Plant Operations Manager - Automotive Manufacturing (Greenfield Site)
Location: Basildon, Essex (On-site)
Salary: Competitive + benefits

Overview

We are supporting an established European manufacturing business as they launch a new UK production facility in Basildon. This is a greenfield site, replicating a successful operation in Italy, focused on plastic injection moulding and associated finishing processes (including painting) for the automotive sector.

This is a key hire who will play a pivotal role in setting up, stabilising, and scaling the plant from the ground up.

The Role

As Plant Operations Manager, you will take ownership of the day-to-day operational setup and running of the facility, ensuring readiness for production and supporting long-term growth.
You will work closely with international stakeholders (Italy HQ) and be instrumental in building the UK team and operational capability.

Key Responsibilities

Site Setup & Readiness
*Support final stages of site preparation and operational readiness
*Coordinate installation of production machinery (target June-July)
*Ensure the plant is fully operational for production go-live (target September)
Operations Management
*Oversee day-to-day plant operations, ensuring efficiency, quality, and safety
*Implement processes aligned with the existing Italian operation
*Drive continuous improvement across production, workflow, and output
Team Build & Leadership
*Lead initial hiring of ~10 staff, scaling to ~30+ over time
*Build and develop a high-performing production team
*Establish a strong on-site culture and operational discipline
Stakeholder Coordination
*Act as the key UK contact for the Italian HQ
*Ensure alignment on processes, standards, and timelines
*Support knowledge transfer between sites

Candidate Profile

Essential
*Proven experience in a Plant Manager / Operations Manager / Production Manager role
*Strong background in automotive manufacturing environments
*Experience in setting up or scaling manufacturing operations (greenfield or expansion highly desirable)
*Hands-on, operational mindset - comfortable being on the shop floor
*Experience with team building and hiring
Desirable
*Experience with plastic injection moulding
*Exposure to painting or finishing processes
*Experience working with international teams or parent companies
Why Join?
*Opportunity to build a manufacturing site from scratch
*High level of autonomy and ownership
*Long-term growth as the site scales over the coming years
*Work with an established international business entering the UK market
Timeline Context (for candidates)
*Site currently under construction
*Machinery installation: Summer 2026 (June-July)
*Production go-live: ~September 2026