Duty Manager

ARLA; Folly Gate; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading dairy company is seeking a Duty Manager to oversee factory operations at their Folly Gate site. You will lead daily activities across intake, processing, production, and dispatch while ensuring compliance with safety and quality standards. Ideal candidates will possess strong leadership skills and a data-driven mindset. Benefits include a competitive salary, annual pay reviews, pension match, and career development opportunities. Join a supportive team focused on quality and sustainability.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Annual pay review

Employer pension matched up to 6%

Life assurance cover

Flexible benefits

Qualifications

• Experience in leading operations within a manufacturing environment with a focus on safety and quality.
• Proficiency in using data-driven tools for performance optimization.
• Able to engage diverse teams and understand financial frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily operations across intake, process, production, and despatch.
• Safeguard compliance with health, safety, and quality standards.
• Drive continuous improvements using performance metrics.
• Develop cross-site teams through coaching and development.

Skills

Leadership in manufacturing

Data-driven decision-making

Quality assurance

Safety mindset

Strong communication skills

Tools

SAP

SPC

MDE

MES

OEE

Job description

Are you ready to lead by example and keep a complex factory running smoothly around the clock, ensuring safety, quality, and performance targets are met? In this role, you'll be the key contact for our Taw Valley site, setting direction across intake, process, production and despatch. You'll lead a 4 on 4 off, 12-hour rolling nights and days pattern and play a crucial role in maintaining high-quality standards and operational excellence. How you will make an impact? As a Duty Manager, you will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the site, setting targets and actions, optimising performance, and managing a cross-site team. You will champion safety, quality and compliance, drive resource optimisation, and collaborate with operations and support teams to meet site KPIs and budget.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily site operations across intake, process, production and despatch, setting targets and actions to optimise performance.
• Promote a healthy, inclusive and secure working environment; ensure adherence to H&S standards/Cornerstone and manage non-compliance via LIA reporting.
• Safeguard quality and food safety across the site, ensuring compliance with Arla standards, policies and legal requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement and efficiency using APS, data-driven decision-making (SPC, MDE, SAP, MES, OEE, basic statistics) and support LCO teams.
• Coordinate resources and staffing with Area Team Leaders; coach and develop team members based on Our Leadership and Our Character.

Qualifications

Professional skills and experience include leading operations in a manufacturing/plant environment with a strong safety and quality mindset; solid financial understanding and ability to work within defined frameworks and budgets; familiarity with data-driven tools (e.g., SPC, MDE, SAP, MES, OEE) and continuous improvement practices; and strong communication skills to align departments and elevate appropriately.

Top personal qualities are being a clear, calm leader who sets direction, challenges constructively, and maintains team morale; a collaborative teammate who fosters cooperation and coordinates across production, maintenance, logistics, and engineering; and an organised problem-solver who manages time effectively, prioritises, and makes sound decisions based on data.

EVP cues emphasise that we work closely together and offer a supportive, high-performance environment with a steep learning curve; a purpose-driven and safety-first culture with strong commitment to quality and sustainability, and being part of a team proud of its job satisfaction and continuous development.

Arla is a global leader in the dairy industry, committed to producing high-quality products while championing sustainability and innovation. We're passionate about people and our planet, striving to unleash the full potential in each of us.

Company Culture

We are devoted to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work. Diversity and collaboration are key to our success, propelling us to new heights in the dairy industry.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Annual Pay review
• Employer pension matched up to 6% (12% total contributory)
• X4 annual salary life assurance cover
• Flexible Benefits- buy up to 5 days annual leave, reward gateway scheme- discounts with various retailers via my benefit platform.
• Strong career development & training (internal and external training)