Head of Production

BAE Systems
Job title: Head of ProductionLocation: Warton / Samlesbury, LancashireSalary: Negotiable – Depending on skills and experience plus executive benefits including car allowance and bonus BAE Systems Air:BAE Systems is at the heart of the UK’s sovereign combat air capability, delivering combat air readiness and ensuring our Air Force customers have the equipment, services and skills they need to protect and maintain security and economic prosperity. As a world-leader in defence exports, we play a crucial role in internationally collaborative programmes that enhance local industrial capability and support strategic partnerships overseas. Our goal is to accelerate the innovation of future air power through the development of technology, skills and collaborative ways of working that enable our customers to stay ahead of evolving threats.Summary:You will be responsible for leading, planning and controlling on-going operational aircraft production processes and activities, delivering to customer needs and strategic business requirements in high, medium and low rate, complex manufacture production facilities. You will have overall responsibility for production and / or final assembly of whole/parts of the aircraft.What you’ll be doing:

• Delivering the Manufacturing strategy through leading a large production workforce of c.500+ employees in the production facility to deliver aircraft to complex and demanding programme plans and service solutions.Developing and maintaining strong, senior and high profile customer relationships, to ensure BAE Systems is always the prime choice and is a valued and trusted part of the supply chain.Identifying all dependencies, stakeholders, risks and prioritising workload across multi-functional / discipline teams.Ensuring compliance to all Safety/Quality/People processes.Delivering Maintenance Programmes & Upgrades and managing departmental budgets.Leading and directing a large production workforce and virtual teams of support staff from across Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Logistics, Project Management and others.Solving problems and ability to think laterally to ensure that the overall goals of the programme remain in focus without compromising overall product safety and quality,Continuous process and efficiency improvement through the use of emerging technology and data.Forward thinking employee engagement of a highly unionised workforce.

Your skills and experiences:

• An inspiring leader, with a focus on the development, engagement, safety and wellbeing of the workforce, as a key enabler to business performance.Experience of high rate production with a focus on process, automation and digital technology, with a progressive route towards this in a manufacturing operational environment.Experienced in operational leadership of multiple teams in a unionised environment.Ability to drive a high performance culture with operational excellence.Proven track record in outcome focused production/manufacturing transformation, technological and cultural change, ideally in an Automotive or Aircraft Design & Manufacturing business.Ability to collaborate across broad internal and external networks.Broad appreciation and understanding of the International Industry, organisations, politics and cultures.Appreciation of Project Management/Integration control processes and IT business systems.Ability to understand, analyse and co-ordinate solutions to complex planning, operational & technical issues.Strong customer focus to manage customer satisfaction and ensure customer issues are resolved effectively in order to enhance the reputation of BAE Systems.Ability to deploy a high level of freedom to meet complex operational programmes and technical issues in an effective and efficient manner.Strong track record of achievements in Customer Service, Safety, Quality and Productivity.Experience of managing large teams engaged in a wide variety of activities is essential.Degree/Equivalent in an Operations/Operation support discipline.

Benefits:You’ll receive benefits including a competitive pension scheme, enhanced annual leave allowance and a Company contributed Share Incentive Plan. You’ll also have access to additional benefits such as flexible working, an employee assistance programme, Cycle2work and employee discounts – you may also be eligible for an annual incentive.Why BAE Systems?This is a place where you’ll be able to make a real difference. You’ll be part of an inclusive culture that values diversity, rewards integrity, and merit, and where you’ll be empowered to fulfil your potential. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds and particularly from sections of the community who are currently underrepresented within our industry, including women, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities and LGBTQ+ individuals. We also want to make sure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible. If you have a disability or health condition (for example dyslexia, autism, an anxiety disorder etc.) that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your recruiter about potential reasonable adjustments.”Please be aware that many roles working for BAE Systems will be subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors including your nationality, any previous nationalities you have held, and your place of birth may limit those roles you can perform for the organisation.