Operations Manager

Bell Recruitment; Armagh; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Career development

Collaborative culture

Opportunities to drive improvement

Job summary

Bell Recruitment is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to lead all manufacturing and production activities in a UK food facility. You will drive safety, quality, and productivity, and foster continuous improvement across the production team.

Responsibilities include planning daily production, monitoring KPIs, managing staff performance, and ensuring HACCP/BRCGS compliance while working with cross-functional colleagues to optimise resources and capital projects.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in an Operations Manager role within a food manufacturing environment.
• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Knowledge of HACCP, BRCGS, food safety systems, and quality standards.
• Experience managing production KPIs and operational performance.
• Excellent organisational, planning, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and production reporting systems.
• Experience using ERP or manufacturing management systems.
• Experience within chilled, frozen, or ambient food manufacturing environments.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organise, and oversee daily production activities to meet customer demand and business objectives.
• Ensure production schedules are achieved while maintaining quality, safety, and cost targets.
• Monitor production performance and implement corrective actions where required.
• Optimise labour, equipment, and material utilisation to maximise operational efficiency.
• Minimise downtime, waste, and production losses.
• Lead, motivate, and develop production supervisors and production teams.
• Foster a high-performance culture focused on accountability and continuous improvement.
• Conduct performance reviews and identify training and development needs.
• Manage attendance, disciplinary matters, and employee engagement.
• Ensure appropriate staffing levels and support succession planning.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, quality, legal, and customer requirements.
• Maintain HACCP, BRCGS, and other food manufacturing standards.
• Promote a strong food safety culture across production.
• Work closely with the Quality and Technical teams to investigate and resolve quality issues and customer complaints.
• Ensure allergen controls, traceability, and cleaning procedures are consistently followed.
• Identify opportunities to improve productivity and operational efficiency.
• Lead Lean Manufacturing and waste reduction initiatives.
• Analyse production data and KPIs to drive performance improvements.
• Support capital investment projects and new product introductions.
• Work closely with Planning, Maintenance, Technical, Supply Chain, Warehouse, and Transport teams.
• Ensure raw materials, packaging, and labour resources are available to meet production plans.
• Support new product development trials and product launches.
• Support customer and internal audits.

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Operations Manager to lead all manufacturing and production activities, ensuring products are produced safely, efficiently, and to the highest quality standards. The successful candidate will be responsible for driving operational performance, improving productivity, maintaining food safety compliance, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement across the production team.

Key Responsibilities

Production Operations

• Plan, organise, and oversee daily production activities to meet customer demand and business objectives.
• Ensure production schedules are achieved while maintaining quality, safety, and cost targets.
• Monitor production performance and implement corrective actions where required.
• Optimise labour, equipment, and material utilisation to maximise operational efficiency.
• Minimise downtime, waste, and production losses.
• Lead, motivate, and develop production supervisors and production teams.
• Foster a high-performance culture focused on accountability and continuous improvement.
• Conduct performance reviews and identify training and development needs.
• Manage attendance, disciplinary matters, and employee engagement.
• Ensure appropriate staffing levels and support succession planning.

Food Safety, Quality & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with all food safety, quality, legal, and customer requirements.
• Maintain HACCP, BRCGS, and other food manufacturing standards.
• Promote a strong food safety culture across production.
• Work closely with the Quality and Technical teams to investigate and resolve quality issues and customer complaints.
• Ensure allergen controls, traceability, and cleaning procedures are consistently followed.
• Identify opportunities to improve productivity and operational efficiency.
• Lead Lean Manufacturing and waste reduction initiatives.
• Analyse production data and KPIs to drive performance improvements.
• Support capital investment projects and new product introductions.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Planning, Maintenance, Technical, Supply Chain, Warehouse, and Transport teams.
• Ensure raw materials, packaging, and labour resources are available to meet production plans.
• Support new product development trials and product launches.
• Support customer and internal audits.

General Responsibilities

• Undertake additional duties as required to support business needs.
• Follow company procedures and quality standards.
• Assist with the training and development of colleagues.
• Provide temporary operational cover where required.
• Identify training requirements within the team.
• Maintain positive working relationships across all departments.

Health & Safety

• Promote a safe working environment by following Health & Safety policies and procedures.
• Report hazards, incidents, unsafe practices, and near misses promptly.
• Use equipment and PPE correctly at all times.
• Participate in risk assessments and health & Safety initiatives.

Skills & Experience

• Proven experience in an Operations Manager role within a food manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of batch manufacturing processes.
• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Knowledge of HACCP, BRCGS, food safety systems, and quality standards.
• Experience managing production KPIs and operational performance.
• Excellent organisational, planning, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and production reporting systems.
• Experience using ERP or manufacturing management systems.
• Experience within chilled, frozen, or ambient food manufacturing environments.
• IOSH or NEBOSH Health & Safety qualification.
• Lean Manufacturing or Continuous Improvement qualification.

What We Offer

• Career development and progression opportunities.
• Opportunity to lead operations within a fast-paced food manufacturing environment.
• Supportive and collaborative working culture.
• Opportunity to drive operational excellence and continuous improvement.