Production Manager

The Oval Partnership is currently supporting a specialist SME food manufacturing business to recruit a Production Manager for their facility in the Poole area.

Reporting to a Group Operations Manager, the successful Production Manager is a hands-on leadership position responsible for the day-to-day running of the manufacturing site. You will manage production staff, oversee planning and scheduling, maintain top-tier product quality, and ensure orders are delivered on time—particularly during key seasonal peaks.

You will work cross-functionally with the Operations, Technical/Quality, Purchasing, and Warehouse teams to continuously drive efficiency while protecting product authenticity.

Key Responsibilities:

* Production Planning & Execution: Plan and manage daily and weekly production schedules to meet target deadlines.

* Team Leadership: Lead, supervise, train, and mentor the production team across all operational stages

* Operational Process Management: Oversee processes and implement continuous improvements to boost manufacturing efficiency.

* Seasonal Scale-Up: Effectively manage seasonal scale-ups and staffing levels to successfully meet peak market demand.

* Quality & Safety: Maintain strict product consistency, hygiene, food safety, and health & safety compliance across the floor.

* Inventory & Cross-Department Collaboration: Monitor stock levels of raw ingredients and packaging, coordinating closely with Purchasing and Warehouse teams.

* Performance Tracking: Record key production data and performance metrics to track site success.

Essential Qualifications & Experience:

* Industry Experience: Previous experience as a Production Manager or Supervisor within food manufacturing

* Leadership Skills: Proven track record of strong people-management and team-leadership capabilities.

* Operational Acumen: Strong organisational skills with experience managing production schedules, stock monitoring, and peak seasonal volume scaling.

Personal Attributes:

* Hands-On Approach: A leader who thrives on being active on the production floor and setting high standards by example.

* Quality-Focused: Dedicated to preserving high-end artisan standards in a scalable manufacturing environment.

* Collaborative communicator: Able to liaise effectively across Operations, Quality, Purchasing, and Logistics functions.

Application via cv
Only candidates based in UK and eligible to work in UK are allowed