations Supervisor/Management team.
- Identify opportunities to improve productivity, efficiency, quality and reliability.
- Support Lean Manufacturing and 5S initiatives within the manufacturing area.
- Encourage team members to identify and contribute to continuous improvement opportunities.
- Use problem-solving techniques to address recurring production issues.
- Support the introduction of new processes, equipment, products and manufacturing improvements.
- Maintain a strong focus on reducing waste, improving efficiencies and achieving production targets.
Equipment & Manufacturing Processes
- Ensure manufacturing equipment is operated correctly and maintained to the required standards.
- Work with Engineering and Maintenance teams to address equipment issues and minimise downtime.
- Support the introduction and qualification of new equipment and manufacturing processes where required.
- Ensure manufacturing procedures, SOPs and work instructions are followed and kept up to date.
- Support process validation and other manufacturing activities as required.
Leadership & Development
- Act as a role model for safe, professional and high-quality manufacturing practices.
- Develop team capability and encourage a culture of ownership and accountability.
- Provide regular feedback on employee performance, training needs and development opportunities.
- Support the Operations Supervisor in achieving departmental objectives.
- Help build a high-performing manufacturing team focused on safety, quality, delivery and continuous improvement.
- Promote effective communication between shifts, departments and support functions.
Key Performance Areas
The Manufacturing Team Lead will be expected to contribute to performance across:
- Health & Safety
- Production Output
- Quality & Compliance
- On-Time Delivery
- Team Performance & Development
- Equipment Utilisation
- Waste Reduction
- Continuous Improvement
- 5S / Lean Manufacturing
- Documentation & GMP Compliance
