Line Leader: Production & Quality On the Line

Danish Crown UK Ltd.; Newhey; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Danish Crown UK Ltd. in Rochdale seeks a Line Leader for production on both shifts to drive end-to-end line performance with a focus on safety, quality and efficiency.

You will own built-in quality, guide operatives on the line, ensure timely start-ups, manage labour, and monitor real-time pace, waste and downtime to meet daily targets. This role demands proactive leadership and strong communication on the production floor.

Qualifications

• Experience in food production or manufacturing environment.
• Strong people leadership capability.
• Good understanding of quality and food safety standards.
• Ability to make decisions under pressure.
• Clear communicator with strong on‑line presence.
• Comfortable working with data and performance targets.

Responsibilities

• Lead and run the production line throughout the shift.
• Ensure the line starts on time and operates to plan.
• Deploy labour in line with agreed manning standards.
• Maintain line balance and flow to achieve output targets.
• Escalate issues promptly to Area Supervisor and Deputy PM.
• Own quality at source — defects are prevented, not passed on.
• Ensure correct settings, specifications and standards are followed at all times.
• Act immediately on quality deviations, yield losses or rework generation.
• Work closely with Optimisers to control yield and minimise giveaway.
• Ensure by-products and rework are correctly sorted at the point of creation.
• Lead, coach and motivate production operatives.
• Responsible for ensuring all operatives are trained and competent for their tasks.
• Work with Area Supervisor to maintain skills matrix accuracy and highlight gaps.
• Promote safe behaviours and food safety compliance.
• Reinforce standardised work and disciplined ways of working.
• Run daily start-up checks, handovers and lead performance centre delivery.
• Ensure SOPs and standard work are followed.
• Monitor pace, output, waste and downtime in real time.
• Support effective changeovers and minimise disruption.
• Raise maintenance, technical or quality issues without delay.
• Ensure quality is embedded in every step of the process.
• Complete CCP, quality, and food safety checks at required frequency
• Ensure products meet the standards within the QAS
• Stop the line when required to protect food safety or quality.
• Ensure traceability, hygiene and audit standards are upheld.
• Communicate line status clearly to Area Supervisor.
• Participate in SIC discussions.
• Share issues, risks and improvement opportunities openly.
• Support continuous improvement by feeding back ideas and problems.

Skills

Food production experience

People leadership

Quality & food safety

Decision-making under pressure

On-line communication

Data-driven performance

Job description

Danish Crown UK Ltd. in Rochdale seeks a Line Leader for production on both shifts to drive end-to-end line performance with a focus on safety, quality and efficiency.

You will own built-in quality, guide operatives on the line, ensure timely start-ups, manage labour, and monitor real-time pace, waste and downtime to meet daily targets. This role demands proactive leadership and strong communication on the production floor.