Bakery Production Manager

Salary : Up to £60,000 + 33 days annual leave, pension and sick pay Contract : Full-time, Permanent Shifts : 2-shift structure Industry : Chilled Food Manufacturing (Bakery & Pastry) Applicants must have savoury bakery experience in a production management position for at least 3+ years. We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Bakery Production Manager to take full operational leadership of our chilled pastry and bakery manufacturing site. Overseeing a 2-shift operation, this role is responsible for delivering safe, efficient, compliant and high-performing production across four production lines, pastry manufacturing, cooking and meat preparation areas, ingredients storage, and ovens/baking. This is a highly influential role requiring strong leadership, outstanding operational capability, and a track record of driving continuous improvement in a fast-paced, short-shelf-life food environment. Lead all bakery manufacturing areas including pastry production, filling & cooking, meat prep, ingredient storage, baking and four high-volume production lines. Manage Shift Managers, Supervisors and Team Leaders to ensure daily delivery of production plans safely and on time. Oversee material flow, ensuring meat prep and cook room areas remain on plan to avoid delays. Full responsibility for the Ovens area, product quality and baking profiles Manage labour planning, standards, crewing and agency usage, ensuring accurate cost control. Performance & Continuous Improvement Own and deliver performance metrics including OEE, line efficiency, yield, waste, labour productivity and downtime. Identify and close performance gaps through structured continuous improvement initiatives. Ensure accurate performance reporting and management of Redzone KPIs. Champion right-first-time quality and production stability. Quality, Food Safety & GMP Ensure compliance with BRCGS, HACCP and all food safety and legal requirements. Embed exceptional GMP, hygiene and housekeeping standards across all areas. Lead investigations, corrective actions and support customer audits and technical visits. Work with Quality teams to reduce waste, improve standards and maintain audit-ready conditions. Build, coach and develop a high-performing production leadership team. Manage performance, succession planning, capability development and engagement. Lead all people processes including absence, holidays, training, discipline and grievances. Cost & Resource Management Control labour, materials, giveaway, rework and waste to meet budget requirements. Work closely with Supply Chain and Planning to maximise raw material efficiency Partner with Engineering to improve reliability, maintenance and line performance. Support NPD and Process teams with new launches and process changes. Collaborate with Supply Chain, Planning, Technical and Quality teams to ensure seamless operations. Customer Service Ensure production plans are achieved, and customer service levels are consistently met. Escalate risks early, take corrective action and support the reduction of customer complaints. Ensure full compliance with site H&S policies for employees and contractors. Passionate about quality, safety and operational excellence Significant senior production management experience within chilled food manufacturing (ideally bakery/pastry). Proven experience improving OEE, yield, waste and line efficiency. Excellent knowledge of GMP, food safety and quality systems. Data-driven and confident in performance analysis and decision-making. Experience within complex environments including cooking, baking and raw meat handling. 95%+ on all shifts Giveaway: Pastry waste: Quality: Right-first-time manufacturing with zero defects Bakery Production Manager, Food Production Manager, Pastry Production Manager, Savoury Bakery Manager, Chilled Food Manufacturing, Production Manager, Factory Manager, Operations Manager, Manufacturing Manager…