Production Manager

V&C Associates are delighted and excited to be partnering with a British heritage brand founded in 1812, holder of multiple Royal Warrants, and known worldwide for its bespoke craftsmanship and luxury goods, bags, Tote and leather travel accessories— now entering an ambitious new phase of global growth.The RoleYou'll take ownership of the day-to-day running of our production workshop — from planning and scheduling through to quality control and final finishing. This is a hands-on role for someone who understands both the discipline of running an efficient production line and the patience craftsmanship demands. You'll work closely with our pattern cutters, machinists and finishers.Key ResponsibilitiesProduction Planning & DeliveryBuild and manage production schedules across multiple product lines, balancing capacity, lead times and seasonal demandOwn the critical path from cut leather through to finished, packaged productMonitor daily/weekly output against targets and proactively flag and resolve bottlenecksManage stock and materials flow — leather, hardware, linings and trims — working with suppliers to avoid production delaysQuality & CraftsmanshipSet and uphold quality standards befitting a luxury product, at every stage of productionRun quality inspections and final QC checks before goods leave the workshopWork with the design/product development team to translate new designs into repeatable, production-ready processes (patterns, tech packs, construction methods)Investigate and resolve any recurring quality issues at their root causeTeam LeadershipManage and motivate a team of skilled leather craftspeople — cutters, machinists, and finishersRun training and apprenticeship programmes to develop technical skills and safeguard traditional craft techniques for the next generationSet clear performance expectations, conduct regular reviews, and build a positive, safety-conscious workshop cultureContinuous ImprovementIdentify opportunities to improve workshop layout, workflow and efficiency without diluting hand-craftsmanshipIntroduce lean/process-improvement practices appropriate to a small-batch, high-quality manufacturing environmentMaintain health & safety compliance across the workshopKey characteristics:-Proven experience as a Production Manager, Factory Manager or Workshop Manager within a manufacturing environment — leathergoods, leather accessories, footwear, or another hand-crafted/luxury goods sector strongly preferredA genuine understanding of, and respect for, craft-based manufacturing — this is not a high-volume automated lineStrong planning and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple product lines and deadlines at onceExperience managing and developing a skilled production teamA practical, hands-on approach — comfortable being on the workshop floor, not just behind a deskSound understanding of quality control processes and root-cause problem solvingBased in or able to commute to BirminghamDesirableExperience working with vegetable-tanned or full-grain leatherBackground in a luxury or premium goods brandFormal qualifications in manufacturing/production management (e.g. Lean Six Sigma), though hands-on experience matters more than paper qualifications hereWhat We OfferCompetitive salary, in line with production management roles in West Midlands manufacturingThe opportunity to lead production for a brand with a genuine, century-plus heritage in British craftsmanshipA rare chance to help shape how a traditional workshop scales for the future