Manufacturing Manager, Lichfield, Staffordshire

Agrialfreshproduce; Lichfield; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life Assurance 4x salary

Private health insurance

33 days annual leave including UK Bank

Learning and Development programs

Salary finance schemes

Volunteering day

Job summary

Florette in Lichfield is seeking an exceptional Manufacturing Manager to lead the site’s production teams, ensuring product safety, quality and compliance across the supply chain. You’ll work with senior management to deliver KPI targets and drive continuous improvement, while building an inclusive, high-performance culture.

The role focuses on cross-functional leadership, safety, data accuracy in ERP, and managing costs within budget.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in FMCG manufacturing management.
• Proven leadership of large production teams across multiple units.
• Strong HACCP, food safety knowledge and UK legislation.
• Data-driven with Excel and ERP proficiency.
• Experience with continuous improvement and CI tools.
• Budgeting and cost control for production.
• Ability to develop and implement training and PIPs.

Responsibilities

• Organise, oversee Production Teams to meet production plans and targets.
• Monitor KPI delivery, identify bottlenecks, and drive improvements.
• Ensure procedures follow Quality Manual, HACCP, traceability and stock rotation.
• Maintain high GMP standards and drive safety and housekeeping.
• Capture accurate ERP data and ensure proper data entry processes.
• Monitor production costs within budget; manage productivity and labour.
• Coordinate with Engineering, Logistics and Technical teams to hit goals.
• Evaluate performance and develop direct reports; plan training needs.
• Manage sickness absence and HR guidance with support from HR.
• Foster a safe work environment and address safety concerns.

Skills

FMCG manufacturing management

Leadership & people management

HACCP & food safety

Continuous improvement (CI)

Budgeting and cost control

ERP systems

Excel / data analysis

UK food industry legislation

Team development

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Food safety qualification (HACCP)

IOSH/NEBOSH or advanced health & safety qualification

Tools

CI tools and techniques

ERP systems

Excel

Job description

Exceptional Manufacturing Manager required to join our site leadership team here at Florette in Lichfield. This role will lead our teams in the production areas of the site and ensure product safety, quality, legality, and relevant fresh produce quality standards are maintained throughout the supply chain and site operation.

You'll be a strategic, people focused manager with excellent leadership and communication skills.Working in collaboration with our senior management team you’ll ensure KPI delivery and oversee the continuous improvement of the department.

We’re fostering an environment that supports, encourages and empowers our teams to develop their skills and working practices. Your previous experience of developing a team, combined with your passion and enthusiasm will contribute to their continued growth whilst continuing to cultivate an inclusive and dynamic working environment.

The role works cross functionally to ensure the site leadership strategic goals are delivered in the short, medium and long term. This rolerepresents an excellent opportunity for an experienced, expert Manufacturing Manager to develop their career within a leader in the Fresh Produce industry.

Working hours:37.5 per week

Pay: Competitive salary with annual managerial bonus eligibility and private health insurance.

Main Responsibilities

• Organise, manage and oversee the Production Teams to ensure adequate resources are deployed to deliver the production plan in accordance with specification and in line with productivity targets. Provide direction, motivation and support through management and leadership to all team members.
• Monitor and drive KPI’s and take action to ensure they are met on a daily and weekly basis by setting performance targets and reviewing progress to ensure optimal performance and efficiency. Address and respond promptly to any issues or bottlenecks in production, implement solutions and conduct a root cause analysis to improve workflow and productivity.
• Monitor the Production Team to ensure they comply with production procedures in line with the Quality Manual and HACCP system. Audit that all used and unused products are documented in accordance with traceability and stock rotation requirements and that all required paperwork is completed correctly and accurately in a timely manner.
• Ensure a high standard of housekeeping is maintained throughout the production areas by driving Good Manufacturing Practices. Manage/deliver a program of Performance Improvement Plans (PIP’s) in conjunction with the Operations Manager.
• Ensure accurate data is captured within the ERP system in a timely manner and that the Production Team adhere to procedure when entering the data into the system.
• Monitor production costs (productivity, yield, labour) to ensure working within budget constraints.
• Co-ordinate with other departments such as Engineering, Technical, Logistics to address production issues and achieve production goals.
• Evaluate the performance of direct reports using the Company’s appraisal system, including personal development plans. Oversee the evaluation of performance for non direct reports ensuring completion. Monitor the Production Teams training to ensure competent in all tasks set and ongoing training needs are identified and skills and knowledge enhanced.
• Manage and oversee sickness absence including return to work interviews and address disciplinary and grievance issues with guidance from HR.
• Develop and maintain a safe work environment by enforcing safety policies and procedures, conducting regular safety inspections and addressing any safety concerns or incidents.

SkillsandExperience Required

• Previous experience in Manufacturing Management in FMCG high care/risk chilled or frozen food environment making customer branded product for the major multiples.
• Food Safety and HACCP qualification.
• Advanced Health & Safety qualification eg IOSH/NEBOSH.
• Experience of CI tools and techniques.
• Experience of managing fast paced production environments and operations with short shelf life products.
• The ability to lead, inspire and develop a large production team spread over multiple fast paced units/areas.
• Robust and a demonstratable understanding of all aspects of food safety, health & safety and employment legislation impacting the UK fresh produce industry.
• Computer literate, especially Excel with ability to interrogate data from systems.
• Knowledge and experience of working with ERP systems.
• Financial profit & loss responsibility of a Business Unit / Factory.

What You Will GetInReturn

A salary package DOE, inclusion in our leadership annual bonus scheme and a range of employee benefits you’d expect from a market leading business, including:

• Life Assurance: 4x your basic salary paid to your nominated beneficiary.
• Employee Assistance Programme and BUPA: Providing a Remote GP service along with a 24/7 helpline for financial, legal, medical and life issues, as well as access to BUPA Membership.
• Annual leave entitlement: 33 days annual leave per annum inclusive of UK Bank Holidays which increases with service, as well as the option to purchase up to 2 additional working weeks of holiday per annum.
• Learning and Development: Personalised induction and regular learning and development courses and schemes: From L2 to L7 Funded Apprenticeships, Leadership Development Programme, First-Aid and MHFA Training, and many more!
• Benefits Platforms: Employee discount platform for multiple retailers and access to salary finance schemes for bicycles, gyms, and financial assistance.
• Other: Recognition awards, Regular Employee Engagement days, attendance incentives, an annual volunteering day, and a free staff transport service to and from Burton.

About Us

Florette is one of three UK food manufacturing sites within Agrial Fresh Produce Ltd, which is an autonomous part of the larger 17,500 employee strong French co-operative group, Agrial.

The business operates mainly under it's recognisable Florette salad brand and we are one of the UK’s leading producers in the industry. Under the well-known Florette brand, our site processes and distributes pre-packed, ready to eat, fresh salad bags and bowls to some of the UK's most well-known supermarkets and retailers, as well as your favourite restaurants and fast food vendors. In total, we sell on average around 600,000kg of products every week - an unbe-leaf-able amount!

Agrial has operations across 11 countries, with 100 industrial sites, and a 2024 turnover of €7.1bn across 5 food divisions which comprise of Beverage, Dairy, Meat, Fresh Produce & Agricultural operations; it’s not just about lettuce! As well as 2 factories we also have a farming operation – Agrial Fresh Farms. All UK sites operate under the name of Agrial Fresh Produce Limited and fall under Agrial's vegetable division. We have a recipe for success through our EPIC values and working together as one team.

VISA Sponsorship: This role is only open to applicants who have the permanent right to work in the UK. We are unable to provide or take over visa sponsorship, either now or in the future. Applicants must be able to demonstrate their ongoing eligibility to work in the UK without the need for employer sponsorship.

Agrial Fresh Produce Ltd is an Equal Opportunities employer. In addition, as part of Responsible Recruitment, Agrial Fresh Produce Ltd believes in the Employer Pay Principle. No worker should pay for a job – the costs of recruitment should be borne not by the worker but by the employer.

We are committed to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of all of our staff. That’s why we’ve taken the Mental Health at Work Commitment and are currently delivering a programme of activities to ensure that everyone can have open and honest conversations about their wellbeing in the workplace and feel supported. We encourage applications from persons with experience of poor mental health and are committed to supporting our employees to fulfil their potential and perform at their best in work.

Package £DOE, to include bonus and benefit scheme