We are recruiting for a Production Manager to join a leading food manufacturer in the Leeds area. This is a fantastic opportunity to play a pivotal role in driving operational excellence, embedding a people-first culture, and leading continuous improvement across a fast-paced food manufacturing environment.
You’ll be responsible for ensuring the safe, efficient, and effective running of operations while motivating, developing, and empowering your team to deliver outstanding results.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and embed a culture of safety, food safety, and compliance across all operations.
- Deliver operational performance against KPIs,
- Champion Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies, driving efficiency, waste reduction, and process optimisation.
- Own and deliver hazard assessments, risk assessments, and safety tours, ensuring corrective actions are closed out promptly.
- Be a hands-on leader and visible presence on the shop floor, ensuring teams are engaged, supported, and empowered.
- Provide strong leadership in team development, recruitment, retention, and training compliance.
- Ensure robust HACCP, allergen management, SOPs, and quality systems are followed and continuously improved.
- Maintain technical and customer compliance, ensuring product quality and standards are consistently met.
- Partner with cross-functional teams to deliver business objectives and support strategic initiatives.
Key Skills & Requirements
- Food Manufacturing background is essential, with proven leadership and people management experience in the sector.
- A true people person – able to inspire, coach, and build high-performing, engaged teams.
- Strong understanding of health & safety standards (IOSH or equivalent qualification desirable).
- Demonstrated ability in planning, logistics, and operational performance tracking.
- Skilled in Excel reporting and data-driven decision making.
- Knowledge of RCA (Root Cause Analysis), Hazard Analysis, HACCP, and Food Safety.
What’s on Offer
- Competitive salary package (depending on experience).
- 4on- 4off (days & nights) shift pattern.
- Opportunity to make a significant impact within a leading food manufacturer.
- A culture that values continuous improvement, collaboration, and people development.
- Career development and progression opportunities.