Operational Excellence Manager

Greencore Group; Holbeach CP; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company share save scheme

Life insurance up to 4x salary

Pension contribution match

Greencore Qualifications

Employee discount platform

Wellbeing Centre access

Enhanced parental leave and menopause

Job summary

Greencore’s Holbeach St Marks site seeks an Operational Excellence Manager to lead continuous improvement and embed the Greencore Operating System across site operations.

You will drive productivity, coach teams, and deliver measurable value through Kaizen events, KPI analysis, and data-driven storytelling to sustain a culture of excellence.

Qualifications

• Experience in food manufacturing or similar high-volume environments.
• Strong understanding of lean principles and continuous improvement.
• Proven track record leading improvement projects with measurable results.
• Ability to influence at all levels and build collaborative relationships.
• Confident presenter, facilitator of workshops, and time manager.
• Data-driven mindset with ability to translate metrics into action.

Responsibilities

• Lead Greencore Operating System deployment across site operations.
• Embed Management Control & Reporting Structure (MCRS) locally.
• Guide Kaizen events and improvement projects with cross-functional teams.
• Drive site improvement initiatives aligned to manufacturing strategy.
• Review value chain flows and optimize ways of working.
• Engage colleagues in continuous improvement and site plans.
• Analyze KPI data, generate reports, and communicate savings.
• Facilitate structured problem-solving for operational challenges.

Skills

Lean manufacturing

Change leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Data-driven decision making

Project facilitation

Stakeholder influence

Performance analysis

Workshop facilitation

Tools

Data analysis tools

Reporting & presentation tools

Job description

Benefits: Company share save scheme, Competitive matched pension contribution, Life insurance up to 4x salary

Ways of Working: Site based

Hours of work: Monday to Friday 8:30-17:00

Contract Type: Permanent

Why Greencore?

Following the combination with Bakkavor in January 2026, we’re one of the UK’s leading creators of convenience food, driven by a simple purpose: to make every day taste better.

As a vibrant and fast-moving business, we’re proud to employ over 28,000 talented colleagues across 36 manufacturing sites and 21 distribution depots in the UK and the US.

Together, we bring delicious food to life. Our products cover every meal occasion from breakfast through to dinner and dessert, with lunch and snacking in between. In FY25, our shared passion helped us achieve combined revenues of approximately £4bn.

Our extensive direct to store (DTS) network, with 17 depots across the UK, allows us to deliver fresh and frozen food both our own and from trusted partners to thousands of stores every day, ensuring consumers enjoy the very best, whenever and wherever they shop.

Our site in Holbeach St Marks, Lincolnshire, specialises in producing chilled pizzas and employs around 880 people, operating in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.

What you’ll be doing

As Operational Excellence Manager, you will lead the drive for continuous improvement, empowering site teams to implement the Greencore Operating System effectively. Your focus will be on enhancing operational performance, creating measurable value, and embedding a culture of excellence across the business.

Role Accountabilities

• Implement the Greencore Operating System across site operations, including productivity and performance tools, to drive efficiency and value
• Embed the Management Control & Reporting Structure (MCRS) into site operations
• Lead and support Kaizen events and improvement projects, ensuring cross-functional collaboration and measurable outcomes
• Drive site improvement initiatives aligned to manufacturing strategy, delivering quantifiable performance gains
• Review end-to-end value chain flows to identify and implement optimised ways of working
• Establish effective mechanisms to engage colleagues in continuous improvement activities linked to site engagement plans
• Analyse KPI data, develop reports, evaluate cost savings, and communicate improvement narratives using appropriate data tools
• Facilitate structured problem-solving activities to address complex operational challenges

What we’re looking for

• Strong background in food manufacturing, ideally within a fast-paced, high-volume environment
• Sound understanding of lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement methodologies
• Experience leading and facilitating improvement projects that deliver measurable business results
• Ability to build credible, collaborative relationships and influence at all levels of the organisation
• Confident communicator with experience presenting, facilitating workshops, and engaging diverse audiences
• Highly organised with strong planning, prioritisation, and time management skills
• Data-driven mindset with the ability to analyse performance metrics and translate insight into action
• Proficient in IT tools used for analysis, reporting, and presentation
• Passion for driving change, developing capability, and embedding a culture of operational excellence

At Greencore we put our people at the core. We celebrate their differences and help everyone to be themselves at work. Together we make everyday taste better.

If this sounds like you, join us and grow with Greencore, and be a part of driving our future success.

What you’ll get in return

• Competitive salary and job-related benefits
• Holidays
• Life insurance up to 4x salary
• Company share save scheme
• Greencore Qualifications
• Exclusive Greencore employee discount platform
• Access to a full Wellbeing Centre platform
• Enhanced parental leave and menopause policies

Throughout your time at Greencore, you will be supported with on-the-job training and development opportunities to further your career.

We reserve the right to close this advertisement before the stated closing date.