Lotus Cars is renowned for crafting world-class, high-performance, and lightweight sports cars that are celebrated across the globe.

Lotus Cars Limited serves as the company’s manufacturing HQ in the UK, where we proudly produce iconic models such as the Emira and the all-electric Evija. As we continue to elevate our capabilities and global presence, we are seeking a Critical Process Supervisor to join our dynamic Facilities team at our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Hethel.

Location: Hethel, Norfolk
Department: Paint / Manufacturing
Shift: Predominantly night shift following an initial training period on days

About the Role

We are looking for a Critical Process Supervisor to join our team at Lotus Cars.

Reporting to the Soft Services Manager, you will play a key role in supporting the Paint Shop and ensuring our critical processes are completed safely, efficiently and to the required quality standards.

You will supervise the day-to-day activities of the Critical Process team and relevant contractors, ensuring essential cleaning, filter changes, process checks and maintenance activities are planned and completed around production requirements.

This is a hands-on supervisory role where you'll work closely with Paint, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Maintenance and SHE teams to maintain high standards across the Paint Shop.

Due to the nature of the role, flexibility around working hours is essential. The successful candidate will initially work days for training purposes before moving predominantly onto a night shift.

What You'll Do

Leadership & Supervision

• Supervise and provide day-to-day direction and support to Critical Process team members and relevant contractors.

• Allocate and monitor daily, weekly and monthly activities, ensuring work is completed safely, efficiently and on time.

• Support the training, development and competency of team members.

• Promote high standards of safety, quality, housekeeping and teamwork.

Critical Process & Paint Shop Support

• Support the Paint Shop Manager in maintaining critical Paint Shop processes, standards and procedures.

• Ensure cleaning, filter and filter media changes and other critical process activities are completed to the required frequency and standard.

• Plan activities around production requirements, planned maintenance and Manufacturing Engineering trials.

• Maintain accurate records of completed tasks, filter changes and process readings.

• Identify and escalate issues that could impact safety, quality, production or process performance.

Safety, Quality & Compliance

• Ensure activities comply with Lotus Health, Safety & Environmental procedures and site requirements.

• Ensure relevant Safe Systems of Work (SSOW), risk assessments and control measures are followed and maintained.

• Promote safe working practices and ensure incidents, hazards and near misses are appropriately reported.

• Monitor SPC and other process data, identifying abnormalities and supporting corrective actions.

• Attend and contribute to relevant production, quality and Dirt meetings.

Equipment & Maintenance

• Ensure equipment, tooling and specialist equipment required for Critical Process activities is available, maintained and fit for purpose.

• Carry out authorised first-line maintenance where appropriately trained and competent.

• Identify equipment faults and ensure maintenance requirements are reported and followed through.

• Ensure specialist tools and equipment are appropriately maintained and calibrated where required.

Housekeeping & Continuous Improvement

• Maintain high standards of housekeeping and 5S within the Critical Process and Paint Shop areas.

• Identify opportunities to improve safety, quality, efficiency and cost.

• Support preventative maintenance and continuous improvement activities.

• Proactively identify opportunities to reduce waste and consumable usage.

Stock & Contractor Management

• Maintain appropriate stock levels of consumables and PPE.

• Coordinate replenishment and support accurate inventory and usage records.

• Liaise with suppliers and Procurement where required.

• Coordinate and monitor contractor activities, ensuring work is completed safely, to the required standard and within agreed timescales.

Performance & Reporting

• Assist the Paint Shop Manager with departmental KPIs and performance monitoring.

• Provide regular updates on task completion, issues and outstanding actions.

• Maintain accurate documentation and ensure agreed actions are followed through.

• Support process trials alongside Manufacturing Engineering and other relevant departments.

What We're Looking For

You'll be someone who is comfortable working in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and taking responsibility for both people and critical operational activities.

You'll ideally bring:

• Previous supervisory or team leadership experience within a manufacturing, production or facilities environment.

• A strong understanding of Health, Safety & Environmental requirements.

• Experience working to defined processes, standards and frequencies.

• Good organisational skills with the ability to prioritise activities around production requirements.

• A proactive approach to problem-solving and continuous improvement.

• Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively across different departments and with external contractors.

• Good attention to detail, particularly around process records, documentation and compliance.

• Experience within an automotive Paint Shop or similar controlled manufacturing environment would be advantageous.

• Flexibility to work the required shift pattern, including predominantly night shifts following completion of training.

Why Lotus?

At Lotus, we're transforming the future of performance automotive. This is an opportunity to join our manufacturing operation at Hethel and play an important role in maintaining the safety, quality and performance of our Paint Shop processes.

If you're a hands-on supervisor who takes pride in maintaining high standards and developing a strong team, we'd like to hear from you.

What we offer:

• 25 Vacation Days + Bank Holidays: Recharge, explore, or binge-watch your favorite series with plenty of time to relax and enjoy life outside of work.

• Performance Bonus: Get rewarded for your hard work with an exciting, non-contractual bonus scheme—because great effort deserves great perks.

• Future-Proof Pension: Plan for your tomorrow while thriving today with a solid pension scheme to keep your future bright.

• Private Healthcare: Stay healthy and stress-free with premium healthcare coverage tailored to keep you at your best.

• Night shift allowance

• Overtime rates

Additional Information:

• This role will be working from our Hethel plant within our flexible working policy

• Frequent travel will be required to visit different entities and the Customer Care Center based in Europe. Applicants must therefore possess the ability to travel freely without restrictions

• Candidates must be eligible to work in UK without VISA sponsorship.

Our Company:

Group Lotus is a leading sports car manufacturer with over 75-year long history of iconic designs, groundbreaking engineering and legendary victories on the F1 track. Today we are transforming into a truly global performance car brand focused on the electrical future. In 2022 we launched the Eletre, the world’s first all-electric hyper-SUV, and in 2023 our fully-electric Hyper-GT, Emeya.  

As part of the Lotus team, you push boundaries. Those of the car industry and of your own. Every member of the Lotus family has some of the pioneering mindset of founder Colin Chapman in them. 

Hethel, Norfolk, England has been the home of Lotus for over 60 years, ever since Colin Chapman, our founder, started making championship-winning racing cars. In conjunction with production facilities in Norwich, and research facilities near Warwick, our UK sites offer a wide breadth of roles for all disciplines.

We're not just a car company; we're a diverse mix of talent from all walks of life. At Group Lotus, we firmly believe that diversity and inclusion are not just buzzwords but essential pillars of a thriving and successful organisation. Read more here: Equity, Diversity & Inclusion in Lotus Cars.

Do you want to know what Sophisticated, Rebellious and Pioneering mean for Lotus Cars Limited? Come and take a look at our career site and join the incredible adventure: https://lotusukmanufacturing.teamtailor.com/