Operations Manager

Zest Food Jobs; Peterborough; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Zest Food Jobs partners exclusively with a respected food manufacturing business in Cambridgeshire to appoint an Operations Manager. This pivotal role offers a clear pathway to becoming the site's future Site Director and sits at the heart of a process-driven operation where people come first.

You'll lead, coach and develop the senior manufacturing team, embedding Lean and SQPDC culture while delivering operational excellence on the factory floor.

Responsibilities

• Leading and inspiring the manufacturing function through engaging, visible leadership
• Coaching and developing operational leaders, building capability for the future
• Driving a culture built around Safety, Quality, People, Delivery and Cost (SQPDC)
• Embedding Lean manufacturing principles and delivering meaningful continuous improvement
• Improving productivity, efficiencies, yields and overall manufacturing performance
• Supporting strategic planning, capacity optimisation and future investment
• Championing world class food safety, quality and compliance standards
• Working collaboratively with Engineering, Technical, Supply Chain and Commercial teams to deliver outstanding customer service
• Contributing as a key member of the senior leadership team while preparing for broader site leadership responsibilities

Job description

Operations Manager | Food & Beverage Manufacturing

Cambridgeshire | Progression to Site Director

Some opportunities are about taking the next step.

Others are about taking the step that defines the rest of your career.

This is one of those opportunities.

I'm exclusively partnering with a highly respected food manufacturing business in Cambridgeshire to appoint an Operations Manager - a pivotal leadership role with a clear pathway to becoming the site's future Site Director.

You’ll join a process-driven manufacturing operation where people genuinely come first, continuous improvement is embraced and great leadership is recognised and rewarded. This isn't simply about delivering the production plan - it's about developing people, shaping culture, improving performance and helping build the next chapter of the business.

If you're already leading manufacturing within a food or beverage environment and you're looking for a business that will invest in your future as much as you invest in theirs, I'd love to speak with you.

The Opportunity

This is a business that believes its greatest competitive advantage is its people.

You’ll inherit an experienced manufacturing leadership team and be given the autonomy to lead, coach and develop them while creating an environment where accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement become part of everyday life.

You’ll play a key role in shaping site strategy while remaining visible on the factory floor, supporting your teams and ensuring operational excellence is consistently delivered.

You’ll have the freedom to influence both the day-to-day performance of the operation and the long-term direction of the site, making this a genuinely rewarding leadership opportunity.

What You’ll Be Doing

You’ll take ownership of manufacturing performance across the site, including:

• Leading and inspiring the manufacturing function through engaging, visible leadership
• Coaching and developing operational leaders, building capability for the future
• Driving a culture built around Safety, Quality, People, Delivery and Cost (SQPDC)
• Embedding Lean manufacturing principles and delivering meaningful continuous improvement
• Improving productivity, efficiencies, yields and overall manufacturing performance
• Supporting strategic planning, capacity optimisation and future investment
• Championing world class food safety, quality and compliance standards
• Working collaboratively with Engineering, Technical, Supply Chain and Commercial teams to deliver outstanding customer service
• Contributing as a key member of the senior leadership team while preparing for broader site leadership responsibilities

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for a warm, engaging and commercially minded manufacturing leader who enjoys helping people succeed just as much as improving operational performance.

You may already be a Head of Manufacturing, Manufacturing Manager, Operations Manager, Head of Operations or a senior manufacturing leader ready for your next challenge within a process-driven food or beverage manufacturing environment.

You’ll bring:

• Proven leadership experience within food or beverage manufacturing
• Strong understanding of high-volume, process-driven manufacturing operations
• A track record of delivering Lean and continuous improvement initiatives
• Experience maintaining exceptional food safety and quality standards, including BRC and HACCP
• The ability to inspire, coach and develop high-performing teams
• Strong commercial awareness with experience improving productivity, efficiency and cost performance
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to build strong relationships across every level of the business

Most importantly, you’ll be someone who leads with authenticity, enjoys bringing people together and wants to leave every team stronger than they found it.

Why This Role?

Some Head of Manufacturing roles are about keeping the operation running.

This one is about helping shape where it's going.

You’ll join a business with ambitious plans, continued investment and a leadership team that genuinely believes in developing its people from within. You’ll have the opportunity to influence strategy, build capability across the site and, over time, step into a future Site Director position as part of a planned succession journey.

If you’re looking for a role where you can make a real difference today while building towards something even bigger tomorrow, this is an opportunity well worth exploring.

Interested?