Factory Operations Leader – Food Manufacturing & CI

Kepak Group; England; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; 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 is seeking an experienced Factory Manager for its Kirkham site in Preston, overseeing 24/7 production across chilled, frozen and cooking lines with emphasis on safety, quality and cost performance.

Reporting to the Operations Director, you will drive continuous improvement, develop leadership across the site, and lead a high-performing manufacturing operation aligned with Kepak’s growth and excellence goals.

Qualifications

• Senior Operations or Factory Leadership experience in food manufacturing.
• Proven track record delivering KPIs and improving performance.
• Experience managing large, multi-disciplinary teams.
• Knowledge of food safety standards (BRC or equivalent).
• Experience with Lean / continuous improvement.
• Experience in multi-site operations.
• Involvement in major projects (site consolidation, new line installation).

Responsibilities

• Promote a culture of continuous improvement to drive cost efficiency and innovation.
• Ensure health and safety compliance and standards.
• Manage site budgets and capital expenditure with finance.
• Lead and mentor site management team.
• Lead cross-functional collaboration across site and wider business.
• Set up management routines and communications on performance and risks.
• Develop site business continuity and risk plans.

Skills

Senior Operations

Factory Leadership

Operational KPIs

People Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Job description

Kepak Group is seeking an experienced Factory Manager for its Kirkham site in Preston, overseeing 24/7 production across chilled, frozen and cooking lines with emphasis on safety, quality and cost performance.

Reporting to the Operations Director, you will drive continuous improvement, develop leadership across the site, and lead a high-performing manufacturing operation aligned with Kepak’s growth and excellence goals.