Operations Manager

Ampersand c/o The People Co; England; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading butter producer seeks an Operations Manager to oversee daily production operations at their facility in Banbury. This on-site role involves managing a small production team, ensuring quality and compliance, and contributing to strategic planning as the company scales into new markets.

Qualifications

• Experience in a SALSA or BRC-accredited food production environment.
• Background in technical, quality, or operations roles.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily butter production to ensure quality, volume, and cost targets are met.
• Lead full HACCP and SALSA compliance, ensuring regulatory standards are met.
• Contribute to operational strategy alongside the GM and Founder.

Skills

Attention to detail

Problem-solving

Leadership

Job description

Operations Manager

Salary: £40K-45K

Location: Bloxham Grove Farm, Banbury

This is a unique opportunity to join an award-winning butter producer, supplying over 75 Michelin-starred UK restaurants, bakeries, and delis. As they grow into retail, webshop, and airline supply, they’re looking for someone to take ownership of daily operations and help shape how we scale.

You’ll report into the General Manager, work closely with the Founder/Director and GM on broader planning, and lead our current production team of four — with the expectation that this team will grow.

This is a Monday–Friday, on-site role covering production, quality, hygiene and logistics

Responsibilities

Production

• Oversee daily butter production to ensure quality, volume, and cost targets are met
• Monitor production lines, equipment efficiency, and labour allocation
• Lead continuous improvement — drive productivity, reduce downtime, improve KPIs
• Manage co-manufacturers, stock levels, incoming materials, and outbound deliveries
• Spot and resolve production issues — e.g. shaping downtime, butter consistency
• Support the GM and Founder with scaling plans — we expect ~30% growth in year one

Food Safety & Compliance

• Lead full HACCP and SALSA compliance
• Lead audit readiness and quality control processes
• Ensure hygiene, traceability, and regulatory standards are consistently met

Leadership & Team Growth

• Invest in the team’s development, empowering people to perform at their best
• Set a common purpose and support collaboration across the team
• Plan future team structure and production capacity as the business scales

Strategy & Planning

• Contribute to forward planning and operational strategy alongside the GM and Founder
• Help shape how production grows without losing quality or efficiency

Personal Profile

• Experience in a SALSA or BRC-accredited food production environment
• A background in technical, quality, or operations roles
• Strong attention to detail, calm under pressure, and practical problem-solving skills
• Comfortable leading a small, fast-moving production team in a hands-on environment