Head of Operations and Food Production

Elizabeth Michael Associates LTD; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency is seeking a Head of Operations in the Nottingham area. In this pivotal role, you will lead food production and logistics teams to ensure quality, safety, and compliance while driving efficiency. The ideal candidate has senior leadership experience in food production and strong knowledge of HACCP standards. This full-time, site-based position offers a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package.

Benefits

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Loyalty holiday scheme

Pension

Performance-related bonus

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience within food production, catering or FMCG operations.
• Strong knowledge of HACCP, food hygiene and UK compliance standards.
• Proven ability to manage multi-disciplinary teams and deliver measurable performance improvements.
• Skilled in budget management, KPI tracking and process optimisation.

Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire production and logistics functions for operational excellence.
• Ensure quality, safety, and compliance standards are consistently met.
• Drive efficiency across logistics and warehousing.
• Manage budgets, KPIs, and operational performance.
• Develop a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

Skills

Food production expertise

Leadership

HACCP knowledge

Budget management

Problem-solving

Education

Level 3 Food Hygiene qualification

Job description

Head of Operations - Food Production

Location: Nottingham area (site-based with occasional WFH)

Salary: £50,000 £60,000 (up to £70,000 for exceptional experience)

Contract: Full-time, permanent

Benefits: 25 days holiday + bank holidays, loyalty holiday scheme, pension, and performance-related bonus

Are you an experienced operations leader with a strong background in food production, logistics, and compliance?

Do you thrive in fast-paced, high-quality environments where teamwork, efficiency, and consistency are key?

We are seeking a Head of Operations to take full ownership of production and operational performance for a well-established, high-volume food business with an excellent reputation for quality and service.

The Role

You’ll lead and inspire two key operational functions - production and logistics/warehouse ensuring they work seamlessly together to deliver outstanding results every day. Reporting directly to the Managing Director, you’ll be responsible for:

• Overseeing all aspects of food production, ensuring quality, safety, and compliance standards are consistently met (HACCP, SFBB, allergen control, etc.)
• Driving efficiency across logistics, warehousing, and fleet operations to meet daily delivery and production targets
• Managing budgets, KPIs, and operational performance, with a strong focus on cost control, productivity, and margin improvement
• Leading and developing two Team Leaders, creating a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement
• Managing fleet, facilities, and health & safety compliance across all operational areas
• Partnering with senior leadership on strategic direction, systems optimisation, and business growth

About You

You’ll be a natural leader with the ability to balance hands-on management and strategic thinking. You’ll combine operational know-how with commercial acumen, ensuring that production, logistics and compliance align perfectly to deliver quality and efficiency.

Essential experience:

• Senior leadership experience within food production, catering or FMCG operations
• Strong knowledge of HACCP, food hygiene and UK compliance standards
• Proven ability to manage multi-disciplinary teams and deliver measurable performance improvements
• Skilled in budget management, KPI tracking and process optimisation
• Confident, practical, and proactive with excellent communication and problem-solving skills

Desirable:

• Experience within a multi-channel catering or food service environment
• Level 3 (or above) Food Hygiene qualification
• Understanding of digital production/logistics systems (e.g. Lolly or similar)
• Full UK driving licence

Why Apply?

This is a pivotal, hands-on leadership role where you’ll have the autonomy to shape operations, implement best practice, and make a visible impact every day. If you’re passionate about food quality, operational excellence and developing high-performing teams, this is your opportunity to lead from the front and drive success in a growing, people-focused organisation.