IWS Programme Manager

KP Snacks; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading snack manufacturer is seeking an IWS Manager for their Teesside site. The role involves leading the implementation of the Intersnack Working System, driving operational excellence, and enhancing employee engagement. The ideal candidate will have a background in engineering or five+ years of leadership in food manufacturing. Competitive salary and benefits offered.

Benefits

Annual bonus scheme

Comprehensive healthcare support

KP Pension Plan

25 days holiday

Online benefits platform

Qualifications

• Degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, or related field.
• Lean Six Sigma or equivalent certification.
• Proven experience in food manufacturing or FMCG environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Teesside site through IWS phases to deliver targets.
• Develop and deliver the Site Master Plan and 90-day plans.
• Provide coaching and calibrated assessments across all site departments.

Skills

Leadership Through Others

Analytical

Communication

Strategic Thinking

Education

Degree in Engineering or Manufacturing

Lean Six Sigma certification

Tools

Excel

Job description

Overview

IWS Manager

Billingham (Home of McCoy’s, Pom-Bear and more)

On-site

Join our snack-loving team. We’re looking for an IWS Manager to join us at KP Snacks. If you’re ready to bring your ideas to the table, grow your skills and be part of a team that values what makes you, you – this could be your next big move.

About the role

The IWS Manager will lead the phased implementation of the Intersnack Working System (IWS) at the Teesside site. This role is pivotal in driving operational excellence, enhancing employee engagement, and eliminating losses. It also contributes to regional capability-building and cross-site collaboration.

What’s in it for you?

We believe in rewarding our colleagues and helping them thrive. Here’s a flavour of what we offer:

• Annual bonus scheme, with a strong track record of overachievement

• Comprehensive healthcare support – including Medicash Health Cash Plan or Private Healthcare, Digital GP, Best Doctors second opinion service and specialist cancer care

• KP Pension Plan – contribution matching up to 7% of your salary

• 25 days holiday, plus the option to buy more

• KP4ME – our online platform for benefits, discounts, wellbeing tools and more

What will you be doing?

Site Leadership

• Lead the Teesside site through IWS phases to deliver CBN and OGSM targets

• Coach and develop IWS Deployment Coaches and Line Leads

• Drive colleague engagement using structured tools including PBAT/OHA, ‘Values & behaviours’ and the Best Companies Survey

• Collaborate closely with site leadership and employee representatives

Loss elimination & systems implementation

• Develop and deliver the Site Master Plan and 90-day plans

• Apply IWS tools including Push/Pull pillars, UPS, 6W2H, DDS, CILs and Defect Handling

• Lead root cause analysis to achieve breakthrough results in OEE and reduce downtime

• Embed and coach Daily Management Systems (DMS) and standard work practices

Support & capability building

• Provide coaching and calibrated assessments across all site Pillars, Departments and Line Structure Teams

• Share best practices and contribute to global IWS capability development

• Build leadership capability across site teams and Line Structure Teams

Who are we?
We’re KP Snacks, part of the Intersnack family. Across more than 30 countries, over 15,000 of us work together to make the snacks people love – from Hula Hoops to McCoy’s. In the UK, we’re a team of around 2,400 colleagues, based across seven sites and our Slough HQ. We’re proud of our close-knit culture, where we speak up, celebrate differences and push boundaries together.

We’re committed to inclusion
We’re building a workplace where everyone belongs. If you don’t tick every box, we’d still love to hear from you – your unique perspective could be just what we need. And if there’s anything we can do to make the process easier for you, just let us know.

We’d love to hear from you if you can bring:
Education & Qualifications

• Degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, or related field. Alternatively, candidates with 5+ years in a site leadership role overseeing teams of 150+ people will be considered.

• Lean Six Sigma or equivalent lean systems certification.

• Coaching accreditation and project/programme management qualifications (preferred).

Experience

• Proven experience in food manufacturing or FMCG environments.

• Leadership experience in operational excellence or lean transformation.

• Budgeting, forecasting, and capital expenditure awareness.

• Proven track record of embedding continuous improvement within operations, transitioning ownership from a traditional CI department to frontline teams.

Skills & Attributes

• Leadership Through Others:Candidates must demonstrate how they’ve enabled, coached, and empowered teams—not just delivered results individually.

• Broad CI Perspective:While TPM expertise is welcome, candidates must show adaptability across multiple IWS pillars and methodologies.

• Influence & Presence:Ability to challenge constructively, contribute meaningfully in senior forums, and drive alignment across functions.

• Analytical & Technical:Strong problem-solving skills, intermediate Excel proficiency, and familiarity with structured problem-solving tools.

• Communication & Coaching:Clear, confident communication style with the ability to inspire and influence diverse teams.

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to connect operational improvements to broader business goals.

• Presence in Leadership Forums: Demonstrated ability to influence, challenge, and align senior stakeholders.

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