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 Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is one of several industrial powerhouses that served England’s North Sea coast during the Industrial Revolution and the age of empire, along with Hull, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Sunderland, Hartlepool and Grimsby. It is a town of over 140,000 population which has had to perform a degree of reinvention in the post-war period as the docks fell into disuse, but the chemical plant at nearby Wilton and the steelworks continue to be strong employers to this day.
To the west of the city is Stockton-on-Tees, which was one end of the famous Stockton and Darlington Railway, the first public railway in the world. The railway had a massive effect on Middlesbrough’s economy when it was opened in 1825. The city is still well connected, with good road and rail links and Teesside Airport serving domestic and short-haul needs. With this rich mix of industries and a large population to cater for, Head of Production vacancies often emerge in Middlesbrough.
The city has a long list of notable people who hail from its street or its nearby area. A few famous names include football legends Brian Clough and Don Revie, rugby union star Rory Underwood, conjuror Paul Daniels, comedian Bob Mortimer (of Vic and Bob fame), guitarist Chris Rea and Corrie actors Thelma “Mavis Riley” Barlow and Chris “Brian Tilsley” Quinten, to name but a few. There must be something in the water!
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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.
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