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Plant Operations Manager

Job Posted: 20 days ago

Salary: £ 70,000 - 80,000 / Annum
Job Type: Permanent
Location: Basildon

Expire in: 8 days

Job Description

Plant Operations Manager - Automotive Manufacturing (Greenfield Site)
 Location: Basildon, Essex (On-site)
 Salary: Competitive + benefits
  
 Overview
  
 We are supporting an established European manufacturing business as they launch a new UK production facility in Basildon. This is a greenfield site, replicating a successful operation in Italy, focused on plastic injection moulding and associated finishing processes (including painting) for the automotive sector.
  
 This is a key hire who will play a pivotal role in setting up, stabilising, and scaling the plant from the ground up.
  
 The Role
  
 As Plant Operations Manager, you will take ownership of the day-to-day operational setup and running of the facility, ensuring readiness for production and supporting long-term growth.
 You will work closely with international stakeholders (Italy HQ) and be instrumental in building the UK team and operational capability.
  
 Key Responsibilities
  
 Site Setup & Readiness
  
Support final stages of site preparation and operational readiness 
Coordinate installation of production machinery (target June-July) 
Ensure the plant is fully operational for production go-live (target September)  Operations Management
  
Oversee day-to-day plant operations, ensuring efficiency, quality, and safety 
Implement processes aligned with the existing Italian operation 
Drive continuous improvement across production, workflow, and output  Team Build & Leadership
  
Lead initial hiring of ~10 staff, scaling to ~30+ over time 
Build and develop a high-performing production team 
Establish a strong on-site culture and operational discipline  Stakeholder Coordination
  
Act as the key UK contact for the Italian HQ 
Ensure alignment on processes, standards, and timelines 
Support knowledge transfer between sites   
 Candidate Profile
  
 Essential
  
Proven experience in a Plant Manager / Operations Manager / Production Manager role 
Strong background in automotive manufacturing environments 
Experience in setting up or scaling manufacturing operations (greenfield or expansion highly desirable) 
Hands-on, operational mindset - comfortable being on the shop floor 
Experience with team building and hiring  Desirable
  
Experience with plastic injection moulding 
Exposure to painting or finishing processes 
Experience working with international teams or parent companies  Why Join?
  
Opportunity to build a manufacturing site from scratch 
High level of autonomy and ownership 
Long-term growth as the site scales over the coming years 
Work with an established international business entering the UK market  Timeline Context (for candidates)
  
Site currently under construction 
Machinery installation: Summer 2026 (June-July) 
Production go-live: ~September 2026

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