Head of Production - Leicester

Role Overview HOW YOU CAN MAKE AN IMPACT This is a senior leadership role responsible for driving the safe, reliable and efficient delivery of fleet production and maintenance activities on a 24/7 basis. Leading production teams and working closely with customers and internal stakeholders, the role focuses on maximising fleet availability, reliability and train presentation while embedding a strong safety culture, delivering contractual KPIs, developing high-performing teams and driving continuous improvement across all operational and engineering activities. Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and inspire the Production team to deliver safe, reliable and efficient fleet operations that meet contractual performance and availability targets.
• Drive a strong safety-first culture, ensuring compliance with quality, environmental and operational standards.
• Manage day-to-day production activities to maximise fleet reliability, availability and train presentation.
• Build, develop and coach high-performing teams through effective leadership, performance management and succession planning.
• Act as the key customer and stakeholder interface for production performance, service delivery and warranty matters.
• Monitor and improve operational performance through KPI management, reporting, root cause analysis and corrective action planning.
• Champion continuous improvement initiatives that enhance reliability, optimise maintenance activities and improve operational efficiency.
• Lead investigations into safety, quality and performance issues, ensuring timely resolution and sustainable improvements.
• Foster effective collaboration across operational, engineering and performance teams to achieve business objectives.
• Provide leadership support to the wider site, including deputising for the Head of Location when required and participating in on-call arrangements. HOW YOU WILL CONTRIBUTE Experience
• Significant experience within rolling stock maintenance, fleet operations or a large engineering environment.
• Proven track record of leading and developing teams, with at least five years' people management experience.
• Experience managing production, maintenance or operational activities within a transport, rail or engineering setting.
• Strong background in stakeholder engagement, customer management and cross-functional collaboration.
• Experience driving operational performance through KPI management, continuous improvement and root cause investigations.
• Demonstrable experience identifying, assessing and mitigating operational and safety risks. Skills And Qualifications
• Strong leadership and people management skills, with the ability to motivate, coach and develop high-performing teams.
• Excellent decision-making and problem-solving abilities, particularly in fast-paced operational environments.
• Sound understanding of fleet maintenance, production processes and through-life support principles.
• Strong knowledge of health, safety, quality and risk management practices.
• Ability to analyse complex technical information and translate this into effective operational actions.
• Skilled communicator with the ability to influence and engage stakeholders at all levels.
• Customer-focused mindset with a commitment to operational excellence and continuous improvement.
• Working knowledge of Lean, Kaizen, 5S and other modern production improvement methodologies.
• Competent IT user with good knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.
• HNC (or equivalent) in an engineering, technical or related discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Technical and managerial qualification(s) or demonstrable experience operating at a comparable level within a production, engineering or rail environment. Similar jobs