Head of Production
Every business has a core function, which might be making something, supplying it or offering a service. But businesses also need a whole infrastructure around them to run, from marketing to personnel.
The head of production is there to ensure the smooth operation of that core function on which everything else depends. It’s a crucial task, and although there will be plenty of important interaction with the other departments, they will be steering the company’s profitability.
Another important role of the head of production will be overseeing the development of new products to take to market. In technical businesses, that could involve overseeing a research and development department or a team of engineers, but in more generic or creative industries such as fashion, managing designers and factories, and maintaining a supply chain, will be part of the job.
The skills required
Production is a wide-ranging subject, covering everything from food supply to creating aviation components, so managers tend to be drawn from within certain sectors as they have familiarity with the way business is done. That said, head of production jobs often go to candidates with a varied CV, as it shows they have a grasp of the principles of productivity that they can apply to various industries.
Whatever your background, you’ll need to show an ability to think strategically, as production line creation and research are long processes that need plenty of forward planning. That will also mean that you’re constantly dealing with current projects as well as those in development and brand new concepts that might be a decade away. And all the time, you’ll need great personal skills as it's the team below you, and the board, who need to be up to speed on developments and goals.
Head of Production Jobs in Aylesbury
The county town of Buckinghamshire is Buckingham, right? Wrong. It's actually Aylesbury, a town about as close to the centre of the county as it's possible to be. It is roughly in the centre of a circle formed by London 33 miles (53 km) to the south east, Stevenage, Bedford, Northampton, Banbury, Oxford and Slough, going anticlockwise.
The town was traditionally a market town, where the surrounding farms and traders from more distant towns would congregate to sell their wares. Aylesbury still has a market four times a week, but this is by no means its main business. The town did have a strong milling industry until the mid-1800s, and it was the home to some food-related industry until quite recently, but nowadays its main employers are retailers and small businesses, as well as entertainment and the concentration of local government that accompanies any county town. Although Aylesbury was never a formal New Town, it did get redeveloped after the war, with displaced Londoners moving in and the old town being largely demolished to make way for new business properties.
Aylesbury is right in amongst the commuter belt for London, and houses a reasonably economically active population of around 70,000. The north west of the town is dominated by a large industrial estate with light and medium industry, retail and car showrooms. The town's diverse and largely affluent population, modern infrastructure and a decent amount of industry mean that Head of Production jobs are often being created in Aylesbury, so please get in touch if you are in the area and seeking such work.
Popular locations
Head of production recruitment at Cast UK
If you think you deserve a better head of production salary, Cast UK is where to start looking for your next career move.We only deal with managerial and executive level candidates, so you know that if you see a job on our boards, or if we contact you with a potential opening, it’s going to be a high quality position. Click the link below to register with us so we can contact you.
Recruitment is a two-way process, so if you’re an employer looking for a head of production, you can trust Cast UK to filter out the unqualified and cut straight to the chase with an excellent shortlist when you use us. If you’re looking for the perfect recruitment partner, call 0333 121 3345 and speak to one or our specialists.
Contact us