Head of Production

Overview

As Head of Production, you will own day-to-day production across multiple shifts in a fast-paced food manufacturing site. You will lead and develop a high-performing team, ensuring efficient output, quality, and strict adherence to safety and compliance standards. You will drive continuous improvement, collaborate with planning, logistics, and engineering, and deliver strong operational and financial performance. This is a senior, hands-on leadership role with a clear impact on growth and process optimization.

Pay / Benefits

• competitive salary
• 28 days holiday including bank holidays
• additional holiday after one year
• workplace pension
• paid Christmas shutdown day
• employee referral bonus/recognition scheme? (recognition award scheme)

Responsibilities

• Own day-to-day production across multiple shifts and ensure efficient output and quality
• Lead, coach and develop production teams including three Shift Managers
• Plan and manage production schedules, resources and KPIs to maximise efficiency
• Oversee budgets, labour costs, yield and waste to drive performance
• Champion Food Safety, H&S, allergen management and BRCGS compliance
• Collaborate with Planning, Logistics, Technical, Engineering and Commercial teams for continuous improvement
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, productivity and automation while reducing waste/costs
• Provide clear performance reporting to the senior leadership team and contribute to strategy

Key requirements

• Substantial experience in food manufacturing, preferably in fast-paced environments
• Proven leadership experience with team development
• Strong knowledge of Health & Safety, Food Safety, HACCP, allergen management and BRCGS
• Experience managing production performance, budgets, labour costs, waste and yield
• Hands-on, commercially aware with a continuous improvement mindset

• Leadership
• Coaching and development
• Collaboration and cross-functional communication
• HACCP
• BRCGS
• Food Safety and allergen management

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