Production Manager

Production Manager - Dairy

• Annual Salary: Details on application
• Location: Somerset
• Job Type: Full-time

Reed Food & FMCG are currently recruiting for a Production Manager to join a large family run Food business in Somerset. This role will see you responsible for leading and managing the operational teams to deliver all quality and service requirements. This role involves nurturing a culture of coaching, mentoring, and continuous improvement, focusing on safety, quality, cost reduction, and performance enhancement.

My client is looking for someone with strong People, Management and HR skills, the process knowledge will need to be there but more of this can be taught, they are looking for a leader to be able to train and upskill the shift managers and all their peers to the high standards of this great company.

A very exciting opportunity – one not to be missed for people focused Production Managers looking for a challenging but rewarding role.

Day-to-day of the role:

• Manage the Dairy operations teams, ensuring compliance with company policies, health and safety regulations, and quality control procedures.
• Plan and manage production schedules to meet short and long-term requirements, communicating proactively with stakeholders to implement solutions.
• Oversee the management of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), ensuring they are reviewed, developed, and updated regularly for audit compliance.
• Act as a role model and ambassador during customer visits and audits, maintaining audit-ready standards at all times.
• Identify opportunities for cost and quality optimisation, collaborating with other functions to deliver capital projects with fast paybacks.
• Conduct performance appraisals, developing plans to identify and nurture internal talent for future growth.
• Implement a performance management system focusing on top losses and reduced variability to drive improvements in quality and productivity.
• Manage stock levels of all critical resources using available systems and lean tools to prevent stockouts and minimise losses.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• A degree or equivalent in dairy science, food science, or a relevant subject.
• At least 2 years' management experience in a BRC certified food manufacturing environment, ideally with major retailer standards.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to mentor, coach, and train team members.
• Proficiency in MS Office applications (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Power Bi) for analysis and presentation.
• Experience in high care production environments and an in-depth knowledge of dairy processes such as separation, pasteurisation, and cheese-making.
• Financial awareness with the ability to manage budgets and variances.
• Desirable: Level 3 food hygiene certificate, HACCP level 3 certificate, NEBOSH qualifications, or willingness to work towards them.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Opportunities for professional development and training in advanced food safety and lean manufacturing methodologies.
• A supportive and collaborative work environment that fosters teamwork and continuous improvement.

Please apply asap with your up-to-date CV to be considered.