Job Description

Location:

Cookstown (Mid Ulster)

Division:

Heron Fire Doors (Heron Manufacture Ltd)

Reports to:

General Manager

About Us

Heron Fire Doors manufactures fully certified timber door sets for fire, smoke, and security applications. We've doubled in size over the last three years and are investing in systems and processes to scale further -- with a lean headcount and a practical, hands-on culture.

The Opportunity

A pivotal role to

deliver cross-functional improvement projects

that make us faster, simpler, and more reliable at scale. Operate independently across Estimating, Planning, Technical, Production, and Office, turning strategy into measurable outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

Lead and deliver strategic/operational projects (process improvement, layout & flow, planning/scheduling, digital tools/ERP touchpoints). Map, standardise, and improve workflows from enquiry to despatch; implement SOPs and visual management. Apply lean methods (5S, VSM, standard work, Kanban/pull, root-cause/8D) to remove waste and reduce lead times. Establish and track KPIs (OTIF, lead time, first-time-yield, rework, margin by job); report progress and ROI. Facilitate cross-team change: run kaizen workshops, coach teams, lock in gains with standardisation. De-risk delivery: identify constraints early; plan mitigations; keep timelines, budgets, and stakeholders aligned.
About You --

Essential

Degree:

BEng/BSc in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Industrial Engineering (or closely related).

Industry:

Proven experience in timber/joinery or engineered products

(doors, windows, furniture, cabinetry, modular/offsite, or engineered assemblies). Track record delivering cross-functional projects on the shop floor in a small/medium manufacturing business.

Lean toolkit in practice:

5S, VSM, standard work, Kanban/pull, root-cause/8D; able to coach others.

Data-driven:

confident with KPIs, time/capacity studies, simple dashboards; comfortable with ERP/MRP basics (BOMs, routings, work orders, scheduling). Influence without direct reports; clear communicator from boardroom to bench.

Hands-on:

sleeves-up approach; split time between office and factory.
Desirable

Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (or equivalent evidence of CI delivery). Experience introducing or optimising ERP/MRP in an SME. CAD/CAM or manufacturing engineering methods exposure Experience in fire-tested/third-party-certified products.
First-Year Outcomes

Process map & roadmap

agreed; top 5 bottlenecks addressed with measurable gains (e.g., 15-20% lead-time reduction on a priority stream).

5S & visual management

live in priority areas; audit scores trending up.

Standardised order-to-production workflow

with clear handovers, SOPs, checklists.

Simple KPI dashboard

(OTIF, WIP age, rework, throughput) and monthly CI cadence embedded.

Capacity uplift

from layout/flow changes with documented ROI.
Why Join Heron

Real ownership of meaningful projects with visible impact. Work directly with leadership; shape how we scale. Culture that values practicality, pace, and continuous improvement.
Job Type: Full-time

Pay: 31,674.31-59,866.40 per year

Benefits:

Cycle to work scheme Free parking Health & wellbeing programme On-site gym On-site parking Work from home
Application question(s):

Are you located in Northern Ireland?
Language:

English (required)
Work authorisation:

United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Cookstown BT80 8QS