Team Lead

ABOUT G&H

G&H is a global leader in optical design, testing and manufacturing. For more than 75 years, we’ve been at the forefront of photonics innovation—designing and delivering optical systems, assemblies and components for the world’s most demanding applications. Our technologies are trusted everywhere from the deepest oceans to space.  

At our Torquay site, you’ll be part of the Torbay Hi-Tech Cluster—a vibrant community of photonics and microelectronics companies driving breakthrough innovation in the South Devon region. This is where world-class engineering meets real-world impact.  

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING

As a Team Leader you will provide first line support for team members, ensuring that all issues are dealt with or escalated effectively to the appropriate person. Within this role you will also provide leadership in the department and deliver against Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost and People targets for that relevant area of the business. 

Support and facilitate continuous improvements by identifying areas of deficiency, recommend/implementing appropriate changes in training, working practices and processes for the department.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Ensure that all team members are conforming to all health and safety procedures and promote a culture of proactive safety on the shop floor.
• Ensures that all team members are conforming to Quality procedures and promote a culture of Quality conformance on the shop floor.
• Provides first point of contact for operators, ensuring all issues are dealt with or escalated effectively.
• Drives productivity throughout the line, providing leadership, motivation and removing any barriers to production.
• Drives schedule adherence and on-time delivery, instilling customer focus and a deadline mentality.
• Reports operational performance at Tier 1 board, with any deviations understood and plans to recover. 
• Ensures products are manufactured to controlled procedures. Promptly reports risks to product quality to production management. 
• Supports resource allocation decisions for meeting the throughput requirements, highlighting any issues that may affect these requirements.
• Follows the appraisal process to ensure all team members receive appropriate feedback on performance and growth opportunities. Also reviews staff on a quarterly basis and propose any appropriate band changes.
• Ensures all HR processes are followed with regards to absence by following the current absence policy.
• Maintains required standards of behavior, following the formal disciplinary procedure where necessary.
• Ensure local working areas are organised and clean, according to procedure and 6s audits.
• Ensuring data is entered into and maintained correctly by their teams on all business systems, including Bodet, Syspro, WIP Tracking software and Paylocity.
• Supports continuous improvements on the line, developing and building on existing processes to improve SQCDP KPIs.
• Performs all job duties within ISO and AS standards, regulatory or statutory requirements.

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE WE'RE LOOKING FOR

• Recognised management qualification & technical qualification desirable 
• Proven experience in a technical production environment
• Demonstrated leadership skills and management of manufacturing teams
• Exposure to a lean manufacturing environment
• Use of Syspro (or equivalent) and legacy business systems 
• Understanding of manufacturing metrics 
• Understanding of Lean manufacturing practices
• Awareness of documentation structure 

WHY JOIN US AT G&H

• Be part of a globally recognised photonics leader with a 75-year heritage
• Work on technologies used everywhere from the Moon to the ocean floor
• Join a thriving local cluster of high-tech innovators in Torbay 
• 25 days holiday (increasing with service)
• Salary Sacrifice Pension Scheme
• Enhanced Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to work scheme

Notes: This job description is not intended to be exhaustive in every respect, but rather to clearly define the fundamental purpose, responsibilities and dimensions for the role. Therefore, this job description does not describe any individual role holder. In addition to the contents of this job description, employees are expected to undertake any and all other reasonable and related tasks allocated by their line manager.

The Company is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants for employment. The Company does not discriminate in employment opportunity or practices on the grounds of gender, race, religion or belief, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by national laws under which the Company operates.

Potential candidates should be aware that many of the employment roles at Gooch & Housego are subject to government security and export control restrictions.  These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities that you may have previously held and your place of birth, could restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation.

All UK applicants must, as a minimum, be able to successfully complete security vetting to the UK government’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard, which includes a criminal record check being performed. Many roles may also require higher levels of security vetting to be completed, wher