About The Role
As Production Manager at our Batley bakery, you’ll lead the value stream with a clear customer-focused strategy, ensuring effective resource planning and operational delivery. You’ll drive profitability through targeted actions, foster a culture of continuous improvement, and ensure compliance with safety and food standards. With strong leadership, you’ll inspire high performance and influence commercial decisions to support long-term success.
This role is on an alternating shift pattern of 7am - 2.30pm and 2.30pm - 10pm Monday to Friday, with overtime when required.
Main Responsibilities
Operational Overview
- Responsible for the Batley factory, producing 25,000 tonnes annually using a diverse range of equipment—from brand new installations to machinery over 80 years old—including 8 ovens, 6 chocolate enrobers, 2 moulding plants, and 5 assortment lines.
- Oversees 5 value streams: Baking & Ba7, Chocolatey, Seasonal, Logistics, and NPD & CI.
- Manages a site with an NSV of £90 million and a workforce of approximately 800 employees, rising to over 1,200 during peak season.
- Supports delivery of around 60 NPD projects per year.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and execute a 2–3 year strategy for each value stream, aligned with business goals.
- Deliver annual budget targets, focusing on cost control and profitability.
- Ensure full compliance with food safety, product quality, health & safety, and environmental standards.
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives in collaboration with cross-functional teams.
- Champion product integrity and segregation, ensuring:
- Only intended ingredients are present in products.
- No unintended ingredients are introduced.
- Factory-at-risk ingredients are handled with care and precision.
Leadership & Performance
- Own quality and process capability, working closely with operators, line leaders, and technical teams to maintain control and drive improvements.
- Conduct performance and development reviews for Value Stream Leads, ensuring consistency across streams.
- Lead value stream reviews to monitor KPIs, resolve issues, and coordinate support from engineering, finance, and technical functions.
- Promote audit‑ready standards daily, ensuring compliance with GMP, BRC, and M&S codes of practice.
Scheduling & Safety
- Own scheduling processes, working with planners to reduce changeovers, improve efficiency, and enhance customer service—while maintaining allergen and food safety compliance.
- Manage agency labour control and associated costs through strong communication and ownership.
- Oversee health & safety across the factory, including accident investigations, risk assessments, SUSA, and Near Miss reporting.
Business Process & Strategic Support
- Ensure consistent, efficient production of high-quality products, with >80% of time spent on the shop floor.
- Resolve immediate shift issues while contributing to long‑term strategic improvements.
- Demonstrate strong leadership, process knowledge, and understanding of HR, technical, and H&S policies.
- Apply commercial awareness to decision‑making, balancing cost with customer service.
- Lead a long‑serving, diverse workforce by promoting innovative thinking and long‑term solutions aligned with the FBC Strategy.
Who We Are Looking For
- Extensive leadership experience in fast‑paced manufacturing environments.
- Strong people management, communication, and coaching skills, with experience handling disciplinary and grievance processes and sound knowledge of employment legislation (e.g., Working Time Directive).
- Health & Safety and Food Safety qualified, with solid understanding of HACCP and GMP standards.
- Proven ability to manage new equipment installations and lead capital projects from planning through to execution.
- Highly proficient in digital systems including SAP, Excel, and recipe control platforms such as Promtek.
- Skilled in continuous improvement methodologies, including Lean Six Sigma (Green Belt level) and 5S.
- Experience working with complex automated manufacturing systems; engineering knowledge is a plus.
- Commercially aware, with the ability to factor in broader business drivers such as safety, efficiency, and profitability.
Diversity Statement
FBC UK is committed to building a diverse and inclusive culture in which all employees feel welcomed and appreciated and have the same opportunities. We believe all of our people are equally talented in their own way. In nurturing the curiosity and natural abilities of our employees, we provide them, generation after generation, the means to succeed personally and professionally, enabling them to craft their journey at FBC UK. The diversity of our talents is what makes our work environment multicultural, innovative and highly rewarding.
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