Area Manager (Packing and Despatch)

Young's Seafood; Haverhill; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food manufacturing company in England is looking for an Area Manager (Packing and Despatch). This hands-on leadership role involves developing high-performing teams, ensuring that packing and despatch processes meet safety and quality standards. You'll have full accountability for team performance and compliance while collaborating with various operational teams. The ideal candidate will possess a strong understanding of packing line operations and demonstrate effective communication skills to support performance. Competitive salary and growth opportunities are offered.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of packing line equipment and throughput requirements.
• Ability to identify and resolve operational issues proactively.
• Clear communication skills supported by data-driven insights.

Responsibilities

• Manage packing and despatch teams in compliance with regulations.
• Ensure adherence to Health & Safety standards throughout the operation.
• Plan and deliver efficient packing operations without compromising quality.
• Maintain control and traceability of all finished goods and materials.
• Monitor packing downtime accurately to support performance analysis.

Skills

Understanding of packing line equipment

Problem-solving skills

Effective communication

Proactive leadership

Ownership of team performance

Collaboration with cross-functional teams

Job description

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The Role

Our new Area Manager (Packing and Despatch) will lead and develop high-performing teams, ensuring production targets are met while maintaining the highest standards of safety, quality, cost control and people management. This is a hands-on leadership role with full accountability for team performance, staffing, compliance and continuous improvement.

Working closely with Planning, Technical and Operations teams, you will ensure customer demand is met through efficient packing, accurate despatch and full product traceability. This role is site-based and plays a key part in delivering operational excellence within a food manufacturing environment.

The hours of work are 7am-3pm Monday to Friday at our Haverhill site.

The Ideal Candidate

• Have a strong understanding of packing line equipment and throughput requirements within a food production environment
• Be confident identifying, preventing and resolving operational issues before they impact performance
• Communicate clearly and effectively, using data and insight to support decision-making
• Be a proactive self-starter who motivates and engages teams through inclusive leadership
• Take personal ownership of line and team performance
• Demonstrate a holistic understanding of day-to-day operational and business requirements
• Be willing to learn, adapt and collaborate productively with cross-functional teams

Why Sofina Foods?

This role offers the opportunity to make a visible impact in a critical area of the operation. You will lead established teams, influence performance at site level and play a key role in driving safety, quality and efficiency improvements.

You will be supported to grow your leadership capability, contribute to continuous improvement initiatives and progress within a values-driven food manufacturing business that places equal importance on people, performance and compliance.

Equal Opportunities

Sofina Foods is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We're committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected.
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences - regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

Your Key Responsibilities

• Managing packing and despatch teams in line with all risk assessments, company procedures and statutory requirements
• Embedding a Safety-First culture, ensuring full compliance with Health & Safety, COSHH and PPE standards
• Planning and delivering packing operations to maximise efficiency, throughput and Packs Per Minute, without compromising quality or hygiene
• Ensuring all finished goods are packed, palletised, documented and despatched accurately and on time
• Maintaining full control and traceability of finished goods, raw materials and packaging
• Monitoring, recording and assigning packing downtime accurately to support performance analysis
• Ensuring all operational paperwork is completed accurately and on time, keeping the department audit-ready at all times
• Supporting continuous improvement initiatives and deputising for the Shift Manager when required