Production Team Leader

Job Title: Production Team Leader, Military Helmets

Location: Coventry, UK

Hours: Continental Shift (see job ad for details)

Vacancy Type: Full-time and Permanent

Salary: £34,886.40 base plus £11,512.51 shift allowance, total £46,398.91 per year

Two Permanent Positions | Continental Shift | Coventry | Immediate Start

The continental shift starts in August. Join before then and you will start on a temporary non -continental shift pattern until the new shift goes live.

The job

We are looking for experienced Production Team Leaders who want to join an exciting and growing business, and who take pride in playing a part in something that matters. We are committed to creating opportunities for people living in and around Coventry or willing to commute, and the work you do here will help NP Aerospace protect lives all over the world.

Due to new operational requirements and increased demand, NP Aerospace is continuing to grow our manufacturing team in Coventry. We are launching a new continental shift to support a new contract and the volume of work that comes with it, and we are looking to appoint Team Leaders as soon as possible to help set the standard for performance, safety and quality from day one.

As a Team Leader, you will take ownership of the shopfloor and lead a team of new Process Operators as the operation ramps up. You will oversee high performance teams manufacturing military helmets, coordinating activity across CNC cutting, water jet cutting, press and mouldings, and finishing. You will keep production moving, support training and development, and drive improvements that help the team deliver right first time, every time.

Full training will be provided, with opportunities to develop your knowledge across CNC cutting, water jet cutting, and press and mouldings.

Do you want to know more about NPA? Visit our LinkedIn page and NPA Careers Page to find out more about us!

Shift pattern

This is a rotating continental shift pattern. You work 4 days on, then 4 days off, on 11.25-hour shifts. Shifts rotate between days and nights.

Day shift: 6am to 6pm

Two unpaid breaks: 30 minutes and 15 minutes

Night shift: 6pm to 6am

Two unpaid breaks: 30 minutes and 15 minutes

Your rota will confirm whether you are on days or nights for each 4-day block.

What you'll get in return

At NP Aerospace, we know our success comes from our people. That’s why we invest in benefits that support your health, reward your hard work, and help you grow your career:

Performance rewards – discretionary bonus opportunities

Time to recharge: 247.5 hours per year, equivalent to 22 shifts per year

Support for Defence – two weeks’ paid leave for Reservists and Cadets, plus paid leave for Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAVs) – subject to approval

Future security – competitive pension scheme (9% combined employer/employee contributions)

Peace of mind – life cover at 3x base salary

Health & wellbeing first – BHSF Cash Healthcare Plan to support everyday health costs

Grow with us – career development and advancement opportunities within a global business

Supportive environment – a team culture built on innovation, collaboration, and purpose

What you'll be doing

In this role, you will take day to day ownership of shift performance within our military helmets operation, leading the shopfloor team to deliver safe, consistent output to plan. The key duties and responsibilities for the position are outlined below.

Production leadership

* Allocate people across the shift, manage output, and escalate issues early to keep production on track

* Review KPIs and lead daily board meetings, setting clear priorities and actions for the team

* Step in and backfill tasks when needed to maintain coverage and protect delivery

* Keep QAD stock records accurate and up to date, ensuring good system discipline and traceability

Team management

* Lead performance conversations and job chats, setting expectations and maintaining standards

* Deliver on the job training and keep skills matrices current and meaningful

* Plan holiday cover and manage day to day team administration

* Promote flexibility, teamwork and continuous improvement across the shift

Process control

* Lead shift handovers and toolbox talks to set the tone for safety, quality and performance

* Role model and enforce Health and Safety standards every day

* Champion lean behaviours and operational discipline, embedding consistent ways of working

Product quality

* Communicate clearly across quality, production and engineering teams to resolve issues quickly

* Support high standards and continuous improvement, helping the team deliver right first time

The above is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities.

Our team embraces modern technologies, including AI-assisted tools, to work smarter and deliver better results. Candidates should either have experience using AI tools or demonstrate a willingness to learn and apply them in their role.

Experience

Essential

* Proven experience leading teams in a fast-paced environment, ideally within manufacturing.

* Confident managing shift teams, taking ownership for output, and solving production challenges as they arise.

* Strong communication, problem solving and organisational skills, able to keep people aligned and priorities clear.

* Solid understanding of production systems and health and safety expectations in an operational setting.

* Intermediate IT skills, comfortable using factory systems and updating records accurately.

* Experience managing people matters professionally, including return to work meetings and performance issues.

* Experience using AI tools or willingness to learn and apply AI in the role.

What do we do at NP Aerospace?

NP Aerospace is a global leader in armour technology manufacturing and vehicle integration, delivering high-performance, lifesaving solutions for the defence and security industry.

Our mission is to improve and protect lives, and our vision is to be a leading provider of innovative solutions that solve our customers' complex challenges. Our values - Respect, Collaboration, Integrity, and Dedication form the bedrock of our culture.

Our extensive range of combat-proven body armour, from ballistic helmets, plates, and shields to bomb disposal suits, highlights some of the most advanced composite materials. With a team of R&D engineers working on next-generation solutions, we also excel in highly engineered vehicle systems and armour platforms used by some of the world’s largest defence organisations.

Founded in 1926, NP Aerospace has served the defence industry for over 40 years, evolving into an agile and diverse company. Our Business Development team is expanding both in the UK and North America.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement: NP Aerospace is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals, regardless of race, colour, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs. We are also fully committed to supporting the Defence Community and actively advertise roles on Defence specific platforms such as CTP, Force Families, Forces Employment Charity, and Veterans Job Board.

Data Privacy: NP Aerospace respects the privacy of all applicants. Personal information provided during the application process will be treated in accordance with our privacy policy and applicable data protection laws.

Please note: If successful, you will be required to sign the Official Secrets Act and successfully pass the necessary checks before you can begin your employment with NP Aerospace