Central Kitchen Operations Manager

Pure; Greater London; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Pure is seeking an experienced Central Kitchen Operations Manager to lead operational performance at their Central Kitchen in Greater London. This site-based leadership role requires overseeing day-to-day operations, ensuring food safety compliance, and driving continuous improvement in a fast-paced environment.

The successful candidate will have significant experience in large-scale kitchen or food manufacturing, is passionate about quality, and has strong financial management skills.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in a Central Kitchen or food manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge of SALSA and HACCP standards.
• Proven ability to manage large teams across multiple shifts.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the entire Central Kitchen team.
• Oversee safe and consistent food production.
• Manage the full P&L for the Central Kitchen.

Skills

Team leadership

Operational excellence

Food safety compliance

Financial management

Project management

Job description

We are looking for an experienced and highly capable Central Kitchen Operations Manager to lead the full operational performance of our Central Kitchen. This is a site-based leadership role responsible for production, product consistency, compliance, food safety, people development, and operational excellence at scale.

You will own the production environment end-to-end — ensuring accuracy, quality, and efficiency across all processes, while driving continuous improvement and supporting Pure’s growth as a multi-channel, multi-site food business.

This is a role for someone who thrives in a fast-paced CPU/CK environment, is deeply organised, understands traceability and SALSA standards, and can lead a team to deliver consistent output with pride.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop the entire Central Kitchen team, fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, and wellbeing.
• Recruit, onboard, and train team members (including night shifts where applicable).
• Build strong succession plans (“Plan Bs”) and maintain an accurate organisational structure.
• Ensure daily briefs, performance check-ins, and strong communication channels.
• Uphold high standards of professionalism, teamwork, and engagement.

Operational Leadership

• Oversee all day-to-day Central Kitchen operations to deliver safe, consistent, high-quality food at scale.
• Ensure all production meets agreed specifications, weight, portions, and presentation standards.
• Maintain full compliance with food safety, HACCP, SALSA, FoodBuy, and EHO requirements.
• Implement and maintain traceability systems, batch coding, and robust record keeping.
• Build and refine Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to standardise workflow, minimise waste, and improve accuracy.
• Lead CP processes, daily run sheets, night shift workflows, and end-of-shift cleaning routines.
• Manage equipment, maintenance schedules, and ensure the site remains fully operational at all times.

Project Management & Strategic Improvement

• Drive operational improvement projects including automation, digital traceability, process redesign, and new equipment implementation.
• Lead strategic long-term development of the Central Kitchen — including potential relocation, expansion, or infrastructure upgrades.
• Partner cross-functionally with Retail, Menu Development, Supply Chain, Finance, and Operations to ensure alignment and innovation.
• Analyse operational data to identify trends, reduce waste, improve efficiency, and strengthen throughput.
• Manage the full P&L for the Central Kitchen, ensuring labour, waste, purchasing, and overheads stay within target.
• Produce accurate forecasts, budgets, and weekly financial reports.
• Constantly look for cost efficiencies without compromising product quality.
• Control ordering, purchasing, and supplier performance for optimal value and consistency.

Quality, Food Safety & Compliance

• Ensure all products consistently meet Pure’s highest quality standards.
• Maintain and strengthen quality assurance systems, cross-checking production accuracy, weights, temperatures, and shelf life.
• Conduct internal audits and ensure readiness for SALSA, EHO, and internal compliance checks at all times.
• Implement corrective actions swiftly when deviations occur.
• Create a culture where food safety is non-negotiable at every stage.

Required Experience

To be successful in this role, you must have direct, hands-on experience in a Central Kitchen, CPU, or food manufacturing environment.

• Significant experience in a Central Kitchen, CPU, large-scale kitchen, or food manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge and hands-on experience with traceability systems, SALSA standards, HACCP, and structured compliance procedures.
• Proven ability to build and implement new processes, SOPs, and production workflows.
• Demonstrated experience managing large, diverse teams across multiple shifts.
• Strong financial acumen and experience owning a P&L.
• Project management experience, ideally including automation or infrastructure upgrades.
• High organisational ability, calm under pressure, and solutions-focused.
• A passion for quality, consistency, and operational excellence.