Head of Manufacturing Engineering

About Us

Swift Group is one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of caravans and leisure homes. We are committed to delivering high‑quality, innovative products that exceed customer expectations. As we continue to invest in our manufacturing capability and operational excellence, we are seeking a dynamic and strategic Head of Manufacturing Engineering to lead and develop our engineering and continuous improvement functions.

This is a senior leadership position responsible for leading all Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, and Continuous Improvement (CI) activities across the organisation. You will ensure our production processes, equipment, and systems are efficient, capable, scalable, and aligned with business strategy, delivering high‑quality products while meeting safety, quality, cost, delivery, and environmental objectives. Working closely with Operations, Quality, and Supply Chain, you will play a critical role in shaping and enhancing our long‑term manufacturing capability.

• Define and deliver the strategic roadmap for Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, and Continuous Improvement
• Align manufacturing capability with business strategy and performance goals
• Lead, develop, and inspire high‑performing engineering and CI teams
• Establish best practices in process design, standardisation, and technical governance

• Oversee design, optimisation, and validation of manufacturing processes, equipment, tooling, and workflows
• Own process standards, equipment specifications, and capacity planning
• Lead production layout design, line balancing, time & motion studies, and labour/equipment optimisation
• Improve material flow, ergonomics, and workstation design
• Develop and maintain standard work, work instructions, and capacity models
• Support new product introduction (NPI) and implementation of improved technologies

• Embed and coach Lean, Six Sigma, and structured problem‑solving methodologies
• Drive CI tools including 5S, Kaizen, RCA, and data‑driven constraint analysis
• Lead cross‑functional improvement initiatives focused on productivity, quality, cost reduction, and delivery performance
• Ensure sustainability of improvements through visual management and performance tracking

• Ensure compliance with safety, environmental, and quality standards
• Support PFMEAs, risk assessments, and robust process controls
• Partner with Quality and Operations to reduce defects and improve process capability

• Manage engineering budgets, tooling investment, and CI initiatives
• Track and report KPIs across productivity, quality, cost, delivery and capability
• Govern and prioritise engineering project portfolios to maximise business impact

• Degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, or related discipline
• Significant senior leadership experience in manufacturing engineering or operational excellence
• Strong background in Industrial Engineering and Continuous Improvement
• Proven track record of delivering measurable manufacturing improvements
• Deep understanding of manufacturing processes, equipment, and Lean principles

• Strategic thinker with strong analytical capability
• Hands‑on leadership style
• Excellent communicator and stakeholder manager
• Influential change leader
• Data‑driven, resilient, and results‑focused
• Passionate about developing people and building capability

• Senior leadership impact within a market‑leading manufacturer
• Opportunity to shape and future‑proof manufacturing strategy
• Work in a business committed to innovation and continuous improvement
• Competitive salary and benefits package