Future Site Lead: Food Manufacturing Ops

The Sterling Choice; Peterborough; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Sterling Choice is working with a major food manufacturing operation in the Peterborough area seeking a Site Operations Manager to act as number two on site, closely supported by the Site Manager.

You will lead production and packing teams, identify improvements, and position yourself for the eventual Site Lead role, with a competitive £80,000-£90,000 salary plus benefits.

Qualifications

• Strong operations or production leadership background within food manufacturing.
• Significant experience operating as the number two at a food manufacturing site.
• The confidence to challenge, make decisions and introduce new ideas.
• A practical, visible and people-focused leadership style.
• The resilience to operate effectively within a close-knit manufacturing environment.
• The ambition and capability to progress into a future Site Lead position.

Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day operation, directing production and packing teams.
• Develop the site and people with a view to Site Lead progression.
• Identify process improvements and implement beneficial changes.
• Challenge established ways of working while keeping the team engaged.

Skills

Operations leadership

Deputy site lead

Decision making

People leadership

Resilience

Career progression

Job description

Site Operations Manager

Food Manufacturing | Peterborough area | £80,000-£90,000 + benefits

If your next move needs to put you on a credible path towards leading a site, this is worth a conversation.

You'll join a significant food manufacturing operation as the number two on site, working closely with an experienced Site Manager. The longer-term opportunity is to develop into the Site Lead role yourself.

That progression won't happen simply because you've completed a certain number of years. You'll need to prove you can lead the operation, develop the people and think beyond today's production plan. But if you do, the opportunity is there.

This also isn't a role for someone who wants to sit behind a spreadsheet and send production reports.

You'll take responsibility for the day-to-day operation, leading the production and packing teams while bringing a fresh pair of eyes to how the site operates.

The operation is performing well. This isn't a turnaround or a rescue mission.

What it needs is someone who can identify where things could be better, challenge established ways of working and get people behind the changes needed to move the site forward.

That last part matters.

It's a close-knit workforce, with several long-serving employees and connections across the site. You'll need to be resilient enough to challenge, but people-focused enough to do it without losing the team along the way.

You'll need:

• A strong operations or production leadership background within food manufacturing
• Significant experience operating as the number two at a food manufacturing site
• The confidence to challenge, make decisions and introduce new ideas
• A practical, visible and people-focused leadership style
• The resilience to operate effectively within a close-knit manufacturing environment
• The ambition and capability to progress into a future Site Lead position

The salary is between £80,000 and £90,000, depending on experience, alongside the wider benefits package.

If you're ready for a genuine number two role that could lead to running the site, apply below for a confidential conversation.