Plant Manager

Plant Manager – Penrith

About the role:

We have an exciting opportunity for a Plant Manager to lead our Penrith site and take responsibility for manufacturing, warehousing and logistics performance, people and the continued development of the operation.

Our Penrith site has recently undergone a significant transformation, with substantial investment in new production lines and processes, increasing manufacturing capacity by 50%. The site is now highly automated, with three door pressing and trimming lines, and is positioned for significant future growth across the UK and wider European markets.

This is a unique opportunity to lead a major manufacturing, warehousing and logistics operation at an important point in its development. You’ll drive performance, growth and continuous improvement while building a strong culture of safety, accountability and engagement.

Reporting to the Operations Director, this critical leadership role is ideal for an experienced manufacturing leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment, takes ownership and delivers results.

What impact you will make:

• Champion the JELD-WEN Values: ethical business practices, investment in people, customer innovation, reliability and continuous improvement.
• Lead all aspects of site operations, including production, warehousing and logistics, driving safety, quality, delivery, cost and operational performance.
• Own and manage plant financial performance, including budgeting, forecasting and delivery of EBIT commitments.
• Drive SQDCIP manufacturing excellence and lead continuous improvement across the site.
• Drive improvements across warehousing and logistics, ensuring effective material flow, inventory management and alignment between production and distribution.
• Drive cost, productivity and operational improvements through strong team engagement and effective project leadership.
• Build a strong Safety First culture, ensuring safety remains at the heart of site leadership and decision-making.
• Lead, inspire and develop the Penrith team, building engagement, accountability and future leadership capability.
• Work collaboratively across the wider UK operation to support our integrated manufacturing and supply chain network.
  
  

What you’ll need to succeed:

• Proven experience in plant leadership, manufacturing leadership or senior operations management, with a strong track record of delivering performance across manufacturing operations and associated warehousing and logistics activities.
• Strong financial and commercial acumen, with the ability to translate operational and financial insights into effective business decisions.
• A commitment to a Safety First culture and a zero-tolerance approach to unsafe practices.
• Experience working within Quality Management Systems.
• Proven ability to lead, develop and inspire teams and create a culture of accountability and engagement.
• Experience of driving continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Familiarity with Lean manufacturing tools and methodologies such as 5S, standard work, mistake-proofing, TPM and value stream mapping.
• Experience with SQDCIP or similar production management systems would be advantageous.
• Previous experience working within a trade union environment.
• Experience within a medium to large-scale manufacturing environment is strongly desirable.

Why join us:

We are passionate about doors and are one of the world’s leading manufacturers in this field. Joining JELD-WEN offers the opportunity to work within an international organisation with strong brands, significant opportunities for development and a culture focused on people, performance and continuous improvement.

At Penrith in particular, this is an opportunity to take leadership of a site that has benefited from significant recent investment and increased manufacturing capability, and to play a key role in converting that investment into sustainable performance and future growth.

We act with integrity, invest in people, inspire through innovation, deliver on our promises and improve every day. We are seeking talented people who share our purpose and values and want to excel in their field of expertise.

We offer excellent benefits, a collaborative working environment and opportunities to develop your career within an international organisation. 

About JELD-WEN:

JELD-WEN, founded in 1960, is a leading global manufacturer of doors and windows. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, JELD-WEN designs, manufactures and distributes an extensive range of interior and exterior doors and related building products for residential and non-residential markets.

Our products and services give us the opportunity to be part of people’s workplaces, homes and everyday lives. With this privilege comes a responsibility to ensure the products we deliver are reliable and enrich the places and lives they touch.

JELD-WEN is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any applicant for employment or employee on the basis of race, colour, religious creed, gender, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other classification protected by applicable discrimination laws.

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Unless explicitly requested or approached by JELD-WEN, the company will not accept unsolicited CVs from headhunters, recruitment agencies or fee-based recruitment services.