Production Manager (Food/Ready Meals)

Production Manager (Food/Ready Meals)Salary: Circa GBP50,000 + BenefitsLocation: Rochester, KentRef: CDE00039I'm exclusively recruiting for an ambitious food company based in Kent who are fulfilling their expansion plans with the addition of a state of the art retort pouch manufacturing facility to meet the demands of an evolving consumer base.With two manufacturing facilities (ready meals and dry packaged products) supplying the major multiple retailers with more than 350 SKU's with instantly recognisable branding, an annual turnover of GBP80m, this will be a key role assisting in driving the profitability of the business even higher.Reporting to the Operations Director, the Production Manager will be working within the new retort pouch production facility with the support of three Shift Managers and will have full accountability for all aspects of operation including technical standards, whilst ensuring sufficient resources are available and production takes place to meet deadlines and required stock levels.Other key tasks and responsibilities will include:
* Manage and motivate the team to safely deliver customer requirements* Identifying and sourcing training within the factory, driving standards around health and safety* Partner with the quality team to drive standards around quality* Production planning* Management of all round key performance indicators to include quality, waste management, efficiencies and output* Purchasing innovative machinery and building key customer relationships with machine providers* Investigating and sourcing new technical innovations and processes* Introducing improvements to existing production process and techniques to make the process more lean and effective* Ensure the team is effectively resourced and vacancies filled* Ensure the team is fully trained and developed to deliver the team goals* Manage the attendance of the team to support effective resourcing* Manage employee relations matters* Ad-hoc CAPEX & CI projects
To be considered for the role, you will have:Substantial food manufacturing experience ideally with recent experience of retort process operations; Good training skills to assist in the multi-skilling of a team; held responsibility for H&S within an operation; and worked with BRC or equivalent standards of operation and have knowledge of microbiological testing.You will ideally hold a Degree (or equivalent higher education) and have proven problem solving, organisation/prioritisation skills; have high analytical capability for the purposes of report generation and data interpretation; possess the ability to communicate effectively to groups and all levels within the business (including customers); and be an advocate and driver of people performance processes.Furthermore, candidates with a Food Technology Degree, exposure to a Continuous improvement role with formal Six sigma (green belt min.) training, Project Management exposure, Proven negotiation & presentation skills will be at a distinct advantage.This is planned to be a day's based role (37.5 hours per week), Monday to Friday (9am to 5pm) however due to the business criticality of the role you will be expected to have a flexible attitude to getting the required work completed to suit the business's priorities. Benefits will include: Healthcare, 5x Salary Life Assurance, Company Pension Scheme, Company Bonus Scheme and 30 days holiday.An imminent start is available for the right candidate so if you're on the job market and looking for a fantastic opportunity in the highly sustainable food manufacturing sector, what are you waiting for?Do not delay - PICK UP YOUR PHONE AND CALL ME, Chris Errington on: (Apply online only) OR (Apply online only) for a confidential career discussion.If this career opportunity is really of interest and if what you've read above has whet your appetite to learn more please call me. I'd much prefer to hear from you by phone initially. Alternatively click on the 'Apply Now' link below.Seriously Connected Ltd., confirm that our Independent Recruitment Specialist's client has instructed us that the position advertised herein is of a permanent nature. All applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK. Our Independent Recruitment Specialists cannot enter into discussions or offer assistance regarding sponsorship. Due to high volumes of applications in some instances our Independent Recruitment Specialists are unable to respond with individual feedback. Therefore, if you have not been contacted within five working days, unfortunately on this occasion your application has been unsuccessful. Our Independent Recruitment Specialists may however retain your details for future consideration against other roles they are engaged to work on by their clients