Production Manager – Food Manufacturing
Location: Wakefield
Salary: £50000
Our client, a forward-thinking and modern food manufacturing business, is looking to appoint a Production Stream Manager to lead a key area of their operation. This is a fantastic opportunity to join an innovative organisation focused on performance, people development, and continuous improvement.
The Role
As Production Stream Manager, you will take full ownership of a manufacturing stream, ensuring safe, efficient, and reliable production. You will lead a team of Group Leaders and play a key role in delivering operational strategy, driving performance, and embedding a culture of continuous improvement across the site. This role will also involve occasional travel to other UK and Ireland locations.
Key Responsibilities
Safety & Compliance
- Ensure full compliance with Health & Safety legislation and site standards
- Promote a strong safety-first culture across the operation
- Maintain compliance with food safety standards (HACCP, BRC) and support audits
Operational Performance
- Oversee daily production activities to deliver plans and achieve KPIs (OEE, yield, downtime, waste)
- Lead performance reviews and drive actions from data and loss analysis
- Optimise use of labour, materials, and equipment
- Resolve operational issues quickly to minimise downtime
Quality & Food Safety
- Ensure adherence to SOPs, CCPs, and quality procedures
- Manage quality investigations and corrective actions
- Maintain high standards of hygiene and sanitation
People Leadership
- Lead, coach, and develop Group Leaders
- Drive engagement, performance management, and succession planning
- Build capability across the production team
Continuous Improvement
- Lead CI initiatives using lean tools such as 5S, RCA, Kaizen, and SMED
- Identify and deliver efficiency and cost-saving opportunities
- Ensure all processes and documentation remain current and effective
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Work closely with planning, engineering, technical, and NPI teams
- Support new product introduction and process improvements
- Align production activity with wider supply chain plans
Candidate Requirements
Essential
- Experience within a food or FMCG manufacturing environment
- Proven leadership experience in an operational setting
- Strong understanding of OEE, lean manufacturing, and performance management
- Knowledge of HACCP, GMP, and food safety standards
- Strong communication and problem-solving skills
Desirable
- IOSH Managing Safely or equivalent
- Experience leading continuous improvement projects
- IT literacy (ERP systems, Microsoft Office)
What’s On Offer
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- Healthcare plan
- Matched pension scheme
- Retail discounts and benefits platform
- Career progression within a modern and growing business
About the Company
Our client is a progressive food manufacturing business known for its innovation, quality, and sustainable approach. They foster a collaborative and inclusive environment, where employees are empowered to grow, develop, and make a real impact.
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