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 Worthing
The seaside town of Worthing lies on England’s south coast, halfway between Brighton and Bognor Regis, in West Sussex. Settlement dates back to the Stone Age, and Worthing was a sleepy mackerel fishing town until the Georgian period, when grand building started springing up as it became part of the tourist trail. Much of the splendid architecture survives to this day, and the town now has a population of around 100,000.
The town is still best known as a holiday resort, Worthing does have a thriving economy that includes financial services (e.g. Aviva), pharmaceuticals (e.g. GlaxoSmithKline), government (HM Revenue and Customs) and the creative industries. There is a relatively strong manufacturing sector, too, which almost matches the employment attained by tourism-related industries. In the 1990s the town was particularly profitable, and its population are relatively affluent, especially for a town of its size.
Holiday resorts often suffer out of season, but this does not seem to the case with Worthing, which has managed to be productive and quite industrialised without sacrificing any of its Georgian charm. All this in combination makes it a place anyone looking for a Head of Production position should put on their watch list if they live in the area – you may be surprised at what comes up.
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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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