Continuous Improvement Manager - Manufacturing

KP Snacks; Ludlow; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A major snack manufacturer based in Ludlow is seeking a Continuous Improvement Manager (IWS Manager) to enhance their Intersnack Working System processes. The ideal candidate will lead performance improvements, coach teams, and implement lean methodologies in a dynamic environment. Benefits include a competitive salary, annual bonus, comprehensive healthcare, and a strong culture of inclusion.

Benefits

£6000 annual car allowance

Annual bonus scheme

Comprehensive healthcare support

KP Pension Plan

25 days holiday

Qualifications

• Experience in food manufacturing or FMCG environments.
• Proven experience in lean systems and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Strong leadership and coaching skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the site through the IWS Phase Journey.
• Coach and support line leads during Daily Direction Setting.
• Develop and maintain the IWS Site Master Plan.

Skills

Food manufacturing experience

Lean systems expertise

Leadership and coaching skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Budget management

Intermediate Microsoft Excel

Job description

Continuous Improvement Manager (known internally as IWS Manager)
Leominster (Home of Tyrrells Potato Crisps)
On-site

Join our snack-loving team

We’re looking for an IWS Manager to join us at KP Snacks. If you’re ready to bring your ideas to the table, grow your skills and be part of a team that values what makes you, you – this could be your next big move.

About the role

As IWS Manager, you’ll lead the development and implementation of our Intersnack Working System (IWS) journey at the Leominster site. You’ll be accountable for driving performance improvements, reducing losses and building total colleague engagement. This is a hands‑on leadership role where you’ll coach and support line teams, lead loss elimination initiatives and embed best practices to achieve our site Compelling Business Need (CBN).

What’s in it for you?

We believe in rewarding our colleagues and helping them thrive. Here’s a flavour of what we offer:

• £6000 annual car allowance.
• Annual bonus scheme, with a strong track record of overachievement
• Comprehensive healthcare support – including Medicash Health Cash Plan or Private Healthcare, Digital GP, Best Doctors second opinion service and specialist cancer care
• KP Pension Plan – contribution matching up to 7% of your salary
• 25 days holiday, plus the option to buy more
• KP4ME – our online platform for benefits, discounts, wellbeing tools and more

What will you be doing?

• Lead the site through the IWS Phase Journey, ensuring phased development and alignment with site CBN targets
• Coach and support line leads during Daily Direction Setting (DDS) to set priorities, resolve issues and deliver target results
• Develop and maintain the IWS Site Master Plan and 90-Day Plans, identifying key losses and capability gaps
• Drive breakthrough improvements in OEE, planned and unplanned downtime, and adherence to the Master Production Schedule using IWS tools and methodologies
• Build colleague engagement through Values & Behaviours and employee survey results, feedback and action plans
• Lead root cause analysis for chronic issues on the shop floor, ensuring timely resolution and sustainable fixes
• Oversee certification for Subject Matter Expert (SME) and next-phase IWS accreditation for the site

Who are we?

We’re KP Snacks, part of the Intersnack family. Across more than 30 countries, over 15,000 of us work together to make the snacks people love – from Hula Hoops to McCoy’s. In the UK, we’re a team of around 2,400 colleagues, based across seven sites and our Slough HQ. We’re proud of our close‑knit culture, where we speak up, celebrate differences and push boundaries together.

We’re committed to inclusion

We’re building a workplace where everyone belongs. If you don’t tick every box, we’d still love to hear from you – your unique perspective could be just what we need. And if there’s anything we can do to make the process easier for you, just let us know.

We’d love to hear from you if you can bring:

• Experience in food manufacturing or FMCG environments, with a strong understanding of production processes
• Proven experience in lean systems (IWS preferred; Lean Six Sigma or similar essential) and continuous improvement methodologies
• Strong leadership and coaching skills, with the ability to influence and engage teams at all levels
• Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills, including experience with structured tools such as fishbone diagrams, 5 Whys and RCA
• Confidence in presenting to small and large groups, with clear and effective communication skills
• Ability to manage budgets, cost centres and capital expenditure processes
• Intermediate Microsoft Excel skills and ability to interpret technical data to support decision‑making

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