Head of Production

MorePeople; Romford; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

MorePeople are helping a leading food manufacturing business in Romford recruit a Head of Production. This is a senior leadership, hands‑on role with responsibility for driving operational performance on a 24/7 schedule, ensuring lean practices and best‑in‑class standards across the site.

The role requires a track record in high‑volume food environments, strong CAPEX leadership and the ability to develop teams while delivering sustained improvements in output and efficiency.

Qualifications

• Experience leading senior teams in high‑volume food manufacturing.
• Track record of delivering CAPEX projects and benefit realisation.
• Proven ability to drive lean and best‑practice manufacturing.
• People‑focused, visible leadership with strong engagement skills.

Responsibilities

• Deliver sustained improvements in output, efficiency and downtime.
• Lead CAPEX projects from justification to delivery and realisation.
• Increase utilisation to achieve higher weekly production volumes.
• Modernise ways of working within a legacy footprint.
• Drive a people‑centric culture, improve engagement and retention.
• Hold management to account for performance and behaviours.
• Lead cultural change across a site with long‑serving and newer staff.
• Ensure food safety, quality, environment and sustainability standards.

Skills

Senior leadership

Food/FMCG experience

CAPEX leadership

People development

Lean methods

Change leadership

Site management

Operational excellence

Job description

Head of Production

Food Manufacturing | Romford

Salary £70,000 - £75,000

Are you an experienced Head of Production or an aspiring operations manager looking to take the next step in your career?

I'm currently working with a fantastic business who have been on an impressive journey so far and is looking to bring on a Head of Production to help ensure they maintain their current trajectory. This will be a very hands‑on role with a key element of driving operational performances and ensuring best practices are adhered to across a 24/7 production schedule.

About the company:

We've partnered with a fantastic brand who are leading the way within their category, having gone through great year‑on‑year growth. This business is demonstrating their hunger for growth through significant investment into both the team and business as they have decided to bring on a Head of Production to help bring their short to medium term plans to fruition.

This is a senior leadership role with significant influence, strategic scope and the opportunity to shape the future of the Manufacturing team of a rapidly growing business; however, it is very much a hands‑on role until the business reaches its ambitious goals.

Key responsibilities include:

• Delivering sustained improvements in output, efficiency, and downtime reduction
• Leading CAPEX projects, from justification through to delivery and benefit realisation
• Increasing utilisation to consistently achieve higher weekly production volumes
• Modernising ways of working while operating within a legacy footprint
• Driving a people‑centric culture, improving engagement, capability, and retention
• Holding the management team accountable for performance and behaviours
• Leading cultural change in a site with a mix of long‑serving and newer colleagues
• Ensuring food safety, quality, environmental, and sustainability standards are upheld

About You:

• Senior leadership experience within food or FMCG manufacturing, ideally in added value food environments (e.g. bakery, ready meals, protein, extrusion)
• Exposure to high‑volume, high‑complexity sites
• Strong CAPEX and change leadership experience
• A practical, people‑focused leadership style, such as being visible, honest, and accountable
• A track record of developing teams, nurturing cultures and implementing succession planning across the site
• Ability to lead the establishment of best practices and lean methods in manufacturing processes

If this sounds like the right role for you, then reach out to me at [e-mail]