Factory Manager

Kepak Group; Kirkham; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company Pension

Further Education support

Bike to Work Scheme

Long Service Awards

GroceryAid Employee Assistance Program

Corporate gym membership

BUPA Cash plan

Job summary

Kepak Group in the UK seeks an experienced Factory Manager to lead a 24/7 food manufacturing site in Kirkham, Preston. You will drive safety, quality, cost and performance while building a high‑performing culture and continuous improvement across multiple production streams.

You will manage a multi‑shift operation, develop leadership capability, ensure compliance with food safety standards (BRC or equivalent), and work with cross‑functional teams to deliver targets and sustain growth.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a Senior Operations or Factory Leadership role within food manufacturing.
• Experience managing large, multi-disciplinary teams.
• Strong understanding of food safety standards (BRC or equivalent).
• Experience in lean/continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience in multi-site operations and major projects.

Responsibilities

• Operational Excellence: Promote a culture of continuous improvement to drive cost efficiency and process innovation.
• Health and Safety: Ensure a safety-first culture and compliance with health and safety legislation.
• Budget Management: Prepare and manage site budgets and capital expenditure requests.
• People & Culture: Lead and empower site management teams, coaching and mentoring.
• Cross Functional Collaboration: Lead cross-functional collaboration across site teams and the wider business.
• Strategic Leadership & Accountability: Set up management routines and forums to update on performance and risks.
• Business Continuity & Risk Management: Develop and implement robust site continuity and risk plans.

Skills

Senior Operations

Factory Leadership

Food manufacturing

Multi-site operations

Budget & cost control

Lean / CI

Food safety standards

Job description

Kepak is a leading food company with 15 manufacturing sites and over 4,500 employees across Ireland and the UK, with a turnover of €1.75 billion. The Group operates across three divisions: the Foods Division, Meat Division UK, and Meat Division Ireland. Guided by our values, Responsibility, Ambition, Passion for Food, and Teamwork.

We are committed to operating as a successful, sustainable, future-ready business that is a great place to work. We supply fresh and value-added meat based products to retail and foodservice through private label and our own brands, including Rustlers, Big Al's and John Stone.

Kepak Foods Division

Kepak Foods Division have developed a portfolio of brands that are successful in the chilled convenience, ambient and frozen meat categories in the UK, Ireland and chosen European markets for both Retail and Foodservice Customers. We have 5 Manufacturing Sites supported by shared services, with 1000 people supporting our vision to become a transformed, future proofed, profitable €0.5bn Food Business by 2030.

We're looking for an experienced Factory Manager to take charge of our fast-paced food manufacturing site in Kirkham, Preston. Reporting to the Operations Director, you'll lead a 24/7 operation across chilled, frozen, and cooking production, driving safety, quality, efficiency, and performance.

As Factory Manager, you will lead a multi-shift manufacturing operation, ensuring the safe, efficient, and compliant delivery of production targets across quality, cost, service, and performance. You'll drive a high-performance culture, develop leadership capability, and champion continuous improvement to support business growth and operational excellence.

Key Responsibility

• Operational Excellence: Promote a culture of continuous improvement across the site to drive cost efficiency, process improvement& innovation
• Health andSafety: Promote a strong ‘safety-first culture’ ensuring full compliance and adherence to health and safety legislation and internal Health and safety standards
• Budget Management: In conjunction with Finance, prepare and manage site budgets, prepare andsubmitcapital expenditure requests and control operating costsin accordance withbusiness goals and targetsdemonstratingtransparency and accountability.
• People & Culture: Leads andempowersthe site management team to enable effective team performanceand success, regularly coaching and mentoring to ensure they achieve their full potential
• Cross FunctionalCollaboration: Lead cross functional collaboration across site teams and the wider business to achieve goalsincluding health and safety, people, quality assurance, IT, financial, engineering and sustainability
• Strategic Leadership & Accountability: Set up effective management routines, internal communicationforumsand one-to-one meetings, to ensure management teams are regularly updated on site performance, business risks, opportunities, and challenges.
• Business Continuity & Risk Management: Continually develop,reviewand implement robust site business continuity and risk management plans with relevant stakeholders

• Proven experience in a Senior Operations or Factory Leadership role within food manufacturing.
• Strong track record of delivering operational KPIs and driving performance improvement.
• Experience managing large, multi-disciplinary teams.
• Strong understanding of:

• Food safety standards (BRC or equivalent)
• Lean / continuous improvement methodologies
• Budget and cost control

• Experience in multi-site operations
• Involvement in major projects (site consolidation, new line installation, system implementation)

What can we offer you?

• Company Pension
• Further Education support
• Bike to Work Scheme - You can buy a bike and safety equipment through a salary sacrifice scheme which reduces your taxable income – meaning you pay less tax!
• Long Service Awards - We recognise, acknowledge and award the dedication and valuable contribution of long serving employees
• GroceryAid Employee Assistance Program - help with a wide range of topics including mental health and wellbeing support, family and relationship advice, debt management, back to work support, and counselling for all Kepak colleagues and their families.
• Corporate gym membership at Ribby Hall Village
• BUPA Cash plan free of charge

Ready to make a real impact and lead a high-performing manufacturing operation? We'd love to hear from you.

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