Production Manager FTC

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.

We have 2 openings available on a 12 month fixed term contract.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.