Production Manager

Location: Holcot

Your new company We are seeking an experienced and highly capable Production Manager to join a large, global food manufacturing business. This is a key leadership role responsible for managing day-to-day production across both high-risk and low-risk environments on a 12-hour shift pattern, leading a team of approximately 30 operators to deliver safe, efficient and high-quality manufacturing performance.

The successful candidate will be a strong people leader who can build accountability, tackle operational challenges head on and create a positive, performance-driven culture. They will be focused on quality outputs, labour and process efficiencies, continuous improvement and the consistent achievement of production, safety, hygiene and customer standards. Your new role You will lead, coach and develop a team of approximately 30 production operators, ensuring clear standards, expectations and accountabilities are in place.

Manage daily production activity across high-risk and low-risk manufacturing areas during 12-hour shifts, ensuring safe, compliant and efficient operations at all times. Drive and maintain a strong food safety, quality and hygiene culture, ensuring products are manufactured to specification and in line with customer, legal, audit and site standards. Take ownership of production KPIs, including output, efficiency, labour utilisation, waste, quality performance, downtime and right-first-time delivery.

Identify and resolve operational challenges quickly and effectively, using a hands-on and proactive approach to maintain production flow and performance. Work closely with Technical, Engineering, Planning, Hygiene, Warehouse and Continuous Improvement teams to ensure cross-functional alignment and delivery of site objectives. Promote a safety-first culture, ensuring compliance with health and safety procedures, risk assessments, safe systems of work, accident prevention standards and proactive hazard reporting.

Plan and manage labour requirements to meet production schedules, customer demand and operational priorities. Lead daily meetings, performance reviews and shift handovers to ensure effective communication and clear follow-up on actions. Support continuous improvement activity across the production area, identifying opportunities to improve productivity, reduce waste and strengthen operational standards. Manage investigations relating to quality issues, non-conformances, downtime, customer complaints or process failures, ensuring effective root cause analysis and corrective action.

Ensure training, skills development and compliance records are maintained for all team members, supporting succession planning and capability building. Maintain high standards of housekeeping, GMP and audit readiness across all production areas. Handle performance, conduct, absence and engagement matters confidently, fairly and in line with company policy. What you'll need to succeed Previous experience in a Production Manager or Shift Manager or similar leadership role within food manufacturing, FMCG or a regulated production environment.

Good working knowledge of food safety, hygiene, GMP, HACCP principles and quality standards within a food manufacturing environment. Proven experience leading, motivating and developing sizeable operational teams in a fast-paced manufacturing setting. Strong people leadership capability, with the confidence to address performance issues, challenge behaviours, support development and build a disciplined, engaged team culture. Demonstrable track record of improving production efficiency, output, waste, labour performance and operational standards.

Excellent communication and leadership skills, with the ability to influence operators, peers and senior stakeholders. Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to make effective decisions under pressure. Good understanding of lean manufacturing, continuous improvement tools and root cause analysis techniques. Strong knowledge of health and safety requirements within a manufacturing or food production environment, with the ability to lead by example and reinforce safe working practices.

IT literate, with the ability to use production systems, performance data and reporting tools to drive informed decisions. Relevant leadership, manufacturing, food safety or management qualifications would be advantageous. Food Safety Level 3 or above, HACCP awareness and IOSH or equivalent health and safety training would be beneficial. What you'll get in return An attractive base salary in the range of £45-50k, an annual 12% annual bonus, 258 holidays, 6% employer pension contributions, private medical care.

What you need to do now If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now. If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career. Hays EA is a trading division of Hays Specialist Recruitment…