Food Manufacturing Manager

Gategroup; Greater London; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food services company in Greater London seeks a Food Manufacturing Manager to drive operational excellence across food production units. The ideal candidate will have over 5 years of senior management experience in food manufacturing, a strong understanding of food safety protocols, and the ability to manage teams effectively. This role requires a hands-on leader who can operate in a fast-paced environment while maintaining high-quality standards and driving continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• 5+ years’ senior management experience in food manufacturing or fast-paced operations.
• Deep understanding of food hygiene and health & safety protocols.
• Ability to manage budgets and analyze performance data.

Responsibilities

• Lead the operation through 5 managers and approx. 450 FTEs.
• Drive operational performance against budget and maintain quality standards.
• Optimize workflows and control material costs.

Skills

Leadership skills

Operational performance management

Budget management

Analytical skills

Food safety knowledge

Education

Degree qualified or equivalent professional development

Operations/logistics qualification

Job description

Food Manufacturing Manager

Lead. Optimise. Deliver Excellence.

We're looking for an exceptional Process Manager to drive operational excellence across our food production units. If you thrive in fast-paced environments and have a track record of delivering results through people and process, this role offers genuine impact and scope.

What You'll Be Doing

You’ll own the performance of part of our Manufacturing, Packing and Warehouse operations—leading teams, shaping strategy, and ensuring every meal we produce meets exacting airline specifications. This isn't desk-bound management; you’ll be visible on the shop floor, championing continuous improvement and building capability across your teams.

• Leading the operation through 5 managers and a community of team leader you will have overall responsibility for approx.450 FTE’s
• Driving operational performance against budget whilst maintaining uncompromising quality standards
• Leading large teams in a high-security, food safety‑critical environment
• Optimising workflows and controlling material costs through smart process design
• Partnering with customers on menu development and flawless execution
• Building a culture where safety, innovation and development aren't just buzzwords
• Managing everything from daily production planning to strategic initiatives

What We're Looking For

Essential

• 5+ years’ senior management experience leading large teams in food manufacturing or similar fast‑paced operations
• Deep understanding of food hygiene, health & safety, and high‑security protocols
• Proven ability to manage budgets, analyse performance data, and drive corrective action
• Strong grasp of HACCP, CCPs and SOPs
• Someone who leads from the front and develops talent naturally

Highly Desirable

• Degree qualified or equivalent professional development
• Operations/logistics qualification
• Lean methodology experience
• Culinary background (beneficial but not essential)

The Person

You’re commercially astute with sharp analytical skills, but you also understand that great operations run on great people. You’re equally comfortable presenting to customers as you are troubleshooting on the production floor. You handle pressure well, think on your feet, and genuinely enjoy the challenge of balancing multiple priorities whilst never losing sight of the detail.

If you’re resilient, innovative, and ready to make your mark in a role that genuinely matters, we’d like to hear from you.