Manufacturing Shift Manager - Newton Abbot

Yeo Valley Production Ltd; Highweek; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

22 days holiday

Non-contributory pension scheme

Life cover

Healthcare cash back plan

Cycle to work

Subsidised Yeo Valley products and ser

Partner discounts

Annual bonus (Employee Benefit Trust)

Learning and development opportunities

Job summary

Yeo Valley in Newton Abbot is seeking a results-driven Shift Manager to optimise labour, drive KPI performance and balance people, processes and safety on a fast-paced production line.

You will use data and real-time decisions to maximise output, reduce waste, and continuously improve operational performance while leading on hygiene and production targets. The role may also be known as Production Manager or Operations Manager.

Qualifications

• Experience leading teams on the shop floor in FMCG manufacturing.
• Strong KPI, performance and labour planning capability.
• Ability to analyse data and drive continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Meet production and hygiene targets and ensure smooth shift handovers.
• Manage budget adherence and cost control.
• Collaborate with shifts and stakeholders to implement improvements.
• Serve as site contact for hygiene chemical supplier and stock management.

Skills

Labour planning

Performance management

People leadership

Data-driven decisions

Communication

Education

Food Safety Level 3

HACCP Level 2

COSHH qualification

Tools

Lean methodology

Job description

We are looking for a results-driven Shift Manager to join our team at Yeo Valley in Newton Abbot, bringing a strong focus on labour optimisation and KPI performance. This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced manager who thrives in a fast-paced production environment and comprehends how to balance people, process, and performance to deliver outstanding operational results.

As Shift Manager, you will play a key role in driving efficiency across the shift, ensuring labour is deployed effectively to meet production targets while maintaining the highest standards of safety, quality, and productivity. You will use data, performance metrics, and real-time decision-making to maximise output, reduce waste, and continuously improve operational performance.

Are you someone who is confident directing teams on the shop floor, skilled in performance management, and passionate about creating a culture of accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement. Your ability to analyse KPIs, plan resources smartly, and motivate your team will be essential to the success of the operation. This role is can also be called Production Manager or Shift Manufacturing Manager.

Key Responsibilities

• Meeting operational plans (both production and hygiene)Ensuring satisfactory handover of information to following shift, and elevate where appropriateFinancial budget adherenceWorking with other shifts and stakeholders realizing improvement activitiesgSite contact for external hygiene chemical supplier, ensuring maintenance of chemical stock levels are maintained

If you are an organised, proactive leader with a strong understanding of labour planning and performance management within a manufacturing or food production setting, we would love to hear from you.

This role may also be known as a Production Manager or an Operations Manager.

You will work a 4 on 4 off permanent day shift pattern, beginning work at 0600 and finishing at 1800.

The Important Things

• Exceptional people leadership qualitiesExcellent communication skillsExperience of working in FMCG manufacturing environmentsProven experience of working with Lean / root cause principlesFood Safety Level 3 / HACCP level 2

Even Better If

• You have dairy experienceExperience of hygiene processes in food manufacturing environmentsCOSHH qualification

We're independent, British and proud to be making the highest quality yogurts, desserts and ice cream under the Yeo Valley brand and for many of the UK's major retailers. Operating from four dairies and two logistics centres in Somerset and Devon, we employ over 1700 staff and produce more than 25% of the UK's packaged yogurt.

We're sure you don't need convincing, but there's a whole host of benefits that we offer including:

• 22 days' holiday including bank holidaysnon-contributory pension schemelife coverhealthcare cash back plancycle to work schemesubsidised Yeo Valley products and servicespreferential rates with our partnersannual bonus (as part of the Employee Benefit Trust, based on company performance for the year)learning and development opportunities; we're committed to ensuring all of our employees have the chance to grow

Our closing dates are a guide for when the application window should close, although we may close the advert sooner if we can. So, we recommend you get your application in straight away - and don't miss the opportunity to join us!

Unfortunately, we're not able to provide employment sponsorship to candidates at this moment in time.

Please note that Yeo Valley do not accept speculative agency applications; we will only accept applications from preferred suppliers that have been submitted to us via our recruitment portal at the point of instruction.