Department Manager

Natures Way Foods Ltd; Chichester; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Shuttle bus

Health plan & life assurance

Online GP access

Flexible benefits

English lessons & training investment

Job summary

Natures Way Foods Ltd in Selsey is seeking a Department Manager to lead a team of Manufacturing and Production Operatives, drive safe and efficient operations, and deliver quality and customer standards.

Reporting to the Shift Manager, you will coach and develop your team, manage a rotating 2-week day and 2-week night pattern, and collaborate with Technical, Engineering, Hygiene, Logistics, and Finance to hit KPIs.

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing teams within an FMCG or food manufacturing/fresh produce environment.
• Solutions focused with the ability to manage a complex and demanding workload.
• A commercial awareness with the ability to balance priorities, making effective decisions in a timely manner, ensuring customer needs are understood and met.
• Strong planning and time management skills with an ability to remain resilient and calm under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Coach and develop your team, ensuring that product runs on time and to specification, challenging them to be better every day and not settle for anything less than perfect product going out of the door.
• Work collaboratively to solve seasonal challenges, varying raw product quality and tight deadlines.
• Deliver to KPIs, GMP standards, food safety and health & safety standards.
• Work closely with other teams – Technical, Engineering, Hygiene, Logistics, H&S, Finance & Supply Chain.

Job description

Overview

DEPARTMENT MANAGER | SALARY UP TO £37,000 | SELSEY SITE | FANTASTIC BENEFITS

Join Natures Way Foods as a Department Manager, a role in which you'll be responsible for leading a team of Manufacturing and Production Operatives to deliver outstanding performance across your production area. Reporting to the Shift Manager, you'll drive safe, efficient operations, ensuring quality, productivity and customer standards are met while developing a positive, high-performing team culture.

What you get from us:

• Salary: up to £37,000 per year (dependent on skills and experience)
• Discounted employee shuttle bus from two pick-up points in Portsmouth
• Health cash plan and life assurance/enhanced pension
• Online GP access
• Flexible benefits: gym discounts, long service awards, and enhanced family leave
• Free English lessons & a £3,000 training investment from day one

The hours you'll work:

You'll work a rotating shift pattern of 2 weeks of day shifts followed by 2 weeks of night shifts, with 12-hour shifts from 7:00am to 7:00pm (days) or 7:00pm to 7:00am (nights).

Over a 4-week period, you'll work 14 shifts in total. A typical schedule is:

Week 1: Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday

Week 2: Wednesday & Thursday

Weeks 3 & 4: The same pattern, but on night shifts

With this rota, you'll enjoy every other weekend off, giving you regular time to rest, recharge, and plan ahead.

What you'll do:

• Coach and develop your team, ensuring that product runs on time and to specification, challenging them to be better every day and not settle for anything less than perfect product going out of the door
• Work collaboratively to solve seasonal challenges, varying raw product quality and tight deadlines
• Deliver to KPIs, GMP standards, food safety and health & safety standards
• Work closely with other teams – Technical, Engineering, Hygiene, Logistics, H&S, Finance & Supply Chain

What we're looking for from you:

• Proven experience managing teams within an FMCG or food manufacturing/fresh produce environment
• Solutions focused with the ability to manage a complex and demanding workload
• A commercial awareness with the ability to balance priorities, making effective decisions in a timely manner, ensuring customer needs are understood and met
• Strong planning and time management skills with an ability to remain resilient and calm under pressure

Who are we?

Natures Way Foods is a leading manufacturer of fresh salads, coleslaw, and food-to-go products for major UK retailers. With a diverse workforce speaking 39 languages and four manufacturing sites producing over 400 million units each year, we're growing fast and offer real opportunities for career progression.

Our vision is to lead the future of fresh food through quality, innovation, and care for our customers, people, communities, and planet. We're proud of our inclusive culture and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone can thrive.

Please note, applicants must be UK-based, and we are unable to offer sponsorship.

If you require us to make any reasonable adjustments to support you with this interview process, please let us know directly and we will be happy to discuss alternative options with you.

IND15