Duty Manager - Stourton

Duty Manager, Arla - Stourton
Shift Based Role

Are you ready to lead by example and keep a complex factory running smoothly around the clock, ensuring safety, quality, and performance targets are met?

In this role, you’ll be the key contact for our Stourton site, setting direction across intake, process, production and despatch.

How you will make an impact?
As a Duty Manager, you will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the site, setting targets and actions, optimising performance, and managing a cross-site team. You will champion safety, quality and compliance, drive resource optimisation, and collaborate with operations and support teams to meet site KPIs and budget.

• Lead daily site operations across intake, process, production and despatch, setting targets and actions to optimise performance.


• Promote a healthy, inclusive and secure working environment; ensure adherence to H&S standards/Cornerstone and manage non-compliance via LIA reporting.


• Safeguard quality and food safety across the site, ensuring compliance with Arla standards, policies and legal requirements.


• Drive continuous improvement and efficiency using APS, data-driven decision-making (SPC, MDE, SAP, MES, OEE, basic statistics) and support LCO teams.


• Coordinate resources and staffing with Area Team Leaders; coach and develop team members based on Our Leadership and Our Character.

What will make you successful?

You will bring experience leading operations in a manufacturing or plant environment, with a strong safety and quality mindset. You understand how to work within defined frameworks and budgets, and you’re confident using data‑driven tools such as SPC, MDE, SAP, MES and OEE to guide decisions and improve performance. To thrive in this role, you’ll be a clear and calm leader who sets direction, challenges constructively and maintains team morale. You’ll work as a collaborative partner, building strong relationships across production, maintenance, logistics and engineering. At the same time, you’ll bring an organised, solutions‑focused approach, able to prioritise effectively and make sound, data‑driven decisions.

What do we offer?

You’ll join the Powerhouse of the North — Arla’s most complex site in the UK — with 15 filling lines, 190 SKUs and up to 600 million litres of raw milk intake each year. With recent investments totalling €80m and a team of 450 colleagues, Stourton offers a dynamic environment where you can grow, develop and make a real impact.

We offer:
• Competitive salary
• Annual pay review
• Employer pension matched up to 6% (12% total contributory)
• 4x annual salary life assurance
• Flexible benefits including the option to buy up to 5 days’ annual leave and access to Reward Gateway discounts
• Strong career development and training opportunities (internal and external)

Would you like to join us?
If you want to lead operations and keep a complex site performing at its best, please apply as soon as possible as we will process applications on a continuous basis and close the recruitment once the right candidate is found.  
For additional information, please contact Jess Thwaite [email protected].

Shape the Future of Dairy 

Arla is a global leader in the dairy industry, committed to enabling good food choices that make life better, providing people with natural, sustainable nourishment, while taking care at every step to ensure Arla is a choice they can feel good about. If you are looking to shape the future with an ambitious global cooperative that truly cares about your growth, where everyone feels valued and empowered, and collaboration is the core of culture, Arla is a choice you can feel good about. 

#TJ