Full job descriptionThe Company
This is an exciting opportunity to join a well-established, highly successful food manufacturing business operating at scale and supplying leading customers across the market. With a strong focus on operational excellence, quality, safety and continuous improvement, the business is investing in its people, processes and performance to achieve ambitious growth objectives.

The manufacturing operation is a fast-paced, high-volume environment that combines advanced production technology, automation and a culture of accountability. Employees are empowered to drive improvements, influence site performance and make a genuine contribution to business success.

The Role
Reporting to the Factory Manager, the Production Manager will take overall responsibility for the manufacturing department, leading operational performance across safety, quality, service, cost and people.
This is a highly visible leadership role where you will drive continuous improvement, develop high-performing teams and ensure the efficient delivery of production plans in a complex manufacturing environment.

Key responsibilities include:*Leading all production activities to deliver operational and business objectives
*Driving health & safety standards through proactive engagement, hazard reduction and continuous improvement initiatives
*Ensuring food safety, GMP and product quality standards are maintained and audit-ready at all times
*Delivering cost control through effective management of labour, materials, waste and equipment efficiency
*Leading root cause investigations and implementing robust corrective actions to prevent recurrence
*Managing and developing a team of direct reports, ensuring strong succession planning and capability building
*Driving KPI performance through regular reviews, action planning and accountability
*Building effective relationships across Technical, Engineering, Supply Chain, Warehousing and other support functions
*Leading operational improvement projects focused on efficiency, downtime reduction and waste reduction
*Creating a high-performance culture that delivers sustainable results and operational excellence

This role offers the opportunity to lead a sizeable manufacturing operation, with responsibility for multiple production lines, significant team leadership and a strong influence on overall site performance.
The Candidate
We are seeking an experienced manufacturing leader with a proven track record of delivering results within a food production environment.

You will bring:*Significant experience in senior production or manufacturing leadership roles within food manufacturing
*Strong knowledge of HACCP principles, food safety standards and quality systems
*Proven experience leading large operational teams and developing future leaders
*Demonstrable success in driving continuous improvement, productivity and cost reduction initiatives
*Excellent people management, coaching and performance management skills
*Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with a focus on root cause analysis
*Experience managing operational KPIs and delivering performance against demanding targets
*The credibility and communication skills to influence stakeholders across multiple functions
*A hands-on leadership style with a visible presence on the factory floor
*Experience of change management within a fast-paced manufacturing environment

Relevant qualifications such as NEBOSH/IOSH, HACCP certification, Advanced Food Hygiene and leadership qualifications would be advantageous.

This is an outstanding opportunity for an ambitious Production Manager who thrives in a high-volume manufacturing environment and is passionate about building high-performing teams, driving operational excellence and delivering sustainable results.