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 Rhondda
Rhondda is often known as the Rhondda Valley, and is a collection of mining villages that played a major part in South Wales’s economic prosperity in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The coal in the valley was plentiful but difficult to reach, so it required massive investment if it was to become economically viable, and remained largely untapped until the mid-1800s, when just such an effort was undertaken.
Rhondda is located 15 miles (25 km) north west of Cardiff and 20 miles (32 km) east of Swansea, from which ports the coal could readily be shipped around the nation and the world to fuel the Industrial Revolution. This led to a huge growth in population in the area, which went from less than a thousand in the 1851 census to 17,000 twenty years later and 160,000 by 1921. However the decline in coal mining thereafter also led to a decline in population, which now stands at around 60,000.
Commercially, the modern Rhondda Valley is dominated by smaller businesses and local retail areas, with moderate amounts of manufacturing going on. The picturesque appearance of the mountains and hills makes it a desirable place to live for workers from Swansea, Newport and Cardiff who prefer to retreat away from the frenetic pace of the city. The topography of the area means it’s less than ideal for locating logistics or supply chain operations. The valley is served by A road and B roads, with the M4 passing the Welsh coast’s cities the only motorway for miles around. If you’re looking for Head of Production jobs in Rhondda, it might be worth searching in these cities, although it’s not unknown for such positions to become available.
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