Bulk Cheese Shift Manager

Dale Farm; Cookstown; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Dale Farm is seeking a Shift Manager for Bulk Cheese & Whey to lead a production team and drive operational excellence in a FMCG setting. You will report to the Bulk Cheese & Whey Production Manager and oversee day-to-day operations, delivery of targets and food safety compliance.

The role requires a minimum of 3 years in a dairy/food manufacturing environment, with Level 3 Food Hygiene and HACCP certifications, and proven leadership with lean improvement experience.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years’ recent relevant experience in FMCG manufacturing/production.
• Proven track record in food safety and quality assurance.
• Experience with lean manufacturing or process improvement.

Responsibilities

• Oversee cheese manufacturing operations on shift to ensure efficiency.
• Develop and empower the team to own responsibilities and improve attendance.
• Prepare daily/weekly status updates and KPI reports for the Production Manager.
• Ensure products meet customer specifications and quality standards.
• Maintain hygiene controls and support food safety/audit readiness.
• Support lean initiatives and use root cause analysis and standard work.
• Ensure accurate stock control and minimize waste and downtime.
• Uphold health and safety regulations and site safety culture.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem solving

Team management

MS Office

Education

Science or Food Technology degree

Food Hygiene Level 3

HACCP Level 3

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Closing Date : 09 November 2026 05:00 pm

Dale Farm Cooperative is a UK dairy farmer co-operative owned by over 1200 dairy farmers who supply us with fresh milk. Dale Farm has operations throughout the UK and Ireland producing and distributing a wide range of dairy products which it sells across the UK and Ireland as well as exporting to over 45 countries worldwide.

At Dale Farm virtually every career discipline is represented in our workforce, from production, engineering and distribution, to sales & marketing and food technology/quality assurance, to Finance, HR and IT through to general management. Our standards are high and when we recruit we are looking for those with energy and drive, who are keen for responsibility and motivated to succeed with a record of achievement and with the potential to develop as the company grows.

Culture

Our culture is based on setting best in class standards, working to-wards and delivering on committed objectives, striving for constant improvement and involving everyone in the company. We strive to develop our people and harness everyone's contribution to deliver a winning team.

The company is an Equal Opportunities employer and is committed to a safe, inclusive and relationship based workspace.

In return, we offer a high degree of responsibility, plenty of challenge, good opportunities for learning and personal development and rewarding benefit packages, all within a fast moving and results oriented environment.

About the Role

As a Shift Manager for Bulk Cheese & Whey, you will report directly to the Assistant Bulk Cheese & Whey Production Manager and play a key role delivering operational excellence within the department. You will be required to support the day-to-day operational management of Bulk Cheese & Whey department. You will manage a team tasked with optimising Cheese and Whey production.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist the Bulk Cheese & Whey Management Team by overseeing all aspects of Cheese manufacturing operations whilst on shift, ensuring efficient and effective performance across all shifts
• Assist in managing all aspects of people management for your team, to include developing and empowering your team of operatives to assume ownership of their responsibilities, proactively monitoring and addressing poor performance, attendance, and communicating effectively with your team.
• Prepare regularproduction status updatesand reports on a daily, weekly basis forthe Production Manager highlighting key performance metrics, identify performance gaps, trends, potential challenges and improvements
• Ensure all Cheese and Whey products meet customer specifications and quality standards.
• Maintain rigorous hygiene controls and manage the team to support food safety and audit readiness.
• Support the use of lean manufacturing techniques and initiatives with particular emphasis on lean tools such as Problem-Solving, Root Cause Analysis and Standard Work for the investigation and identification of preventative and corrective action
• Ensure accurate stock control and inventory management.
• Take responsibility for minimising material wastage, overtime, downtime and improve yield accuracy through effective monitoring and reporting.
• Take ownership of compliance, and health and safety regulations, contributing to and ensuring an adherence to site safety culture.

About the Person

• Minimum 3 years’ recent relevant experience in a similar role within a FMCG manufacturing/production environment
• Food Hygiene Certification or evidenced track record of delivering against quality/food safety requirements.
• Previous experience in process control or operating plant machinery
• Evidenced experience of H&S awareness and compliance
• Proficient in MS Office applications
• Ability to work in an environment with competing priorities and manage multiple tasks effectively in accordance with production and delivery targets.
• Excellent problem solving and organisational skills with a hands‑on approach
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, and the ability to effectively communicate to a range of internal and external stakeholders
• Strong leadership qualities and the motivation to inspire all the team
• Educated to degree level, preferably in a science or Food Technology discipline
• Experience in lean manufacturing or process improvement techniques.
• Minimum 2 years’ experience in Cheese and Whey processing
• Level 3 Food Hygiene
• Level 3 HACCAP

5:00pm on Monday 9 th November 2026
Only applications from EU Nationals or those with a valid permit to work in the UK will be accepted.
We are an equal opportunities employer
AMBITION | CURIOSITY | TEAMWORK | POSITIVITY | RESOLVE | ACCOUNTABILITY